SHORTCUT TO A PERFECT BODY

As advanced technology allows safe, quick and subtle non-surgical plastic surgeries, millions are opting for such procedures for a discreet change in appearance. A word of caution, though: too much of a good thing can be bad

- By Sonali Acharjee

Gunjan Malhotra, a 42-year-old homemaker in Delhi, has found the trick to looking good for the numerous parties she has to attend with her husband, who runs a successful construction business. "It is impossible to maintain a diet and exercise routine to ensure you fit into size zero dresses, especially as you age and your metabolism plummets," she says. A few years ago, she discovered CoolSculpting, a non-invasive technology that uses ultrasound energy to target and remove stubborn body fat, particularly from the chest, stomach and thighs. The results improve over a few months, as the skin renews itself. And that is not all. Unlike her mother-in-law, who, Malhotra says, had to go off the grid for four-five days to recover from a fat-loss surgery, she can return to normal life in minutes. Helping her get her dream shape is Luxury Aesthetics, a non-surgical cosmetic procedure clinic in Panchsheel Park, Delhi.

In a silent revolution, minimally invasive plastic surgery, spurred by new technologies, is well on its way to making appearances more presentable for more people, in unbelievably quick time. And minus the risk of surgical errors, scarring, swelling or post-surgical complications thanks to minimal incisions, safe anaesthesia, 3D imaging, AI-guided surgery, a broader range of injectable fillers and AI-personalised consultations with 24/7 aftercare. Today, "one can get a nose job and return to work the next day with hardly anyone noticing it, as there is no swelling and it's done to look as natural as possible," says celebrity cosmetic surgeon Dr Parag Telang, who operates in Dubai and Mumbai. While a non-surgical surgery might sound like an oxymoron, it is the new reality. Patients can leave within hours of a procedure, looking just like they would if they had opted for a time-consuming open surgery.