March is a promising month. The mornings are getting brighter, the days longer and warmer, and winter's woes recede into the past. At JAN headquarters, March is an especially exciting month, as it heralds the start of our new campaign: Ethics in Aesthetics. Having met so many readers and contributors in recent months, it has been a pleasure to hear your opinions on the future direction that medical aesthetics should take.
Many readers have voiced concerns about the ethical issues that confront aesthetic practitioners. The first issue raised to us was the question of considering the patient and always acting in their best interests. The majority of practitioners are fully aware of the ethical codes that govern medical practice, and would only treat a patient if there is a clear indication to do so. However, it is the opinion of many that some practitioners do not conduct themselves with the ethical standards that are expected of aesthetic practitioners, jeopardising the welfare of patients and the reputation of this field of medicine.
The second issue raised was that of training and patient safety. It is no secret that the lack of regulation of this field of medicine has resulted in some training courses not being up to standard, with trainees being passed without being adequately trained and prepared for practice, seriously compromising the safety of patients.
Finally, many are concerned that the UK is heading towards a situation where patients are being treated excessively, to the point that they look unnatural. Some have even said that the UK is becoming a laughing stock because of this. Although the extent of treatment is ultimately the patient's choice, overtreating patients is a serious issue that can have negative long-term impacts on the patient. Not only this, but overtreating patients can lead to distorted perceptions of beauty, which impact negatively on self-image. For this reason, we should be pushing forward an agenda of natural enhancement in practice.
We want to celebrate the work that aesthetic practitioners do, while supporting the aesthetic practitioner's duty of care to their patients, promoting safety and training, and encouraging natural enhancement. This is what Ethics in Aesthetics is all about.
We will be publishing a range of content in line with this campaign, including clinical articles, interviews, opinion and debate pieces. However, we cannot do this alone; we need your help. As the experts, we need your insights, ideas and experiences of the importance of ethics in aesthetics. Your input will not just help to inform our content for the rest of 2019, but it could also shape future practice.
There are many ways to get involved. Follow us on twitter at @JAesthetNurse and follow the hashtag #EthicsinAesthetics to get involved in the conversation, or email the editor at JAN@markallengroup.com to express your opinions or provide suggestions for content that you would enjoy or find helpful. We are also interested in hearing your case studies, personal experiences and tips for other aesthetic practitioners. If you would like to write an article, or just submit your thoughts, please contact the editor, who will be more than happy to give you any support you need. First-time authors should not be daunted—this is a brilliant opportunity to have your say on this important issue and let your voice be heard.
Look out for the Ethics in Aesthetics purple frame and logo, which highlights the articles associated with the new campaign. In this issue, Helena Collier dedicates the Collier Column to the launch of the campaign, Eda Gorbis discusses body dysmorphic disorder and the implications for aesthetic practitioners, and Tristan Mehta and Joshua Van der Aa highlight the importance of encouraging natural enhancement in aesthetics. We hope you will join us on this exciting journey.