The Importance of a Natural Look and the Slippery Slope of the Race Against Time

We would all have loved to stop time somewhere in our early thirties. Therefore, the aesthetic medicine field in general and the field of anti-aging in paricular, are constantly evolving, experiencing increasing demand. However just like any industry, extreme practices, exaggerated treatments and unprofessionalism lead to dire consequences, deformed faces, which may appear ageless yet also devoid of proportion and expressions.

More and more patients and practitioners now stress the importance of a "natural look". Why is that so?

Until recently, we women were convinced that our greatest enemy was age, just like Michael Jackson was sure that his foe was his African look. However over the past two decades an even greater threat has shown its face: aestheticians trying to please us. Any untrained eye, even that of a child, can identify an unnatural look (considering of course gender, ethnic background and age), characterizing it as scary, ridiculous, or ugly.

Most aging process are natural and inevitable. If this is the case, what can we do to treat the damages caused by time and obtain a natural result?

Well, just like in any other area in life, this is a relationship - a three-way relationship involving the patient, the doctor, and the industry. Each side in these relations has a role. Just like in marriage, the success of this relationship relies on three conditions: realistic expectations, willingness to compromise, and wise decisions.

The patient must understand that as the years go by, she is likely to change. No one will ever "bring her back 20 years in 20 minutes", as advertisements often promise. The patient must accept a certain degree of change, not chasing after every line or sign of drop, so that she can avoid looking unnatural or even pathetic.

We doctors are obligated to avoid selling illusions; rather, we should foster realistic expectations with much honesty. Every doctor working in this field must be proficient in anatomy, physiology and pharmacology. However these are not sufficient for a high-quality, natural-looking result: we must also have an artistic-sculpting perspective, understand the significance of light and shade, asymmetry, and disproportion.

The industry certainly plays its designated role in this triangle. Over the past two decades, it has put at our disposal a vast range of advanced hyaluronic acid products. For example, the Stylage by Vivacy product range is part of the third generation of advanced hyaluronic acid products, and it includes shelf products for different indications and areas. This product is unequivocally safe and results last a very long time. Another miraculous filler, which is not part of the hyaluronic acid group, opens up many treatment options and contributes to an improved skin texture. It is called Radiesse, a natural substance based on calcium beads.

Injection methods have also made a long way, now offering advanced methods for facial sculpting and injection techniques. In addition to traditional needles used for injecting fillers, a micro-cannula has been developed as an advanced injection device. It is a thin, flexible tube, much safer and a lot less intimidating, which allows us to treat half of the face using just one puncture. Softfeel cannulas offer more than ten types in a variety of lengths and diameters to be used as needed.

And of course, having mentioned our obligation to treat the skin's texture in order to preserve an even, natural look, the industry puts at our disposal a very broad range of laser, sound wave, and radio wave technologies for various indications in the field of skin aging (spots, couperose, elasticity, and drops). As for device innovation, the Ultherapy ultrasound technology stands out as a unique technology aimed for firming the skin by penetrating into the skin envelopes of the challenging neck, jawline, and eye areas.