Title
Lasers in biomedicine
PhD project abstract
According to data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), nearly a quarter of a million more cosmetic procedures were performed in 2018 than in 2017, suggesting that the number of subjects receiving cosmetic procedures has risen steadily over the past five years. According to the ASPS, 1.8 million cosmetic surgical procedures and 15.9 million minimally invasive procedures, which involve the use of ’state-of-the-art’ laser technologies, were performed in 2018.
The wider use of social media platforms has greatly contributed to the desire for improved human appearance. A greater acceptance for cosmetic procedures serves as another reason accounting for this increase, with community users often posting ‘before-and- after’ photographs and sharing details about their cosmetic procedures and experiences. The affordability of such procedures has also made this approach available to a wider range of the population since cosmetic procedures, both surgical and non-surgical, have become more affordable with many financing options.
Perhaps the most relevant contributor is the technological advances that have allowed safer, more reliable, and greater access to modern tools to an increased number of professionals. Moreover, non-surgical treatments are an especially rapidly evolving arena, with lasers being one of the “rising stars” throughout the last 10 years.
Research from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) shows a fall in cosmetic surgical procedures of nearly 8% in 2017, and this is probably ascribable to a shift to alternative non-invasive esthetic procedures, such as those performed with lasers.
The 2019 survey by RealSelf/Harris Poll, rated the top-cited motivations for seeking cosmetic treatment are “to improve self-esteem/confidence” and “to look as good as the recipient feels”. We all want to present our best selves to the world and social media platforms have exerted even greater peer pressures for that human desire.
Medical professionals aspire to improve over baseline but cannot offer perfection. To add to this, patients are naturally aging and require regular recalls. Cosmetic laser procedures include ablative, partially ablative, non-ablative skin rejuvenation, and laser lipolysis. Many other, so-called ‘non-invasive esthetic devices and procedures are constantly being provided in the market.
Given the unavoidable necessity of recurrent follow-up procedures, the optimization of esthetic strategies is highly desirable, since they reduce the number of recalls and increase patient satisfaction levels.
Various techniques, including Lasers, have been used for over 4 decades in skin rejuvenation, resulting in significant skin regeneration that improves skin tone and texture. There is evidence that “maximal skin rejuvenation requires a multi-faceted approach addressing both epidermal and dermal aging.”
Outcome measurements:
Professional perceptions, Patient’s perception, and metrology analysis of skin changes, before and after the application of laser treatment protocols.