*Sponsored post: Skin Renewal*
Aesthetic medicine has (finally) undergone a profound transformation and shifted away from a one-size-fits-all beauty standard towards an inclusive, personalised approach. Medical aesthetics practitioner at Skin Renewal in Morningside, Dr Lilliana Lulli, explains the implications of this most welcome paradigm shift and advises on how practitioners and patients should align on procedures that produce both effective and natural-looking results.
The evolution of aesthetic medicine towards truly personalised treatments reflects a growing recognition of the importance of diversity and individuality, celebrating the idiosyncratic features that define each person rather than conforming to homogeneous (and boring) ideals.
The goal is no longer to replicate a standardised template of beauty – i.e. perfectly symmetrical faces (which current studies show aren’t actually more attractive) or cookie-cutter shapes.
Embracing a paradigm shift
This paradigm shift places greater responsibility on aesthetic practitioners to tailor “tweakments” to a patient’s unique anatomy, personality, and ethnicity – all while emphasising subtlety and natural results. The last thing I would want is to erase my very Roman, very “Lulli” features.
Aesthetic medicine was influenced by narrow cultural trends, often dictated by celebrity culture or social media-driven “ideals”. Procedures were typically applied with a very heavy hand, resulting in exaggerated, uniform looks that obliterated individuality.
Instead, patients should be seeking out treatments that honour their natural features rather than obscure them. This shift echoes a broader societal move toward diversity, where beauty is no longer a fixed monolith but a colourful spectrum of possibilities. We should be amplifying your inherent peculiarities – accentuating your ethnicity and restoring a youthful vitality without altering your core identity.
The skill of blending art, ethics, and science
Central to all of this is the role of skilled practitioners. Aesthetics is a science and an art, requiring a proper understanding of anatomy, cultural nuances, and psychology.
Practitioners must move beyond simply following trends. These trends are often unrealistic and downright dangerous. Treatment plans for a patient with delicate, sharp features will differ from those with softer, rounder contours. Bespoke tailoring ensures that enhancements complement, rather than overpower, preserving the patient’s authenticity.
An exceptional practitioner will act as an expert and a guide, steering patients away from impulsive decisions directed by social media trends and more towards results that align with their long-term vision of themselves.
Ethical considerations are paramount. The constant pressure to conform to these “standards” can be all-consuming. The practitioner’s responsibility is to prioritise well-being over chasing trends and profits. This means saying NO when a patient insists on a procedure that will result in unnatural and regrettable results, and instead offering alternatives that enhance rather than erase individuality.
Transparency is also critical. Practitioners must educate patients about what is realistically achievable accounting for age, anatomy, ethnicity, and the ageing process. Performing a treatment that results in a jarring effect versus one that brings about a harmonised, friendly-looking face is a very different thing. Ethical practice involves resisting the commercialisation of beauty, where aggressive marketing might push unnecessary treatments.
The benefits of subtlety
The benefits of this personalised, subtle approach are numerous. Natural-looking results enhance physical appearance and boost confidence without drawing undue attention to the intervention itself. Patients still need to recognise themselves in the mirror. The enhancement should feel like an evolution, not an unrecognisable transformation.
Subtlety also tends to age better; dramatic alterations become dated and require constant maintenance. In comparison, understated refinements blend in with the natural progression of ageing.
Moreover, encouraging diversity via tailored treatments challenges the outdated idea that beauty is a singular, unattainable destination unless you force yourself to fit into “the mould”.
The power of education
The cornerstone of a Skin Renewal consultation is education. Dr Maureen Allem, Medical Director and founder, developed the Pillars of Health so that all Skin Renewal doctors can guide a patient through a consultation which uncovers the cause of their skin concerns and health conditions. Education is key to aligning patients’ expectations with these individualised outcomes and should extend beyond the treatment room.
Patients should be guided to internalise the following: Promote your unique beauty points and highlight what makes you different on social media.
Many patients enter consultations with preconceived ideas influenced by filtered, AI-altered images. They are often totally unaware of how their features might respond to certain procedures or that some are not even possible, as they’re not rooted in reality.
Practitioners must use tools to illustrate potential results and take care to explain how the various modalities work. My favourite is using the mirror and getting the patient to manipulate their own anatomy. This often drives the point home. When patients understand the process and trust their practitioner’s expertise, they’re more likely to embrace subtle, natural enhancements that reflect their unique identity rather than a borrowed ideal.
The final word
In conclusion, the rise of individuality and diversity in aesthetic medicine is a celebration of humanity itself. By navigating away from standardised beauty, we can empower you, the patient, to define your own beauty, on your own terms.
Adept practitioners, guided by ethics and expertise, play an imperative role in this tidal-wave-sized shift, ensuring that “tweakments” enhance rather than erase. This new era in aesthetic medicine isn’t about conformity – it’s about unlocking the beauty that already exists, one face at a time.
About Skin Renewal
Skin Renewal is one of South Africa’s leading medical aesthetic clinics. Offering 20 clinics in three provinces, the Skin Renewal team of medical aesthetic doctors, registered nurses, and medically trained therapists can treat all skin types to ensure that you experience the elixir of youth.
Skin Renewal Aesthetic Clinics are conveniently located in Sandton, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Centurion, Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Durban, Ballito, and Umhlanga, South Africa.
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Visit their website www.skinrenewal.co.za, email info@skinrenewal.co.za or WhatsApp Skin Renewal with your queries.
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MBChB (UP), BSc Human Physiology and Psychology (UJ)
Dr Lilliana Lulli (also known as the ‘Glam Doc’) is a medical aesthetics practitioner who strives to blend scientific rigour with artistic flair. She began her academic journey at the University of Johannesburg, earning a BSc in Natural Sciences, before completing her MBChB at the University of Pretoria – a commitment that spanned over a decade.
After three years of internship and community service at Tembisa Hospital, she transitioned into the world of medical aesthetics in 2017 under the mentorship of Dr Maureen Allem. She is a member of AAMSSA (The Aesthetic & Anti-Ageing Medicine Society of South Africa).
A valued member of Skin Renewal in Morningside, Dr Lulli dedicates several hours each week to continued study, ensuring she remains at the forefront of her field. Beyond medical practice, she’s a motorsport enthusiast, having travelled internationally to some of the biggest racing events and driven a few of the world’s most iconic tracks.