The advances in cosmetic dermatology are truly remarkable. Our growing ability to affect positive changes in appearance is most welcome. At the same time, as Richard Fried, M.D., Ph.D., points out on page 58, too much focus on anything is probably a bad thing. How many patients have you seen who look fine yet are concerned about some mole or, better yet, some pore they find totally unattractive? Have they not lost sight of the forest for a leaf? How fortunate are those who are comfortable with themselves, without obsession about their personal appearance. The time and money spent in pursuit of appearance seems ludicrous at times. I don’t mean to say there aren’t patients who do benefit significantly from cosmetic procedures or that any attention to cosmesis is bad. Too little attention to personal care can be a problem, too. Some attention to diet, exercise, dress, and general grooming seems reasonable. And somewhere along the way, there’s a line between appropriate concern for appearance and unhealthy obsession. I wonder how much better it would be if those mental and physical resources currently overly focused on cosmetic appearance were devoted to more meaningful outlets: volunteer service, artistic accomplishment, professional or family activity. Those who seek cosmetic improvement to make themselves more “attractive” might find these other outlets a far more effective way to become “attractive.” After all, cosmetic perfection is just that, cosmetic. - Steven Feldman, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Editor`s Message
The advances in cosmetic dermatology are truly remarkable. Our growing ability to affect positive changes in appearance is most welcome. At the same time, as Richard Fried, M.D., Ph.D., points out on page 58, too much focus on anything is probably a bad thing. How many patients have you seen who look fine yet are concerned about some mole or, better yet, some pore they find totally unattractive? Have they not lost sight of the forest for a leaf? How fortunate are those who are comfortable with themselves, without obsession about their personal appearance. The time and money spent in pursuit of appearance seems ludicrous at times. I don’t mean to say there aren’t patients who do benefit significantly from cosmetic procedures or that any attention to cosmesis is bad. Too little attention to personal care can be a problem, too. Some attention to diet, exercise, dress, and general grooming seems reasonable. And somewhere along the way, there’s a line between appropriate concern for appearance and unhealthy obsession. I wonder how much better it would be if those mental and physical resources currently overly focused on cosmetic appearance were devoted to more meaningful outlets: volunteer service, artistic accomplishment, professional or family activity. Those who seek cosmetic improvement to make themselves more “attractive” might find these other outlets a far more effective way to become “attractive.” After all, cosmetic perfection is just that, cosmetic. - Steven Feldman, M.D., Ph.D.
The advances in cosmetic dermatology are truly remarkable. Our growing ability to affect positive changes in appearance is most welcome. At the same time, as Richard Fried, M.D., Ph.D., points out on page 58, too much focus on anything is probably a bad thing. How many patients have you seen who look fine yet are concerned about some mole or, better yet, some pore they find totally unattractive? Have they not lost sight of the forest for a leaf? How fortunate are those who are comfortable with themselves, without obsession about their personal appearance. The time and money spent in pursuit of appearance seems ludicrous at times. I don’t mean to say there aren’t patients who do benefit significantly from cosmetic procedures or that any attention to cosmesis is bad. Too little attention to personal care can be a problem, too. Some attention to diet, exercise, dress, and general grooming seems reasonable. And somewhere along the way, there’s a line between appropriate concern for appearance and unhealthy obsession. I wonder how much better it would be if those mental and physical resources currently overly focused on cosmetic appearance were devoted to more meaningful outlets: volunteer service, artistic accomplishment, professional or family activity. Those who seek cosmetic improvement to make themselves more “attractive” might find these other outlets a far more effective way to become “attractive.” After all, cosmetic perfection is just that, cosmetic. - Steven Feldman, M.D., Ph.D.
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