Welcome to The Aesthetics Edit™ - our educational platform at the intersection of art, beauty, medicine and science.
Explore by category and read our latest articles below,
or see a full list of all of our pieces here
The History of Lasers
Ever wondered how lasers went from a sci-fi fantasy to an everyday reality in medicine and beauty? Let's dive into an incredible journey from their theoretical beginnings to the cutting-edge technology we use today. Swipe through to uncover the fascinating story of lasers and how they’ve transformed the world of dermatology and beyond. It's time to shine a light on the past, present, and future of lasers.
Eternal Beauty: Exploring the Aesthetic Concepts That Stand the Test of Time
Certain timeless aesthetic trends continue to inspire and influence us. These enduring trends have remained popular throughout history and continue to shape the way we think about beauty today. They are good guiding principles when you start treatment planning for any patient.
In this article, we will explore some of the aesthetic trends that stand the test of time.
Life in Plastic: The True Origin of Cosmetic Medicine
My first love was plastic surgery - and I always find it interesting to see the connotation associated with it today. People call women “plastic” as an insult, evoking the image of a Barbie doll, shaped and unnaturally molded to a male-centric ideal.
That is not what plastic surgery (or aesthetic medicine) is, was, or should be.
Plastic comes from the Greek “plastike”(teckhne) the art of modeling or sculpting, meaning return to form and function.
A Trip Back in Time: 100 Years of Cosmetic Medicine
Modern practices of cosmetic medicine can be traced back to the turn of the 20th century, but these stories and the people they are made up of are often relegated to being curious footnotes in medical history.
I want to take you on a little trip back in time, 100 years ago, to see the birth of modern cosmetic medicine in the States and the UK. You’ll read about non-medical charlatans, and some of the pioneers of this medical specialty. Of greater interest, you will see the parallels between the unregulated practice of a century ago, and the field of medical aesthetics in the UK today.
Unproven? Things About Botulinum Toxin That Even Doctors Get Wrong
There are a few often-quoted “facts” or assumptions around botulinum toxin that are actually currently unproven. But, even more surprising, these are potential misconceptions that persist even amongst fellow clinicians. I wanted to share some of the most fascinating with you!
This article is aimed at other cosmetic clinicians, but contains information that anyone who is interested in medical aesthetics might find enlightening!
The Beautiful History of Aesthetic Medicine
The desire to improve our appearance and to pursue a certain ideal of beauty has existed for as long as human history has been recorded. As I’ve written before, the history of aesthetic medicine is firmly ensconced in the history of plastic surgery, so you will find traces of that throughout this article.
Join us for a wonderful, whirlwind tour through the history of aesthetic medicine - from the ancient world to the modern day.
Which Cosmetic Treatments and Skincare Ingredients are Safe in Pregnancy?
Pregnancy is such an exciting and beautiful time in a woman’s life, but it can also be confusing and scary to navigate all of the sudden rule changes about what you can and cannot do. We want to look after ourselves and the baby as well as possible - and for many women a huge part of self-care can often involve medical aesthetic treatments and our beloved skincare routines.
But things do change during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and there are some cosmetic treatments that are better to avoid. Want to understand why you can have one treatment and not another? Read to find out!
COVID-19 and Your Hair: How to deal with post-viral hair loss
Let’s talk about COVID-19 and hair loss. This is something that has affected quite a few people, but it is not a problem that is well-known. As we are recovering from the pandemic, there may be patients who are finding themselves suffering from sudden unexplained hair loss after having recovered from COVID months ago!
What is Happening? It is a condition known as acute telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium is a very common cause of increased hair loss.
What is “Medical Aesthetics?”
Broadly speaking, medical aesthetics includes all medical treatments that are focused on improving the cosmetic appearance of patients. Medical aesthetics sits in a beautiful little niche in between the beauty industry and plastic surgery. Qualified doctors, nurses, or dentists can provide a multitude of stunning tweak-ments to improve your appearance.
The concept of “Instagram face” is not a new one, but has received more recent attention as Meta has banned filters that encourage plastic surgery. Awareness of the role that social media and photo editing plays in aesthetic medicine is incredibly important for both clinicians and patients. The influence of social media can be incredibly negative, and it means it’s more important than ever to navigate between good, ethical medical practice versus “selling” cosmetic procedures.