3.1 million Americans had Botox injections last year with many more opting for fillers to plump up their lines and wrinkles. Facelifts remain one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures for women but are there any non-surgical alternatives?

Here at CosmeticSurgerys.co.uk, we have taken a look at four non-surgical alternatives to facelifts and Botox to see if they really can achieve the same sort of results.

1. Facercise
The premise behind facercise is that the muscles in the face are like any other muscles in the body if you want a flat, defined stomach, you do exercises such as stomach crunches and sit-ups. Therefore if you want a defined face, your should exercise your facial muscles.

The face houses 57 muscles. Practitioners claim that by doing a 10 minute routine once a day, a firmer face can be seen in as little as a week. Typical exercises involve pulling funny faces such as gaping mouths and googly eyes to help tone, fill and smooth the face.

Some doctors are sceptical – wrinkles tend to be in areas where the face is particularly dynamic if you frown a lot, you will be more prone to forehead wrinkles; if you purse your lips a lot, you tend to get more prominent wrinkles around your mouth. So does it work? Well, thousands of women swear by the regime but there is, as yet, little in the way of scientific evidence to back up the facercise claims.

2. Supersonic Facials
Supersonic facials are the next evolution in facials. Ultrasound waves or electrical currents are used to exfoliate the skin and push anti-ageing nutrients into the deeper layers of skin (most moisturisers and products only reach the top layer of skin). The treatment is supposed to give patients firmer, healthier looking skin.

Exfoliation will take off the top layer of skin and this will give the skin a smoother, glowing appearance. However, the effect is not long-lived and must be repeated at regular intervals to keep the skin tone and look. The facial itself will probably help skin tone too, and help the skin feel tighter, however this is, again, not a long-term solution.

There is no scientific evidence that shows ultrasound or electrical currents do anything to help the skin therefore it is doubtful that this treatment can offer anything more than a standard spa facial, and you will get results which last longer if you opt for Botox or a wrinkle filler.

3. Facial Acupuncture
Acupuncture has become a popular alternative treatment in the western world of late, although the Chinese have sworn by it for years. The theory is that by stimulating certain pressure points, you can increase cell turnover, improve circulation and stimulate collagen production, all of which promotes healthier skin and fewer wrinkles.

Usually, tiny needles will be inserted into particular places on the skin although for those who are squeamish about needles, acupressure is an alternative option where pressure is used, but no needles. The stimulation of these points can help to redcue fine lines and wrinkles, brighten eyes, reduce double chins and lift sagging skin. Acupuncture is also said to help balance the Qi (the energy fields in the body) and therefore promote an aura of well-being around the patient.

So does it work? There is no scientific proof either way, however it has been around in China for hundreds of years and it’s something we believe is well worth investigating.

4. Good Eating & Vitamin Therapy
The premise here is that your skin reflects your body’s insides if you are healthy inside, your skin will reflect this. Vitamin therapy involves combining healthy, nutritious foods along with vitamin supplements and daily exercise to help improve the condition of the skin, as well as the body as a whole. Practitioners claim that a difference can be seen in the skin in as little as a month.

Good food has always been a caveat for good skin. Eating well should be a must for everyone. However, specific vitamin prescriptions are a little hazier taking too much of particular vitamins such as D, B and K can be harmful to the body. If you are eating properly, taking a multivitamin should be all the vitamin supplement that you need.