Elevating social perception: Multimodal strategies for addressing aesthetic patients’ status-driven concerns
Objectives: This presentation aims to review the literature on the relationship between facial structure, skin quality, and social class perception across various racial and cultural backgrounds. It will explore how these factors influence perceptions of professionalism, status, and luxury. The session will also demonstrate how to apply this knowledge in clinical practice, focusing on non-surgical multimodal approaches to help patients achieve a more professional and elevated social appearance.
Introduction: This presentation will explore the implications of the recent study by Bjornsdottir et al. (2024), which highlights how stereotype-related facial features drive social class perception. By interpreting these findings, we will inspire new treatment protocols using non-surgical multimodal approaches to enhance patients' perceived social status. The session will also feature a 20-case series with before-and-after photos, evaluated by third-party observers to summarize changes in social status perception scores.
Materials / method: **Materials:**
- 20 patients seeking enhanced social status perception.
- Non-surgical modalities: botulinum toxin, dermal fillers, laser treatments, and radiofrequency skin tightening.
- Standardized before-and-after photography.
**Methods:**
- Customized treatment plans based on facial features linked to social status.
- Multiple sessions with selected modalities to improve skin quality, structure, and harmony.
-Pre and Post-treatment photos evaluated by 50 third-party observers for social status changes.
- Data analyzed to assess treatment effectiveness.
Results: In this pilot study, the social status scores, as evaluated by third-party observers, showed a statistically significant increase in the after photos compared to the before photos. This suggests that the non-surgical multimodal treatments effectively enhanced the perceived social status of the patients. The full results and comprehensive analysis are expected to be completed by October 2024, providing further insights into the impact of these aesthetic interventions on social perception.
Conclusion: Manipulation of specific facial features and facial outlines, as supported by the literature on social status perception, can serve as a valuable guideline in aesthetic practice. By understanding how these features influence perceptions of social status, trustworthiness, and professionalism, practitioners can better tailor treatment plans to meet patients' aesthetic goals. This approach facilitates informed discussions with patients whose chief complaints relate to enhancing their perceived social standing and professional image through targeted non surgical aesthetic interventions.
