Surgery, a growing phenomenon? Everything points to yes if we take into account the ““Sizing and socioeconomic impact study of Aesthetic Medicine in Spain” during the year 2021, prepared by Hamilton and presented by the Spanish Society of Aesthetic Medicine (SEME) last September.

40% of the general Spanish population has used aesthetic medicine services on some occasion. Among them, 71.8% are women and 28.2% are men. And the practice increasingly conquers the younger public. A few years ago the average age of entry into aesthetic medicine was 35 years. Now, young people in their early 20s access them mainly for lip fillers with hyaluronic acid and botulinum toxin, according to the study.

There are more and more centers specialized in these techniques, including the Vieco Clinic in Madrid (Calle Bárbara de Braganza, 14) or Mangata (Calle Víctor Andrés Belaunde, 6. Madrid), which highlights, for example, lip augmentation with hyaluronic acid, “an aesthetic practice on the order of the day that is carried out by injecting this existing substance into the tissues of our own body, naturally present in the epidermis or cartilage, and with a great capacity to attract and retain water, which provides elasticity and firmness.

For what is this? How to explain the phenomenon? We spoke with Graziella Moraes, aesthetic doctor and founder of the firm that bears her name.

How did you get into the aesthetic world and what treatments do you currently do?

I began my career as a family doctor, a specialty that I love because of the closeness to patients and the global vision it provides. Later, my interest in aesthetic medicine came through a friend who offered me to be a trainer for her products.

Thanks to that experience, I discovered how much can still be contributed in the field of Aesthetic Medicine and that was when I decided to study the specialization. Today, it is completely my dream and my vocation and, for this reason, I founded the Graziella Moraes firm in Galicia.

In our clinics we like to treat patients in a global and personalized way. For this reason, we have a wide range of facial and body treatments, and we make a large investment in cutting-edge machinery and technological innovation to offer the most natural and quality results. This is our main value proposition.

Do you accept all interventions? Which are the most requested?

No, we do not accept all interventions. I think it is one of the reasons why the Graziella Moraes clinics have such professionalism and reputation, because we will always prioritize the well-being of the patient. In this way, we always begin with an in-depth diagnosis of each person and, throughout the entire process, we are very honest, so that, if something cannot be achieved with aesthetic medicine because surgery is necessary or, simply, if it is If what is sought is a very exaggerated or unsightly change, we do not move forward.

Our philosophy is to enhance the natural beauty of each person with subtle changes that improve without changing completely and with realistic results. And that’s how we let our patients know.

Regarding the second question, I would say that there are three aesthetic medicine treatments that are trending. Firstly, without a doubt, botulinum toxin, which serves to correct wrinkles in the upper third of the face, thus giving prominence to the look. Secondly, the replacement of facial volumes that are lost with natural aging. Finally, lip treatments (not an exaggerated volume gain, but recovering hydration, turgor and definition).

Have you noticed a clear “rejuvenation” of patients in recent years? Are there more and more people in the 18 to 25 age group?

The truth is that yes. For a few years now, we have been noticing that younger patients are coming to us for several reasons: on the one hand, due to the direct influence of social networks (and filters) in terms of the creation of a supposed ideal image that is wants to achieve and, on the other hand, we believe that because more and more importance is being given to prevention.

The message that aesthetic doctors send through networks, blogs and similar channels is precisely that, beyond treatments being a useful way, the importance always lies in the work of prevention. That is, prevent the appearance of wrinkles, spots, sagging… to delay aging. In the case of aesthetic medicine, prevention is always better than cure and we believe that this message is reaching the younger audience.

Do you think that social networks are the key factor in this phenomenon? How do you think they can be a danger?

Yes of course. Social networks are a double-edged sword because it is a resource in which we can, on the one hand, find a lot of truthful, educational information, explained by professionals and details about treatments with real results and on the other hand, information that is not entirely real, which is not proven and which promises results that are very spectacular, but which are not real and can create false expectations about what can be achieved with aesthetic medicine.

In the end, what aesthetic medicine is looking for is an evolution. We accompany our patients over the years improving their appearance progressively and that is difficult to capture in a before and after photo on social networks, but it is the essence of our work.

Do you think it is temporary or that we are facing a phenomenon with long-term repercussions?

I think it is a trend that is growing, it is not a passing fad. In my opinion, I believe that people are becoming aware of the importance of looking good over the years and I believe that it is our obligation, as aesthetic doctors, to share real, truthful information, explaining things how they really are in an understandable way. And simple.

Has surgery been completely democratized?

In our case we do not perform surgery, but in the case of aesthetic medicine I consider that it has not been democratized if we take into account the prices, since it is undeniable that aesthetic medicine treatments are not cheap, but I do believe that it has been normalized its use. And, above all, the prejudice that these types of services are only aimed at women has been reversed, as more and more men are turning to aesthetic clinics.

In fact, in general, it is increasingly understood as normal for someone to resort to aesthetic medicine as part of their beauty routine, as another complement to the care of their physique. Just as it is normal to go to the hairdresser from time to time, resorting to aesthetic medicine to prevent, improve or subtly change is also normal.

How to avoid drifts? What advice can you give?

The basis of any good treatment is a good diagnosis and a lot of sincerity on the part of the professional who performs it. Our duty as aesthetic doctors is to advise our patients on what they can do to achieve the best result, also knowing when to stop so that it is natural and aesthetic.

My advice for people who want to start taking care of themselves through aesthetic medicine is to always put themselves in the hands of duly accredited specialists, not to be tempted by offers and to allow themselves to be advised, since a good doctor will always look first at the physical and mental well-being of your patient.

Follow the topics that interest you