Aesthetic Skin Care and Cosmetic Dermatology
In a society that places a high value on appearance, medical beauty treatments can help patients feel comfortable in their skin. Whether it is removing a mole, rejuvenating with a facelift, or permanently reducing hair growth with laser treatment, medical aesthetics offer a wide range of cosmetic beauty services.
Aestheticians perform beauty treatments at spas and salons, and can even work as brand reps for products they promote to these establishments.
What is Aesthetic Dermatology?
Aesthetic dermatology is a branch of modern medicine that focuses on altering cosmetic appearance through non-surgical treatments. This aesthetic skin care treatment can be used to improve a variety of conditions such as scars, skin laxity, wrinkles, moles, liver spots, excess fat, unwanted hair, and discoloration. Aesthetic dermatology procedures can be surgical (liposuction, facelifts), non-surgical (chemical peels, radio frequency skin tightening), or a combination of both.
Medical beauty services are a step above the facials, light therapy and waxing offered at spas and salons. These treatments offer long-lasting results that improve both cosmetic appearance and skin health for total wellness. They are offered at physician offices and dermatology clinics specifically focused on aesthetic skin care.
While many medical professionals have the education, training and experience to practice both medical and aesthetic dermatology, they may choose to focus on one or the other. This can lead to a lack of awareness in patients as well as ethical concerns for doctors who do not use their skills regularly.
This has resulted in increased consumer demand for aesthetic procedures and an influx of beauty parlors, spas and charlatans offering scientifically unproven cosmetic services and making unethical claims. This has also led to a rise in rogue physicians who perform cosmetic procedures for which they were never trained during their medical training. These practices can have serious, sometimes permanent and life-threatening side effects.
Aesthetic Dermatology Treatments
The skin is a complex structure that serves many purposes. It protects internal organs, supports the body, and allows for the exchange of nutrients with outside substances. In this capacity, it also endures constant stress and can become damaged over time. Aesthetic dermatology provides patients with a wide range of treatments that help repair this damage, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and improve the overall appearance of the skin.
The most common types of treatments available in aesthetic dermatology include chemical peels, laser skin rejuvenation, and injections. Unlike some cosmetic procedures, these treatments are not invasive and can be performed on an outpatient basis. They can also be done in conjunction with other procedures, including surgery and other medical skincare therapies.
Dermatologists are best-suited to offer these procedures because they have extensive knowledge and training in the skin. They can pair these treatments with skin care products and other therapies to get optimal results. They are also able to provide guidance on the pros and cons of these treatment options and their associated risks.
Aesthetic treatments have helped many people feel better about their appearance and gain confidence in their health. The practice of aesthetic dermatology can be a rewarding experience for both physicians and patients if it is approached in a sensitive and evidence-based manner. It is also important to keep in mind that the patient should build up confidence in their treatment plan by seeing immediate, positive results.
Aesthetic Dermatology Procedures
There’s a lot that can be done for aesthetic skin care and cosmetic dermatology purposes. It’s a very popular specialty, with some 17.7 million surgical and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures performed in 2018. Aesthetic dermatology is a bit of an oxymoron, since it’s all about what the person wants rather than their health.
It presents a challenge to the dermatologist, who must balance their patients’ requests with ethical considerations. Those requests are often consumer driven and can encourage needless consumption, which isn’t always good for health. This can also lead to practitioners offering unproven services to their patients, which is not good for the medical profession’s reputation.
Dermatologists have the training and expertise to perform many of these cosmetic treatments safely, effectively and with the best possible results. They can administer BOTOX and dermal fillers and pair them with laser and radiofrequency (RF) and other technologies for optimal results. They can also perform other cosmetic and medical treatments such as hair restoration, sclerotherapy, breast firming/enlargement and mesotherapy.
Medically trained physicians who wish to offer any List B aesthetic procedure must do so in strictly monitored conditions that allow their efficacy, or lack thereof, to be objectively demonstrated. This will require them to provide detailed information about their training and experience with these procedures, as well as the risks involved.
Aesthetic Dermatology FAQ
When performed by a qualified dermatologist, aesthetic treatments are generally safe. However, like any procedure, there are some risks and side effects to consider. During your consultation, your dermatologist will provide all of the information you need to make informed decisions and aesthetic skin care shop achieve the results you desire.
Is There an Age Limit for Aesthetic Procedures?
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