Embracing the Natural Look Movement

Every medical spa and aesthetic professional knows that filler is a popular product in the industry. For a long time, customers have embraced the looks of certain A-list celebrities, which in many cases led to getting over-filled lips, cheeks, and other procedures that might not have been best for them. Patients became reliant on filler to create this idealized image of beauty, and some aesthetic professionals became dependent upon filler to help their bottom line. However, we are seeing a shift in consumer sentiment. More people are embracing a more natural look, with filler used in a limited fashion or even entirely out of the picture. Many patients who have gotten filler are looking to have it dissolved to bring back their natural look.

Aesthetic professionals who rely on filler as part of their business model may be worried that the natural look movement will hurt their business, but they should not be. It is a trend that should be embraced, and filler can still be a key part of your practice in lower volumes.

COLLABORATIVE TREATMENT PLANNING

Filler has been so popular over the years that the conversation with patients often centers around when they will get filler, not if they will get it. The procedure seems inevitable, and it becomes overused. The standard of care is being overdone, and we can see that manifest itself in the increase in patients looking to get filler dissolved. Patients are no longer happy with filled-to-the-brim lips and are now looking for a solution to fix a procedure they might have never gotten if they were simply asked from the outset if filler was something they truly needed.

Pharmaceutical representatives often say that patients need one syringe of filler per decade of life. As a healthcare practitioner, I will not put that much filler in my own face, so why should I recommend that to patients? Simply asking your client if the procedure is what they want builds trust and helps collaboratively craft an ideal treatment plan.

Ask yourself and your patients, “Is filler really the right option?” If it isn’t, you can offer other treatments; however, if it is, follow the mindset that less filler is better and you can always add more if needed.

CENTER DISCUSSIONS AROUND SKIN QUALITY

One of the reasons why the natural look trend has taken off is many discussions on filler center around specific beauty standards instead of on the quality of the patient’s skin. Patients want aesthetic treatments to have bright, beautiful, healthy skin.

That goal should be the center of the discussion when speaking with a patient. In my experience, focusing on achieving healthy skin opens the door to other treatments that do not involve injectables, such as laser treatments. Often, when practitioners recommend procedures such as laser or topical treatments, the desire for filler lessens and the patient sees a more creative approach.

Patients are at a point where they prefer treatments that enhance natural beauty rather than something artificial. They often don’t ask about other procedures because they don’t know of them, so it is the practitioner’s job to educate the patient on what’s available.

The aesthetic medicine industry has come a long way in creating treatments suited for the natural look movement. It’s not necessary to rely on filler to run a successful business. In my practice, patients have taken to laser and topical treatments and are willing to try those out before rushing into filler, and this conservative approach has always helped to build patient-provider trust. Natural and healthy-looking skin is the reason why patients come to us. Give them options for procedures meant to accentuate their natural and healthy skin.

FILLER CAN WORK WITH OTHER TREATMENTS

It is important to understand that the natural look movement does not have to be a filler-free movement. Filler, when used appropriately and in reasonable amounts, is an excellent tool to accentuate beautiful and healthy skin. If you use other treatments and your patient still feels like filler is necessary, you should have no issue using it if the patient is a good candidate. The natural look movement doesn’t come from a dislike of filler but from overapplication and unwillingness to tell patients when it isn’t a good idea. Professionals in our field need to be grounded and not greedy. Be honest about what filler can do for a patient, and don’t be afraid to turn patients away if you know filler won’t achieve their goals.

We all have to make a profit, but the well-being of our patients must always come before money. We don’t want the natural look movement to shun filler completely but embrace it as one procedure amongst a broad selection of methods that promote youthful, healthy, and beautiful skin. Filler has been a staple in our industry for a long time, but clients are starting to move away from it and instead embrace a more natural look. Practitioners should embrace the natural look movement and provide treatment options for filler-weary customers. Talk to patients about other treatments and be open and honest about when you think filler could or could not be the right move for a patient. There are plenty of other treatments in our industry that can turn profits for your business.