The Aesthetic Surgery and Medicine Clinic at Sidra Medicine is one that is located within a health and research facility.
Aesthetic surgery is becoming a normal. Year on year, getting ‘work done’ becomes more accessible and acceptable.
Why are people resorting to cosmetic surgery? Is it because of the increasing pressure to look ‘perfect’, especially for women, who are still more likely to be judged on appearances. The media and in recent years, social media are full of makeover programmes glamorising aesthetic surgery which dictates how a woman should look.
People believe they will be happier and more successful if they conform more closely to ‘artificial beauty.’
However, with the definition of beauty constantly changing with evolving times, can the choice of aesthetic or reconstructive surgery be a health necessity for a woman, and not just a luxury or a pursuit of the ‘perfect’ look?
Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgeon at the Aesthetic Surgery and Medicine Clinic at Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Sidra Medicine, Dr. Chiara Botti, says that one of the key factors in a woman’s health is to help her achieve her inner balance.
“A woman undergoes many stages in her life such as pregnancy, childbearing, and the postpartum stage, not to mention aging and its various manifestations. These stages may have an impact on a woman, not only in appearance but also mental health and the way she feels about herself,” Dr. Botti said.
According to Dr. Botti, it is not always about looking for luxury or perfection but preserving women’s health at various levels. “We at Sidra Medicine provide integrated care for women to meet their unique requirements and needs. We also ensure that they receive the support they need in all of these stages,” she said.
Sidra Medicine offers consultations and surgical procedures related to the breast, face-lifts, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, ear correction, chin strengthening and body contouring.
Dr. Botti noted that many women resort to plastic surgery due to societal pressure. “Because of the extensive promotion of certain beauty standards, we are witnessing new trends that are attracting a lot of women,” she said.
“Therefore, when dealing with patients at the clinic, I make it clear to them that the option of plastic surgery is justified when its goal is to treat a specific problem. Also, the decision to undergo surgery may involve risks and complications in some cases, and that it is only done if the patient’s health condition allows it. For example, many women have to undergo breast reduction surgery because of back issues,” she said.
Dr. Botti also emphasised the stages that must precede the decision of plastic and reconstructive surgery. “Usually, I ask women who come to the clinic for a consultation about a specific problem, such as how many times a day do you think about this problem?”
“If the answer is that it is a thought that constantly occupies their minds, or if this physical feature causes unhappiness or makes them feel dissatisfied and causes low self-esteem, then it is necessary to realise that the problem has begun to take on negative dimensions. This may escalate to affect their mental health and their ability to live a normal life. It may even affect their social and family relationships,” she said.
One of the cases Dr. Botti treated during her career in Italy was a woman who suffered from a broken nose due to physical violence. After fifteen years she decided to visit a plastic surgeon, and during all these years, she remembered the violence she experienced each time she looked in the mirror. But after the surgery, she was able to start her life again.
The Aesthetic Surgery and Medicine Clinic at Sidra Medicine is located within a health and research facility. It includes an integrated team of specialists from its Women’s Services such as endocrinologists, gynecologists, obstetricians, maternal mental health related psychiatrists, and others – an advantage that allows collaboration between doctors, nurses and allied health specialists.
A multidisciplinary system facilitates the provision of a comprehensive treatment journey for patients to achieve the best results with ease and comfort, all while maintaining the confidentiality and privacy of patients’ data. “It is very necessary to conduct lengthy consultations between the patient and the doctor to discover the problem and determine the right procedure,” Dr. Botti asserted.
Dr. Botti emphasised: “Our health depends on us. We have to strive to preserve our physical and mental health. We have to satisfy ourselves and not society’s standards and what it imposes on us. We must utilise medical-aesthetic techniques in a way that preserves our distinctive features, helps us restore our natural appearance and overcome certain misfortunes or problems, away from the pursuit of luxuries or artificial looks, and mimicry of others.”
