Minimally Invasive Cosmetic Procedures Can Improve Psychological Wellbeing

If you’re thinking of trying a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure, you should go ahead according to the results of a new study.

Treatments like facial fillers and chemical peels don’t just make you look better, they can make you feel better too, by improving psychological wellbeing.

The study polled 500 adult patients who had undergone a non-surgical cosmetic procedure between 2016 and 2017 and nearly seven in 10 said they had the treatment in order to boost their wellbeing.

Other motivations cited were health, such as wanting to prevent worsening of a condition or symptoms, as well as a desire to “look good professionally”. A further 61% said cosmetic procedures were a way to “treat themselves or celebrate”.

The author of the study Dr. Murad Alam, Vice Chair of Dermatology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, said seeking cosmetic procedures was not about vanity.

"Patients' motivations for cosmetic procedures are not trivial. People who get such treatments are sensible, normal people who are not just obsessed with their appearance. They have a range of motivations.

“Apart from motivations pertaining to aesthetic appearance, motives related to physical health and psychosocial well-being, such as the desire to feel happier and more confident, or improve total quality of life,” he said. “Even spouses did not influence their behavior in this regard, and they did not generally get procedures to please a spouse or significant other.”

Alam added that the range of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures now available offered many of the benefits of traditional plastic surgery but without the downtime. The procedures undergone by those in the study included injectable fillers, cosmetic injections, Dermapen, chemical peels, tattoo removal, hair removal, laser and light treatments for skin resurfacing, as well as skin tightening and fat reduction treatments utilising radiofrequency or ultrasound.

There were some procedures in particular that offered people a real boost to their wellbeing. More than 86% of people who had body contouring treatments did so for psychological and emotional reasons. The same was true for 86% of people who had acne scar treatment and 73% who had tattoo removal.

Head Surgeon at Ocean Clinic Marbella, Dr. Kai Kaye said: “These findings reflect what we see in the clinic amongst our patients every day. Minimally invasive procedures offer an instant confidence boost and this can impact on all parts of a person’s life.

“Because these treatments are affordable and have little or no downtime, they’re becoming as much of a way to do something for yourself as getting a haircut or buying a new outfit. But the great thing is, they have much longer lasting results, meaning people can enjoy the psychological benefits for months after the procedure.”

We offer a range of non-surgical treatments through our Medical Spa. Contact Ocean Clinic Marbella for an appointment on 951 775 518 or email info@oceanclinic.net