Did you know that there are over 20 million aesthetic procedures done annually around the world? With the United States leading with 11 million procedures, cosmetic modification is slowly becoming the leading cause of medical tourism.
What is aesthetic medicine? Aesthetic medicine describes all medical procedures that aim at improving or altering the appearance of an individual. Such individuals are considered medically healthy and would live without going through the procedure; however, such patients feel the need to adjust certain features in their appearance.
Aesthetic medicine focuses on the removal of excess hair, cellulite, moles, ingrown hair, spider webs, scars, liver spots, and skin discoloration. Aesthetic procedures can be broadly classified into either invasive or non-invasive procedures. Examples of invasive surgical procedures done in aesthetic medicine include breast augmentation, abdominoplasty, liposuction, and rhinoplasty.
Examples of non-invasive aesthetic procedures include Botox injection for anti-aging, dermal filler injections, laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal, and microdermabrasion. Before undergoing any aesthetic procedure, a clinician needs to assess if the causative agent of the condition being modified is not an indicator of an underlying medical condition.
The use of aesthetic procedures is dependent on the patient’s desired outcome. A Botox injection is for the eradication of wrinkles found around the eyes and the forehead. Dermal fillers are used to restore skin previously lost along the cheekbone due to ageing. To correct fine lines, wrinkles, or uneven skin tone, chemical peels are recommended as a corrective aesthetic procedure.
Laser treatment is done as an aesthetic solution for tattoo removal, vascular lesions, removal of ingrown hair, and hyper-pigmented lesions. For persons with a double chin, the Kybella double chin reduction is an aesthetic procedure done to facilitate the natural fat burning of the fat below the chin. Microdermabrasion is a medical exfoliation process of the skin to remove dead cells and unclog the clogged skin pores. Dermal planning can be used as an alternative to microdermabrasion for exfoliation of the face.
Other aesthetic procedures include cellulite treatment, mesotherapy injection, lipotomy, non-invasive liposuction, YAG laser for spider veins, photorejuvenation, radio-frequency for skin lightening, face-lifts, breast augmentation, contour threads, carboxytherapy, and Brachioplasty.
Benefits of Aesthetic Surgery
Although aesthetic surgery is not a procedure that may be defined as a medically necessary procedure, it has proven to have a lot of benefits which are:
Improved Appearance
All aesthetic procedures aim to either modify or improve the physical appearance of a person. Aesthetic medicine has proven to be an effective way of modifying skin and skin structures to make one look younger and better than before. Aesthetic medicine aims to help an individual modify their appearance while producing a more natural outlook.
Improved Self-esteem
An individual who undergoes aesthetic procedures is because they are insecure about a particular body part; thus, they feel the need for it to be corrected and look a certain way. Aesthetic medicine offers excellent benefits as it fixes the problem leaving the patient feeling more confident about themselves. Research has shown that patients suffering from anxiety disorders or depression due to their appearance feel more confident and lead healthier lives after undergoing a corrective aesthetic procedure. Such patients are inspired to take up more challenges or engage more in social gatherings.
Improved Health
Some aesthetic procedures aim at correcting some health issues like the removal of stubborn fats, thus minimizing the chances of developing heart conditions or stroke. Additionally, some aesthetic procedures may be indicated to supplement and improve the overall skin health of an individual.
Immediate and long-lasting results
In some individuals, dieting and exercise to reduce weight may seem to be futile. However, with simple aesthetic procedures, one can promptly achieve the body’s that they desire. Most aesthetic treatments are durable, and its effects and outcome can last for years.
Aesthetic surgery and procedures may kick-start a healthy journey for some individuals. Once the aesthetic procedure is done, such people will embrace a healthy lifestyle and engage in exercise so that they can maintain their bodies.
