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 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.
Botched!: The Most Famous Cosmetic Medical Complications in History
BOTCHED!
Complications happen in medicine. In this article, we visit some of the most famous complications in cosmetic medical history - from famous 19th century beauties to Las Vegas showgirls.
But while these stories are fantastic pieces of the past and can serve as a cautionary tale, they also highlight how far we have come in the skill, safety, and artistry of medically-trained injectors today.
The History of Plastic Surgery Begins in Ancient Egypt: The Mystery of the Edwin Smith Papyrus
The history of aesthetic medicine is firmly ensconced in the history of plastic surgery, and the story plastic surgery itself is endlessly fascinating - beginning in the ancient world and blossoming in the wake of two bloody and horrific world wars. You could argue that the story of plastic surgery starts in the ancient Egypt. When the mysterious Edwin Smith Papyrus was finally translated, less than a hundred years ago, it was found to describe the first recorded nasal reconstruction, how to deal with facial fractures and gaping facial wounds, as well as basic techniques in trauma and trauma surgery.
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.