Aesthetic treatments have gained popularity, yet many aesthetic treatment myths and false beliefs continue to mislead people today. The truth? Clearing up these aesthetic treatment myths can empower people to make smarter, more informed decisions about their self-care journey.
That’s why, in our latest AM MedTalk Instagram live, AMI Editor Shriyal Sethumadhavan addressed some of the most common myths with Dr Akanksha Singh, Founder, PromMed Aesthetics, Bengaluru.
MYTH 1- Aesthetic treatments are only for women. On a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the highest, how often does this myth come up? Like, 10 means almost everyone believes that aesthetic treatments are only for women. How would you rate it?
That’s not true. I have many male patients who do the same treatments as women. You know, it is not exclusive to women. As humans, we are all ageing, and everyone wants to look good. It has also become part of personal grooming for men, helping them in life.
It is part of their lifestyle and career, and it boosts their confidence. So, all the treatments my female patients do include lip fillers, botulinum toxin, anti-wrinkle injections, laser treatments, and skin rejuvenation. However, my male patients do them too.
MYTH 2- Results are immediate and permanent. How often do you encounter this expectation?
All the time! People think aesthetic treatments are like magic — do it once, and all their problems are fixed. It doesn’t work like that. Some treatments give short-term results, while others provide intermediate or long-term results.
It is important to discuss this from the start to align expectations. They need to know that some treatments last days, weeks, months, or years. That way, it’s easier for them to manage their treatment.
MYTH 3- Aesthetic treatments are only for celebrities. How common is this belief among the general public, and what trends have you noticed in your patient demographics?
Thanks to social media, everyone wants to look a certain way. They want to look like celebrities, with particular lips or a certain face shape. Everyone wants to look good for social media, vacations, and everything. I would say these days, pretty much everyone is doing something.
MYTH 4- You can get the same results with over-the-counter products. Could you elaborate on this and explain the difference between professional treatments and over-the-counter products?
Professional treatments use stronger ingredients than over-the-counter products, and they’re supervised. Over-the-counter products aren’t as strong, and there’s no regulatory oversight for that strength. So, the results are minimal.
Over-the-counter products are more for maintenance rather than treatment. In the clinic, we can combine treatments and customise them for patients. Over-the-counter, people just buy random creams or serums, apply them for months, and might even irritate their skin, then come to a dermatologist to fix it.
There is so much confusion now with so many products. I have patients with entire fridges dedicated to skincare! They use seven-step, and ten-step routines that are neither helping them nor their wallets. It’s best to do targeted treatments under professional supervision.
MYTH 5- Once you start aesthetic treatments, you can’t stop and will depend on them forever. Do you see patients coming with this fear?
Not really, because I counsel my patients well. These treatments are part of maintenance, just like working out, getting a haircut, or colouring your hair. If you like the results, you keep going. If you don’t want to maintain the look, you can stop. There’s no addiction. It’s like going to the gym then you follow a routine, see changes, and maintain it.
It’s the same with aesthetic treatments. There’s no addiction. Some people think these treatments are magic like doing one session and looking completely different. That’s not true, and it should be clear from the start to avoid disappointment.
MYTH 6- You will need extensive downtime after treatments. How often do patients ask about this? Can you talk about recovery times for common procedures?
The downtime depends on the treatment. Botulinum toxin and fillers might cause slight swelling, redness, or bruising that can take 15-20 days to heal. Shorter recovery times would be with chemical peels or HydraFacials.
Intermediate healing times, like with microneedling or RF microneedling, take longer. More extensive treatments like CO2 fractional laser or threads take even longer. So, I always make sure patients know what to expect so they can plan their treatments around their social commitments or vacations.
For more expert insights into the world of aesthetics, join Aesthetic Medicine India’s exclusive AM MedTalk every Sunday at 11 AM, only on Instagram.
If you missed joining us live, we have got you covered. Click here for the video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-PNBnZIeG_/