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The First Nationwide Mapping of Aesthetic Treatments in Medicine in Central Europe: A Descriptive Observational
Melanie Matousek1, Reinhard Edelmoser1, Susanna Steffan2
1Department of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Wiener Neustadt-NOE LGA, Corvinusring 3-5, 2700, Wiener Neustadt, Lower Austria, Austria.
Background:
Aesthetic medicine has become an integral part of modern lifestyle, with global procedure volumes rising by nearly 40% over the past 4 years. In several countries, non-physicians are legally allowed to perform non-surgical aesthetic treatments, reflecting a diversification of providers. In Austria, the legal framework is thoroughly regulated. Aesthetic treatments without medical indication may only be carried out by licensed physicians, and authorization is tied to specialty-specific competence. Despite this regulation, systematic data on providers of aesthetic treatments are lacking.
Methods:
A systematic internet-based analysis was performed on all websites of office-based physicians, regardless of their specialization, including both private and insurance-based practitioners listed by the Austrian Medical Chamber at this time. 19388 office-based physicians could be included. The study was designed as a descriptive observational analysis.
Results:
Among office-based physicians, 7.1% (n=1436) list aesthetic services on their practice websites. 62.5% (n=12566) show no reference, and 30.4% (n=6116) could not be evaluated due to the absence of a personal website. Among physicians offering non-surgical aesthetic treatments (78.9%; 1133/1436), dermatologists accounted for 32.7%, general practitioners (GPs) for 20.3%, and plastic surgeons for 18%. Botulinum toxin and dermal filler treatments were referenced by nearly all specialties.
Conclusion:
This first nationwide web analysis shows that most non-surgical aesthetic treatments are offered outside the field of plastic surgery, with dermatologists and GPs representing the leading provider groups. The online listing of botulinum toxin and filler treatments across nearly all specialties shows that many different medical disciplines are actively involved in aesthetic medicine in Central Europe. aesthetic services of all office-based physicians in Central Europe descriptive observational website-based analysis many different medical disciplines are actively involved in aesthetic services LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .