Author: Dr. Oreste Di Mattei Di Matteo
What is aesthetic medicine?
Aesthetic medicine is the medical discipline concerned with the psycho-physical well-being of patients, improving the quality of life of those suffering from discomfort due to an aesthetic imperfection.
One of the first definitions of aesthetic medicine was given by Dr. Jean Jacques Legrand in Paris in 1973, where it was first understood that the health of the individual also includes the balance and harmony between physical appearance and inner appearance at different stages of life. In light of these reflections, in the years to come, it became clear that a person's physical appearance also reflects their inner health, their status of relational and social well-being.
The subject of studies and research both in the field of medicine and social psychology, aesthetic medicine treats imperfections which are mainly due to:
- ageing;
- genetic factors;
- environmental factors.
Aesthetic medicine also plays an important role in prevention, since it teaches us to better understand and take care of our bodies, facing all of life's changes without discomfort. By improving one's self-esteem, the individual can re-establish a fair and healthy approach to relationships with other people.
Aesthetic medicine treatments
In modern aesthetic medicine, the correction and treatment of imperfections is achieved through the non-surgical use of increasingly innovative and minimally invasive instruments. The development of new materials and new equipment has made it possible to resort to a safer and more effective aesthetic medicine, prompting more and more people to undergo "scalpel-free" surgery.
Facial aesthetic medicine is certainly the area in which patients are most interested, as our face is like the first business card we show to other people. For example, in aesthetic medicine, dark circles around the lower eye socket and cheekbone areas can be effectively combatted by injecting treatments based on substances such as hyaluronic acid into these areas of the face.
Lips are also problematic areas for many women, with lip augmentation or the correction of lip volumes in as natural a way as possible often being requested, so that the lips are in harmony with the proportions and characteristics of the rest of the face. Among the treatments used, fillers are generally the most requested. In fact, this treatment can be carried out at an outpatient clinic, without the use of anaesthesia, and involves injecting a filler material into the lips or along the contour of the mouth with very fine needles. In a matter of minutes, the shape and volume of the lips are modelled, and apart from some slight swelling present in the first 24-48 hours, the procedure leaves no visible after-effects and you can resume normal daily activities right away.
A new philosophy of aesthetic medicine
Today there is growing demand from patients wanting to undergo cosmetic procedures, thanks to lower costs, but also and above all thanks to the reduced "physical" costs. In fact, patients who undergo cosmetic treatment may only experience some swelling or minor bruising, which usually disappears within a couple of days. Post-operative recovery is considerably shorter, with patients' recovery times being much faster than those who have undergone cosmetic surgery.
A further incentive for this type of non-invasive medicine is represented by society's new tendency towards seeking a more conscious and natural rejuvenation. Aesthetic medicine has abandoned the ideas of "artificial" beauty of the 1990s, when the volumes and proportions of the face were not respected, and instead aims at a more authentic, natural and true beauty. New equipment and new methodical techniques allow patients, in complete safety, to be in tune with the passing of time so that their appearance is consistent with their age, treating minor aesthetic problems in a minimally invasive way.
Aesthetic medicine has overtaken cosmetic surgery and is increasingly appreciated by patients, who are looking for a more conscious rejuvenation that highlights the aesthetic qualities of their face, correcting imperfections and enhancing their original beauty. Aesthetic medicine can therefore be considered as the treatment and maintenance for a more harmonious appearance of our natural beauty.
The aesthetic doctor
To carry out aesthetic medicine that is in line with what is now requested by patients, i.e. for a natural beauty look, we must first verify the absolute reliability of the products and materials used, certifying the professionalism and reliability of the doctor first and foremost. The aesthetic doctor must have a strong sense of ethics and high moral standards which, in full compliance with the Code of Ethics, meet the needs of the patient in leading him/her to the best treatment to meet his/her expectations.
Finding the ideal aesthetic doctor must therefore include an analysis of their pre-/post-treatment results, the way they work and their reputation and authority in the field.