An aesthetic doctor is a physician above all, but who has specialised in aesthetic medicine through additional qualifications after completing their general medical degree (which takes around 10 years of study). An aesthetic doctor is not a surgeon and therefore does not perform operations. An aesthetic doctor is not a dermatologist and consequently does not treat skin conditions. An aesthetic doctor is a physician of beauty. Caution is advised with treatments from fake injectors and non-medical centres; one must not play with their health.

1- Will it be noticeable that I've had aesthetic treatments? For my part, when one notices that someone has had treatments, it means that they have overdone it. When aesthetic medicine is evident on a face, it indicates poor execution. I believe that aesthetic medicine should be approached with moderation to provide a boost and a fresh appearance, but definitely not to alter a face. 2- Don't sell dreams! Aesthetic medicine is a science that brings improvement to certain aspects of the face or body, but it can never replace cosmetic surgery. In aesthetic medicine, we enhance, we prevent cellular aging, we reduce certain signs of time, but we do not erase areas that are too marked by time. It’s important to understand this to avoid disappointment with the results. 3- A treatment for men or women? Long hailed by women, aesthetic medicine sees an increasing number of men seeking treatment every day. And thankfully so! 4- The importance of consent The documents we ask you to sign serve not only to protect us in case of incidents but also to inform you of the possible outcomes that may occur after any aesthetic treatment. It’s somewhat like the leaflet of side effects you find in a medicine box. Unfortunately, there are indeed risks of spots after laser treatments and cases of necrosis following injections. Thus, we do not take these treatments lightly as they are primarily "medical". 5- The ideal time to do it There is no ideal moment to undergo these treatments, but just know that the results will be more pronounced if the symptoms to be treated are minor. We don’t perform treatments on a Monday when you’re getting married on a Saturday! I do not want to be responsible for bruises in your photos. 6- What to tell your partner? To hide it or to tell them? I am often told that partners should not know about your aesthetic treatments. However, let's ask ourselves the right question: Is it not legitimate, in our generation, to take care of ourselves and slow down the effects of time? If we analyse this properly: The fear of partners comes from the risk of transformation, which I find understandable. Never forget, ladies and gentlemen, that you are free to make your own choices. Your body belongs to you, and so does your face. It’s up to you to reassure them by explaining what you are undertaking. 7- Social media If there is one term I must use to describe social media, it is CATASTROPHE. Of course, social media is also a source for recruiting patients for aesthetic practices. Remember that we only showcase the good results on our social media, not the "failures" and "non-responders". Do not rely solely on social media (even mine!!!).

Advice 1: Never undergo treatment on the day of your consultation, as it is important not to "dive in" without taking a step back and reflecting both on the budgetary aspect and on the treatments proposed in relation to your expectations. Advice 2: LISTEN to the doctor, because we often come to the consultation with a specific idea of the desired outcome, and although the doctor will explain what you can realistically achieve, you still hold onto the fantasy of an unattainable result. Advice 3: Read the reviews. But BE CAREFUL, only trust the majority of opinions, as, take a look at social media. You will find that it is always the same individuals who are quick to criticise a doctor. Of course, the doctor cannot defend themselves as they are bound by patient confidentiality. These same individuals, who usually operate under a pseudonym, are either patients who believed in the dream and did not listen (advice 2), or women or secretaries of doctors (an ideal method to divert patients, unfair competition), or it may be that their experience with the doctor did not go well. However, it is also important to understand why things went wrong. Advice 4: If your doctor advises against a treatment, then listen to them, DO NOT GO AHEAD. A refusal means a loss for the doctor, but a refusal equals safety and peace of mind (for everyone!!!). This morning, a kind lady insisted on lip injections despite being a carrier of an autoimmune disease and having previously experienced lumps post-injection. When I refused her, she said to me, “I travelled across Paris for my lips, and you refuse me...”. Yes, we do not perform injections in the presence of an autoimmune disease. Another person, 30 years ago, received silicone in her face. ONE SHOULD NEVER INJECT in a risky area like silicone. She was very upset to be denied any treatment. You can be sure that these individuals will be very active on social media. Advice 5: Aesthetic medicine can provide improvement, but not transformation. You cannot gain 20 years with just 2 vials. Let’s stop dreaming. Advice 6 (The last one): Fees. The cost of a vial of hyaluronic acid can range from the cheap (foreign product with no traceability) to the triple (a safe product from a well-established lab, with a team of pharmacists). A laser treatment performed by a qualified laser doctor does not cost the same as a non-medical hair removal centre. Do nothing if it destabilises your financial balance, remain beautiful just as you are. You can consider it on the day when it becomes easier.

Social media and thus selfies are the reason for the younger age of the first consultation. I find it truly unfortunate that young people struggle so much to accept themselves and regard a mere aesthetic detail as a major flaw. I believe that we, as parents, should not give in to our children's desires before they turn 20 at the very least. I often observe in my consultations parents who come with their children because they have thrown in the towel. This battle is just as important as the energy we invest in their education; we must not give up or submit to the demands of the young. I always try to help young people understand that they should not step into aesthetic medicine because, after that, they might find it hard to do without, and the desire will not stop at a simple wish to modify an aspect of their body or face, but will lead to an unhealthy escalation.