Minimally invasive cosmetic procedures for mothers of brides: Strategies and considerations.

The pivotal role of the bride's mothers in wedding celebrations is an effective motivation to seek cosmetic therapies, making them frequent patients in a dermatologists' offices. Addressing their aesthetic concerns contributes to their holistic well-being, but faces an intricate relationship between time availability, financial factors, and the critical emotional context. This article underscores the varying behavioral patterns of mothers of brides when seeking aesthetic treatments, providing tailored strategies for effective communication and decision-making, based on individual personalities. Additionally, this paper presents a specific timeline for the implementation of these interventions, including neuromodulators, collagen stimulators, and fillers. Understanding the unique traits and expectations of this particular population can lead to improved patient satisfaction, enhanced outcomes, and an overall positive experience.

Ageism and Health in Patients Undergoing Cosmetic Procedures.

BACKGROUND: Ageism is a common form of prejudice that negatively affects the health of older adults. Anti-aging procedures are increasingly popular among patients seeking aesthetic surgery and minimally invasive treatments. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of age-based discrimination, and its relationship to health, among patients seeking cosmetic procedures. METHODS: Patients from a university-based, single-surgeon, aesthetic plastic surgery clinic completed the Everyday Discrimination Scale, which assesses the frequency with which individuals have experienced "microaggressions" and the main reason(s) for discrimination (including age). Participants also completed: measures of perceived age discrimination across interpersonal, romantic, work, and healthcare contexts and anticipation of age-based discrimination in the future; a single-item measure of self-rated health (rated 1-5); and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. RESULTS: Fifty patients consented to participate in the study (94% women, 78% white, mean age 49.4 ± 13.5 years). More than 30% of participants reported age as the main reason for everyday discrimination. Participants who reported experiencing age-based discrimination, compared with those who did not, had worse self-rated health, lower self-esteem, and greater anticipated age-based discrimination. Participants most frequently endorsed experiencing age-based discrimination in an interpersonal context (36.0%) followed by work settings (20.0%). CONCLUSIONS: A significant portion of patients seeking cosmetic procedures may experience age-based discrimination, which could negatively affect their health and well-being. Patients might benefit from expectation management about how their procedure may or may not address their concerns about age-based discrimination. More research is needed to determine whether cosmetic procedures help to mitigate discrimination in aging patients.

Quality of life before and after cosmetic procedures on the face: A cross-sectional study in a public service.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life can be impaired by health conditions that modify body appearance. AIMS: The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the quality of life of patients before and after free-of-charge esthetic dermatological treatments offered in a philanthropic Dermatological Clinic for nonpathological conditions, such as anti-aging procedures. METHODS: All consecutive patients admitted between March and November 2016 were recruited. All esthetic treatments in this study were simple procedures applied in one session only, on the face, neck, arms, and upper chest, with a consult visit scheduled four weeks later for clinical evaluation. The WHOQOL-BREF instrument was used before and one month after the procedure. RESULTS: WHOQOL-BREF scores increased significantly after treatment (P < 0.001) in all the domains. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing simple dermatological treatments applied by specialists report overall and specific domain improvements in quality of life, according to the World Health Organization instrument, regardless of the type of procedure.

The Impact of Labiaplasty on Sexuality.

BACKGROUND: Labiaplasty is one of the aesthetic procedures that has shown the greatest increase in the number of operations in recent years, although the absolute number of these procedures is still very low. Labia minora hypertrophy causes not only functional discomfort and sexual difficulties, but also embarrassment and aesthetic concern. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of labiaplasty on the patient's quality of life, self-esteem, and sexual function. METHODS: Twenty-four consecutive sexually active patients, who expressed the desire to undergo labiaplasty, were divided into two groups of 12 patients each: the intervention group that underwent labiaplasty immediately after responding the first questionnaires, and the control group that received no intervention during the study period. All patients were assessed for health-related quality of life, self-esteem, and sexual function using the Brazilian Portuguese versions of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, the Brazilian version of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale, and the Female Sexual Function Questionnaire, respectively. The questionnaires were administered at inclusion and at 3 and 6 months later in both groups. Comparisons within and between groups were performed. Statistical analysis was performed at a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: No significant differences in Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale or Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey score were found in either group during the study period. However, a significant improvement was found in the Female Sexual Function Questionnaire total score in the pain and enjoyment domains. CONCLUSION: Labiaplasty had a positive impact on sexual functioning of the study population.

