Aesthetic medicine: Defining aesthetic medicine

Abstract

The author discusses the origins, procedures, training, and future directions of aesthetic medicine. Aesthetic medicine is an emerging branch of medicine that relies on procedures and techniques to improve and enhance the appearance, texture, and contours of the skin, face, and body. Although some degree of overlap exists between aesthetic medicine and aesthetic surgery, for the most part, aesthetic medicine employs techniques and technologies that are either noninvasive or minimally invasive and performed without general anesthesia.