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In this episode of Anti-Aging Insights, Dr. Teri Fisher delves into the psychology behind aesthetic medicine, emphasizing the interplay between physical appearance and mental well-being. Dr. Fisher explains that while treatments are designed to enhance outward appearance, the motivations often stem from deeper, emotional origins such as self-esteem and body image. The impact of these treatments often extends beyond the physical, fostering a positive psychological “ripple effect” that can enhance overall mental health and “health esteem.”

Social media’s role in shaping today’s beauty standards is a key topic, as platforms like Instagram and TikTok often present idealized, unattainable images that influence patient expectations. Dr. Fisher stresses the importance of realistic goals and the need for honest communication to manage patient expectations effectively. He raises ethical considerations, noting his responsibility to guide patients towards decisions that prioritize their well-being over mere appearance enhancement.

The episode also addresses potential psychological pitfalls, such as body dysmorphic disorder, where individuals fixate on perceived flaws, leading to continuous dissatisfaction and potential harm. Dr. Fisher emphasizes the importance of recognizing these issues and, when necessary, referring patients to mental health professionals.

Ethics and age appropriateness are crucial factors in aesthetic decision-making. Treatments suitable for one age group may not be appropriate for another, highlighting the practitioner’s role in ensuring the suitability of procedures. Finally, Dr. Fisher positions himself and fellow aesthetic practitioners as pivotal in supporting both the mental and physical health of patients, offering a holistic approach to aesthetic treatments that values psychological well-being. This thought-provoking episode underscores the belief that true beauty and confidence arise from a balanced, healthy mindset.

Key Insights

• Aesthetic medicine significantly impacts mental health, often improving self-esteem and overall mental well-being by addressing body image concerns and boosting confidence.
• The influence of social media on beauty standards is substantial, with platforms like Instagram and TikTok often promoting unrealistic ideals that practitioners must balance with what is achievable and healthy.
• While aesthetic treatments can empower individuals, psychological risks like body dysmorphic disorder exist, highlighting the need for practitioners to recognize when referrals to mental health professionals are necessary.
• Managing patient expectations is crucial, emphasizing enhancement over drastic change, with communication and honesty being key to ensuring patients have realistic views of potential treatment outcomes.
• Ethics in aesthetic medicine involve guiding patients towards decisions that prioritize their well-being, identifying underlying mental health concerns, and ensuring treatments align with each individual’s unique situation and age-appropriate needs.

Episode Transcript

Dr. Teri Fisher: Hello, and welcome back to this episode of Anti-Aging Insights. As you know, we dive into all things aesthetic medicine, with a focus on natural results, safety, and of, course health esteem.

Today’s episode is all about the psychology of aesthetic medicine. I’m going beyond just the physical aspects of treatments to get into the mental side of the things. Because while I do help to sculpt the outside, there’s always something going on beneath the surface. Whether it’s about boosting confidence, managing expectations, or even spotting deeper issues like body dysmorphia, aesthetic medicine plays a much bigger role in mental health than we might think. So let’s dig into it.

People come to me for a variety of reasons. And while the treatments are skin deep, the motivations are much deeper. For many it’s about self-esteem and body image. You know, wanting to feel more confident in your skin is a very powerful motivator and that’s perfectly normal. Whether it’s reducing wrinkles, contouring a jawline, or smoothing out skin tone, these tweaks can give people a little bit of a boost that they need to feel good. But here’s where it gets really interesting. There’s a psychological ripple effect. When someone feels better about how they look, it can improve their overall mental health, something that I call health esteem. A win in one area often leads to wins in other areas. That’s why understanding the why behind the procedure is so important. It’s not just about vanity. It’s about how someone sees themselves and how they want the world to see them.

Now let’s talk about social media and how that plays into this. Love it or hate it, platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok are shaping beauty standards in a huge way. As you know, there are filters, photo editing apps, and influencers themselves with seemingly flawless skin. They set a bar that’s not, well, exactly real. We see it every day. Patients come in and they ask to look like someone they’ve seen online. Sometimes they actually bring in a photo and show that particular photo to me. It can be tough because those images are often heavily edited. As an aesthetic practitioner, it’s important for me to balance what’s achievable with what’s realistic. And more importantly, I often need to remind people that beauty comes in all forms, and that the idealized version that they’re seeing on social media might not be the healthiest one to chase.

On the positive side, aesthetic treatments can be a big confidence booster. Think about it. If something has been bothering you for years, and you finally have the opportunity to address it, that sense of relief and new found confidence can be life-changing and in many cases that boost in self-esteem can lead to an overall improvement in mental health. People then feel empowered when they take control of their appearance in a way that feels good to them. But, and this is the key, there are psychological risks involved too. Body dysmorphic disorder, for example, is when someone becomes fixated on a perceived flaw that may not even exist or be real. This can lead to a never ending cycle of treatments without any satisfaction. And as a practitioner, I need to be vigilant about identifying patients who might be struggling with this and sometimes the best treatment I can offer is actually referral to a mental health professional.

A big part of my job is also managing expectations. The goal is always to enhance, not completely change who someone is. But sometimes patients come in with unrealistic expectations, like wanting to look 20 years younger or have an exact feature that they’ve seen on someone else. That’s where communication becomes so important. I always strive to be clear about what’s possible and what’s not. And the key here is honesty. Honesty. Patients deserve transparency when it comes to what a treatment can do, and more importantly, what it can’t do.

Ethics play a huge role in aesthetic medicine as well, especially when it comes to mental health. I’m not just here to give patients what they ask for. I need to think about the broader impact of treatments and ask, is this in their best interest?

Age can be a factor too. Treatments that are appropriate for someone in their forties may not make sense for someone in their twenties and vice versa. I believe I have a responsibility to guide patients towards the right decision for their wellbeing, not just their appearance. And as a practitioner, I’m often on the front lines of identifying mental health concerns. Sometimes a patient’s desire for multiple drastic changes can signal something deeper. And that’s where I believe our ethical responsibility as collective aesthetic practitioners comes in. It’s about balancing the patient desires with what’s medically appropriate.

At the end of the day, aesthetic medicine isn’t just about enhancing the way someone looks. It’s about supporting the way they feel. And as a practitioner, I believe I have the unique opportunity to positively impact both. So whether it’s helping someone feel more confident, or making sure they’re seeking the right kind of help, it’s my job to navigate the psychological side with as much care as the physical side.

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Anti-Aging Insights. If you found this discussion helpful, make sure to stay in touch. Subscribe if you haven’t already, and share this with anyone that you think might benefit from it. Until next time, remember sculpted confidence starts with a healthy mindset.