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Cosmetic medicine is not a medical specialty listed by the American Council of Graduate Medical Education. Rather it is a term used loosely to categorize non-surgical cosmetic or aesthetic procedures done by physicians as opposed to less invasive procedures done by estheticians or in spas.

Cosmetic Medicine or Medical Aesthetics is a relatively new term which describes an emerging field of medicine in which medical science, medical procedures and medical expertise are utilized by physicians to enhance or beautify people’s outward appearance. Another term used to describe cosmetic medicicine is aesthetic medicine.

Briefly, cosmetic medicine would include:
· Injectables-Botox® and Fillers like Juvederm®, Restylane®, and Radiesse®

· Laser and light therapies

I am sure there are others but the above two categories are certainly the most common. Procedures like liposuction are surgical procedures and I would not include them under the term cosmetic medicine.

Botox®

Botox® is used to lessen the lines of facial expression such as frown lines, worry lines, crows feet, bunny lines and lip lines. Results can be excellent (see photo below of Botox® injection into crow’s feet):

Juvederm®, Restylane®, Radiesse®-Soft Tissue Fillers

The soft tissue fillers like Juvederm® are used to fill deep facial lines and plump the lips. Results can be excellent if injected properly by an experienced professional (see photo below of filler injection into lip):

Laser Treatments

Lasers are used to:

· Remove hair

· Remove pigment and brown spots

· Remove blood vessels from the skin

· Remove wrinkles

Laser procedures are very effective when used by an experienced professional. Effective wrinkle removal requires ablative laser treatments which are done by a physician, and can be very effective (see photo below):

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light-also called photo-facial)

IPL can be used to remove hair, blood vessels, and pigment. IPL can be very effective for removing pigment and sun damage from the face and chest (see photo below before and after IPL treatments to the chest):

Infrared and radiofrequency treatments-Skin Tightening

Infrared and radiofrequency machines like LuxIR Deep and Thermage are used to tighten skin. Generally these machines accomplish about 20% of the tightening that can be achieved using surgical methods (see photo below before and after LuxIR Deep face and neck treatments):

The above cosmetic medicine procedures are the ones most commonly performed and the ones that are effective. There are many others that are widely advertised but which have not been proven to work.

I am sure this field will continue to grow. For more detailed information on non-surgical rejuvenation procedures read Save Your Face or visit my website. You may contact me at 978-369-4499.

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Dr. Seckel

Concord, Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts