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the art of cosmetic medicine: it's not just 'having work done'

the notion of frozen, unnatural features often casts a shadow over the value of changes that help you look great for your age.

by dr. rohan bissoondath

nov 9 2020

4 minute read

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the art behind cosmetic medicine: so much more than 'having work done'

a look at some of the myths surrounding cosmetic medicine. getty

when most people think of cosmetic medicine, plastic surgery — and its occasionally drastic changes — often comes to mind. the notion of “having work done” or being left with frozen, unnatural features often casts a shadow over the value of cosmetic medicine.

first and foremost, there are two facets in this industry: surgical, which refers to plastic surgery, and non-surgical, which pertains to things like body contouring, botulinum toxin (known most commonly by one of its brands, botox), dermal fillers and energy-based devices. my cosmetic practice focuses on the latter and is grounded both in the philosophy of science and the art of skin rejuvenation. i believe the practice of cosmetic medicine must be integrated with our “healthstyle.” that is, our lifestyle, overall health and how we age .

i want to debunk a few myths and share some of the values and benefits of cosmetic medicine.

myth: cosmetic medicine equals looking unnatural

one comment i often hear from patients is the concern that others will notice they’ve had “work” done. patients are worried about over-plumped lips, frozen faces and other unnatural features. these are extreme cases, and sometimes, a personal choice of the individual. some people are looking for that “done” look.

however, the overwhelming majority of people we meet just want to look refreshed and great for their age — to look natural with slight enhancements. the key here is the “art of subtlety,” meaning starting small and adding to treatments if needed. it also means understanding what a client’s perception of aesthetic beauty is and giving them the results they want, while paying attention to their facial structure, features and balancing the enhancements proportionally. depending on your skin goals, you can absolutely reap the benefits of cosmetic medicine while still looking like yourself.

myth: cosmetic medicine is for vanity

so many of my patients come in and start apologizing, saying, “sorry, i must seem so vain,” as if they have to justify wanting to have these treatments done. there’s no need to apologize for caring about your skin. i often compare it to going to the gym. no one apologizes for working out. we know that going to the gym has health benefits, but in all honesty, a lot of us go there because we want to lose weight, we want a six-pack. in addition to managing our health, we want the aesthetic benefits. we don’t need to justify our personal journey to look and feel our best.

myth: cosmetic medicine is only for women

both men and women care about their skin health. it’s something everyone should care about — after all, skin is the body’s largest organ and the only one we can see. generally, while women do make up the majority of the cosmetic medicine customer base, we are beginning to see more men owning how they look and age as well. this is a trend i believe will continue to grow.

once we get past the myths, the industry really opens up and becomes about how we introduce people to cosmetic medicine and creating a comfort level. i always recommend booking a consultation to assess your skin health with a physician who specializes in cosmetic medicine. a cosmetic medicine physician will have a solid understanding of anatomy, aging and beauty, as well as the science behind the technologies available. they will also be able to determine if the treatments are suitable for you, taking your health history into consideration and making sure procedures are medically safe.

a quick overview of some of the most common and popular non-surgical treatments includes anything from medical grade skin care to minimally invasive procedures like fillers. here are just a few:

medical-grade skincare. this includes products that are specifically tailored to your skin needs, and include a stronger concentration of active ingredients with proven results.

neuromodulators. injections, like botox, xeomin or dysport, which relax muscles and reduce their ability to contract fall into this category, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and aiding in the prevention of new ones. discovered in the 1800s and studied in the 1900s, botulinum toxin is one of the most well understood medications that we have, therefore making it one of the safest. it has also been approved for many medical uses, including the treatment of migraines, double vision and hyperhidrosis (pesky excessive sweating).

dermal fillers. these include injections, like restylane, perlane and juvederm, which create volume in areas that lose it as we age.

body contouring. using technologies such as coolsculpting and emsculpt, non-surgical fat reduction and muscle toning treatments reduce stubborn fat build-up by freezing away fat cells, and stimulating muscle contractions to improve muscle tone and definition, respectively.

beyond this, there are also tools such as lasers and other skin tightening technologies that can help to improve skin tone and appearance.

at the end of the day, exploring cosmetic medicine and investing in your skin health can be an extension of your overall health. we all have a unique perspective on what beauty is, and with the convergence of health, science and technology, we can be empowered to own our aging process and skin health.

my column will take a look at something that’s been on everyone’s mind: quarantine, maskne and anxiety (a triple threat).

dr. rohan bissoondath, md, is the medical director and founder of preventous collaborative health and preventous cosmetic medicine. he is an executive board member of the canadian association of aesthetic medicine and is certified by the college of family physicians of canada and licensed through the college of physicians and surgeons of alberta.

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the art of cosmetic medicine: it's not just 'having work done'

the notion of frozen, unnatural features often casts a shadow over the value of changes that help you look great for your age.

myth: cosmetic medicine equals looking unnatural

advice: 'maskne" is another side effect of covid-19

is botox for pregnancy headaches safe?

myth: cosmetic medicine is for vanity

myth: cosmetic medicine is only for women

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the art of cosmetic medicine: it's not just 'having work done'

the notion of frozen, unnatural features often casts a shadow over the value of changes that help you look great for your age.

myth: cosmetic medicine equals looking unnatural

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