Is aesthetic medicine eco-friendly? [column]

The popular ancient Chinese curse "may you live in interesting times," which has gained immense popularity, ultimately turned out to be neither ancient nor Chinese, resonates well with the present times. Unfortunately, one might say.

However, just as every coin has two sides, in today's world, we can find both positive and negative aspects.

But let us end these deliberations on proverbs and consider why the current time can be called interesting. We live in an era of tremendous civilization development. This development is so fast that we might not have coped with it. The pervasive environmental pollution is becoming more and more evident, and the vision of humanity's extinction has never been more real and scientifically confirmed than it is now. On the other hand, we have access to such advanced knowledge and technology that provide us with unprecedented opportunities.

How does this relate to aesthetic medicine? Well, it does. And very much so. People have always sought to enhance their beauty. In various ways. And just as technology is unstoppable. However, consumer awareness forces the market to produce higher-quality products and technologies. More and more companies are turning to nature in a more sustainable way by selecting ingredients from crops that do not degrade the environment. They combine them with modern technology, resulting in treatments that are effective and safe. Both for the patient and the world.

It is said that balance is needed in everything. And these interesting times indeed predispose aesthetic medicine to adapt. On the one hand, we have a highly polluted environment that affects our bodies, causing us to have poorer health and age faster. On the other hand, we have a vast array of technologies and procedures that will help us cleanse the body of pollutants and reverse or prevent the effects of environmental impact.

In an era of increasing awareness, people are also placing more emphasis on how they can contribute to protecting our planet. After the recent peak of consumerism, there has been a shift towards minimalism. Here, aesthetic medicine is also an interesting response to the need for self-care. Each person should answer for themselves what will be better for them and the planet: another handbag in the closet or an investment in oneself in the form of aesthetic medical procedures? The handbag will eventually end up in the trash. Appropriately chosen aesthetic medical procedures will satisfy the need for self-care and often positively impact health as well, and their effects may prove to be more long-lasting than buying a new handbag.

Many procedures utilize machines that, once manufactured, operate for many years for multiple treatments, and their parts can be recycled. Using treatments in professional salons often allows specialists to use larger cosmetic packages, generating less waste than if similar treatments were done at home.

So, is aesthetic medicine eco-friendly? I think everyone should answer that question for themselves. What do you think?