Patient Perceived Benefit in Facial Aesthetic Procedures: FACE-Q as a Tool to Study Botulinum Toxin Injection Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: There are numerous methods of assessing patient satisfaction with botulinum toxin type A neuromodulation of the glabellar rhytids. As the use of aesthetic neuromodulation increases both in breadth and number of procedures, there is a need for more comprehensive tools to evaluate patient-reported outcomes. The FACE-Q is a recently validated patient-reported outcome instrument that can be used to measure patient perceptions of botulinum toxin type A neuromodulation. OBJECTIVES: This study used the FACE-Q to assess patient satisfaction following botulinum toxin type A neuromodulation of the glabellar rhytids. METHODS: 57 female patients completed the FACE-Q, a survey that evaluates patients' satisfaction with their facial appearance. After this baseline survey, the patients received injections of one of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox, Allergan, Dublin, Ireland), abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport, Galderma, Lausanne, Switzerland), or incobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin, Merz Pharmaceuticals, Frankfurt am Main, Germany) in the glabella. Two weeks post-injection, the patients completed the FACE-Q again. The percentage changes in patient responses were tabulated to determine how neuromodulation affects patient satisfaction with their facial appearance. The percentage changes for each of the neurotoxin groups were compared to determine if patient satisfaction with neuromodulation varies with the type of neurotoxin. RESULTS: Patient satisfaction with their overall facial appearance increased by 28% following neuromodulation. Patients stated that they believe they look an average of 5.6 years younger post-neuromodulation. There were no significant differences among the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: The FACE-Q demonstrates that patients are more satisfied by their overall facial appearance and age appearance following neuromodulation of their glabellar rhytids. Patients are equally satisfied with the improvement of their facial appearance regardless of which neurotoxin they received. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2: Therapeutic.

"Almost invisible scars": medical tourism to Brazil.

Along with a handful of other nations in the developing world, Brazil has emerged as a top destination for medical tourism. Drawing on the author's ethnographic fieldwork in plastic surgery wards, this article examines diverse factors - some explicitly promoted in medical marketing and news sources, others less visible - contributing to Brazil's international reputation for excellence in cosmetic plastic surgery. Brazil's plastic surgery residency programs, some of which are housed within its public health system, attract overseas surgeons, provide ample opportunities for valuable training in cosmetic techniques, and create a clinical environment that favors experimentation with innovative techniques. Many graduates of these programs open private clinics that, in turn, attract overseas patients. High demand for Brazilian plastic surgery also reflects an expansive notion of female health that includes sexual realization, mental health, and cosmetic techniques that manage reproduction. Medical tourism is sometimes represented as being market-driven: patients in wealthier nations travel to obtain quality services at lower prices. This article ends by reflecting on how more complex local and transnational dynamics also contribute to demand for elective medical procedures such as cosmetic surgery.

Body dysmorphic disorder among dermatologic patients: Prevalence and clinical features.

BACKGROUND: An impairing preoccupation with a nonexistent or slight defect in appearance is the core symptom of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a psychiatric condition common in dermatology settings. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the prevalence of BDD in dermatologic patients, comparing general and cosmetic settings, and describing some demographic and clinical characteristics. METHODS: In all, 300 patients were consecutively assessed. Screening and diagnoses were performed with validated instruments plus a best estimate diagnosis procedure. The final sample comprised 150 patients in the cosmetic group, 150 patients in the general dermatology group, and 50 control subjects. Standard statistical analyses were performed (chi(2), nonparametric tests, logistic regression). RESULTS: The current prevalence was higher in the cosmetic group (14.0%) compared with general (6.7%) and control (2.0%) groups. No patient had a previous diagnosis. Frequently the reason for seeking dermatologic treatment was not the main BDD preoccupation. Patients with BDD from the cosmetic group were in general unsatisfied with the results of dermatologic treatments. LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional study conducted in a university hospital is a limitation. It is uncertain if the findings can be generalized. Retrospective data regarding previous treatments are not free from bias. CONCLUSIONS: BDD is relatively common in a dermatologic setting, especially among patients seeking cosmetic treatments. These patients have some different features compared with general dermatology patients. Dermatologists should be aware of the clinical characteristics of BDD to identify and refer these patients to mental health professionals.