Aesthetic medicine and professional ethics: between social demand and clinical responsibility

Introduction: Aesthetic medicine expanded rapidly in recent years, placing itself at a critical point where social expectations, commercial demands and patient desires frequently came into tension with the fundamental principles of medical ethics. The purpose of this research was to analyze the relationship between medical ethics and aesthetic practice, considering both patient and professional satisfaction and delimiting the ethical margins that should govern such practice. Fundamental concepts such as ethics, professional ethics, medical ethics and aesthetic medicine were addressed to establish a solid theoretical framework. Development: The study examined how the pressure for physical perfection and the rise of aesthetic demand influenced clinical decision making. It was observed that economic interest could, in some cases, prevail over medical responsibility, leading to ethically questionable practices. In addition, it was pointed out that the patient's wishes, although important, had to be critically evaluated by the professional, who had the duty to protect the health and dignity of the individual. In this context, it was proposed to identify situations where the physician should refuse to act in order not to compromise his ethical responsibility. The research evidenced that medical ethics in aesthetic medicine were not always respected as they should be. It was concluded that both physicians and patients should be aware of ethical limits, prioritizing health and wellbeing over appearance. The need for more ethical training and clear guidelines for a safer and more responsible professional practice was highlighted.