Wanting to Improve Your Looks Determines Whether You Will

I attended the fascinating FACE (Facial Aesthetic Conference and Exhibition) 2010 annual conference at the Royal College of Physicians in July and was honoured to be asked to deliver the keynote opening address. I was particularly thrilled, as I had the privilege of accepting a similar invitation a few years ago when this series of successful annual Conferences was just beginning to get off the ground.

My talk arose out of my experience working in private practice in Harley St taking referrals from my medical colleagues to assist in improving the well-being of patients they are working with. In this area of work, I am not consulting with people who are psychiatrically unwell in any way, but more they are emotionally ambitious.

In the last few years, economies may have dipped and even doubled dipped, but the economy surrounding face and body aesthetics continue to relentlessly surge ever upwards. Some might describe it as a kind of ultimate Face Lift?
 
One estimate I have seen is that the growth in demand for these kinds of procedures over the last ten years is roughly 500% across the Western World – but it has to be said that the largest engine to this growth still comes from the USA. Incidentally, these amazing growth statistics hint that if someone you know looks incredible for their age, then quite possibly they have had ‘work done. Admitting to aesthetic procedures remains an enormous taboo.
 
One issue that many of the doctors involved in this area buttonholed me to inquire about during the FACE conference, was the psychology of those seeking to improve their appearance. Many were anxious about how to ensure their patients were in the long run satisfied with whatever procedure they had sought. There was an acknowledgement that even though objectively there had been an improvement in physical appearance following the kind of procedures on offer at the FACE exhibition, oftentimes the emotional reaction was much more variable.

While the vast majority were delighted, there were some who appeared less enthusiastic, and a very small minority became disappointed.
 
The key contention in my talk at FACE 2010, and also in the conversations with many of the medical professionals I met during the Conference, is that psychology plays a pivotal role in the decision and successful execution of aesthetic improvement.