More and more people are dissatisfied with their appearance. Aesthetic medicine is booming – also in dermatology. What are the most common requests for treatment?
Aesthetic treatments that are covered in the dermatological field are about non-invasive procedures such as botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acidvariceal sclerotherapy, Lipolysis or Fadenlifting. In addition, microneedling treatments and chemical peels can be performed. With sufficient surgical knowledge, small facelifts or eyelid lifts can be carried out. These methods are effective, but can lead to complications if not treated correctly.
Awareness is important…
Although aesthetic treatments are usually safe, complications cannot be ruled out. The most common side effects of botulinum toxin therapy are unwanted paralysis of adjacent muscle regions. Allergic reactions, on the other hand, are extremely rare. In hyaluronic acid therapy vascular occlusions accidental intravascular injections is a dreaded and regularly occurring complication. Common side effects of treatment include local hematoma, swelling, and temporary nodule formation. Knowledge of complication management is therefore mandatory.
In addition to a hygienic and sterile treatment method, the expertise of the practitioner is particularly important. In Germany, aesthetic treatment is officially permitted for licensed doctors. If possible, appropriate training should be carried out and verifiable.
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… and that can go wrong
In our digital dermatology practice, we regularly have patient images in which a distinction must be made between a hematoma and a vascular occlusion. Strong pain, paresthesias or pronounced discoloration indicate a vascular occlusion. In this case, immediate treatment should take place (e.g. with hyaluronidase if a vascular occlusion is suspected).
It can be observed that in recent years an increasing number of young people, especially those between the ages of 18 and 35, want to have aesthetic treatments carried out. Among other things, this can be attributed to digital consumer behavior (social media). The expectations are also clearly distorted – some wishes simply cannot be achieved with aesthetic interventions and are also not recommended. Unfortunately, some of these are still carried out carelessly, since the young people have not obtained sufficient medical information in advance. It has been shown that young patients will definitely reconsider the aesthetic procedure if they are well informed in the dermatologist’s practice. Of course, this also applies to other patients who are sufficiently informed about the risks and side effects.
Contraindications and complications
It should also be observed urgently whether the health requirements for an intervention are given at all. Because there are some important contraindications to aesthetic procedures. The psychological state is elementary, since an aesthetic treatment should only be carried out if the mental state is stable. This ensures realistic expectations and improves the outcome.
These contraindications should be excluded:
- Existing pregnancy: During this time, the patient should not have any aesthetic treatments carried out.
- Certain medical conditions: Mainly autoimmune diseases or diabetes.
- Blood thinners: They increase the risk of bleeding.
- Acute infections: In the case of an infection, especially in the facial area, no aesthetic treatment should be carried out.
- Known allergies.
If measures are necessary to treat complications after aesthetic treatments, these depend on the type and severity of the complication. Early detection and treatment should reduce the risk of serious complications.
The most common complications of aesthetic procedures in dermatology are:
- Infections: Infections can also occur with aesthetic treatments.
- Allergic reactions to injection products: Patients sometimes react with allergic reactions to injection products used, which can lead to redness, swelling and itching.
- Asymmetries: Existing asymmetries can be unmasked or reinforced, especially in the face area.
- Scarring: Aesthetic procedures can result in scars.
Overall, modern aesthetic dermatology offers advantages, but also requires careful consideration of the possibilities and limitations as well as good education, since the results, however, all errors can also be directly visible.
Image source: Anita Jankovic, unsplash