6Rs of Aesthetics Medicine

There is right now no universally agreed upon definition of Aesthetic Medicine. The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery has characterized corrective surgery as “a subspecialty of medicine and surgery that exceptionally limits itself to the upgrading of visual appearance through surgical and non surgical techniques [2]. It is particularly concerned with keeping up one’s physical appearance, enhancing it, progressing toward an artistic level. Aesthetic work is becoming “need felt”, and consequently, my article will summarize, the available treatment options in order to deliver greater clarity to you, dear reader [3].

Rejuvenate - As we age, our skin accumulates pigmentation and loses its glow, radiance and smoothness. Lasers, medical peels, energy based devices (Thermage, Ulthera, HIFU) can help in redraping your skin, giving you cleaner and clearer skin [4]. This is usually continued as a maintenance treatment, just like your regular skincare routine, in order to optimize your skin.

Repair - Ageing and sun damage leads to skin losing collagen, elastin and moisture. Repairing damaged collagen and replenishing the skin with moisture will help in fixing skin deterioration. Rejuran, skin boosters and PRP are the leaders in this category [5].

Refill - With ageing, facial deflation and descent occurs. Your skin loses tension and elasticity. Your facial ligaments grow loose. Your fat pads decrease and head south. Your bony anatomy reduces and sinks in. Fillers help to restore this volume loss. Fillers can also be used to enhance your features. There are 2 types of fillers. Once that gives instant filling, and the other, the collagen stimulants that gradually builds up volume. Common areas of enhancement are the T zone, Forehead, Nose, Chin and the U zone, Temples, cheeks and lips on the topic of enhancement, thread lifts have been performed in the nose with excellent results [6].

Relax - Wrinkles occur from repetitive movement. Those dynamic lines can be softened with muscle relaxant to create a fresher, softer look. Tension headaches can be reduced with this.

Reposition - Natural repositioning of soft tissue and skin that has headed southwards will recreate a younger, firmer version of you. Thread lifts, filler and micro-toxin done in the right places, can help to firm and tighten your skin and lift those saggy tissue.

Reduce - Many of us complain of 3 areas of fat accumulation. Double chin is a complaint that starts in our 30s. Jowls from 40s onwards, clearly a more matured group, and finally heavy upper eyelids in the matured group, from 50s onwards. There are treatments designed to help reduce this accumulation of excess soft tissue (eg Deoxcholic acid, Laser RF), but caution needs to be exercised as not everyone is suitable. The other excellent reduction act is the injection of muscle relaxant to reduce a square jaw, inducing a slimming v line effect.

1. Sachdev M, Gillian RB (2014) Essential requirements to setting up an aesthetic practice. Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery 7(3): 167.
2. Source: Euromonitor international beauty survey. 2016
3. Source: Euromonitor global medical aesthetics market 2016-2020.
4. Source: Euromonitor aesthetic lasers and energy devices market in the US 2016-2020.
5. Source: Euromonitor global facial injectables market 2016-2020.
6. Qyr pharma: “global medical aesthetics industry: injectables, energy-based devices, cosmeceuticals.

© 2018 Daniel Chang. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.