Aesthetic Medicine Philosophy and Core Direction, in the Words of Dr. Hyoseung Jang of Gangnam Pieobom Clinic

Today, rather than talking about a particular treatment or skin concern, I would like to talk about what I consider important when I meet patients and the direction of care that Gangnam Pieobom Clinic pursues.

Working in aesthetic medicine, I meet people with truly varied concerns. Some are worried about reduced skin firmness, and others are bothered that facial volume is not what it used to be. Others, on the contrary, come to reduce volume in a specific area or refine their facial contour.

But there is something I have come to feel through practice. Even when people visit with similar concerns, the treatment they actually need can be completely different. I think this is extremely important in aesthetic medicine.

There is something to think about before a good treatment

In the consulting room, some patients come having already decided on a specific treatment.

"Doctor, I'd like to have this treatment."

"I hear this treatment is good these days. Would it be right for me too?"

Of course, it is good to research the treatment you are interested in before visiting. But what I first want to confirm is not which treatment you want, but what your concern is now and what is causing it.

Even a single concern such as 'my face looks saggy' has many possible causes. The skin's own firmness may have declined, or fat distribution, volume changes and changes in the tissue beneath the skin may be acting together. If the cause differs, the approach should differ as well.

That is why I think it is important to look at the patient's current condition before the name of a treatment. A good treatment is not simply a famous or new one, but one that suits the current condition and purpose.

One standard of beauty cannot be applied to everyone

Another thing I value in aesthetic medicine is harmony of the whole face. We often think of the face as separate parts such as eyes, nose, mouth and jawline. But the impression of a face is actually created by the shape and proportions of many areas and the condition of the skin working together. Deciding on a treatment based on just one area therefore calls for caution.

For example, just because an area looks lacking in volume does not mean adding a lot of volume will lead to a good result. Only by considering the existing facial structure, the condition of surrounding tissue and overall proportions can a natural harmony be expected. The same applies to lifting treatments. What matters is not pulling hard or using high energy, but choosing the appropriate method according to the skin's condition and the characteristics of the tissue.

I believe the direction of change should be decided while fully respecting the features the patient was born with. Judging accurately what kind of change is needed comes before changing more.

Having many treatments and choosing well are different things

Aesthetic medicine technology is advancing quickly. From lifting devices to skin boosters and volume-enhancing treatments, the available options have multiplied. Patients have a wider range of choices, but deciding which treatment suits oneself may in fact have become harder.

I think that, as much as knowing many treatments, the ability to judge which treatment to choose in which situation is important. Sometimes a combined approach may be needed. Conversely, there are cases where a single treatment is more appropriate than combining several. Depending on skin or health condition, it may also be necessary to postpone a treatment or decide not to recommend it.

An aesthetic treatment is not simply a process of creating an outward change. It is a medical act that requires fully explaining the gap between the patient's expectations and the change that is actually possible, and considering the limits and side effects that come with the treatment. That is why I consider the process of deciding on a treatment an important part of care itself.

Why I value academic activity and training for medical professionals

Aesthetic medicine is a field where new technologies and treatment methods are introduced steadily. Even for the same treatment, what needs to be considered can differ with the method of application and patient selection criteria. I therefore believe medical professionals need not only to learn new technologies but also to keep reviewing existing methods and sharing clinical experience.

I too take part in various academic activities and training for medical professionals alongside my practice. I have presented aesthetic-medicine topics at academic conferences in Korea and abroad and spent time sharing treatment experience and medical perspectives with many colleagues.

The reason I continue these activities is not simply to introduce new treatments quickly. It is to understand more deeply how a treatment works, which patients it suits and what to watch for in actual application.

In aesthetic medicine in particular, the approach can differ for the same treatment depending on the patient's skin condition and facial structure. That is why it is important to look at theoretical understanding and clinical experience together. I believe the reason medical professionals keep learning and thinking is, in the end, to provide more appropriate care to patients.

I consider the consultation part of the care itself

Patients visit a clinic for more than simply receiving a treatment. Many want to know what condition they are in, which treatment they need and whether the change they hope for is actually possible.

That is why I think a thorough explanation before treatment is important. It is necessary to explain, so the patient can understand, why a particular treatment is being considered, what changes can be expected afterward and what to watch for during recovery.

Aesthetic treatments in particular can bring different responses and results depending on an individual's skin condition and physical characteristics. So we must talk fully not only about what can be expected but also about the limits of the treatment and possible side effects. Helping patients understand their own condition and choose a treatment based on sufficient information. I believe that is also an important role for medical professionals.

We must think about changes after the treatment too

An aesthetic treatment does not end the moment the procedure is finished. Depending on the treatment, skin and tissue need time to recover, and the reactions that appear during that time can differ from person to person. Temporary swelling or redness may occur, and what needs attention varies with the type of treatment.

It is therefore also important to understand how things progress after treatment and to continue the necessary care. When planning a treatment, I believe we should consider not only the immediate change but also the recovery process and progress afterward. It matters that the medical team explains the changes that can be expected and the precautions, and that the patient also understands their own condition well. In the end, good care continues from the consultation before treatment through the process after it.

The care Gangnam Pieobom Clinic strives for

What I value at Gangnam Pieobom Clinic is not only grand or special principles.

It may perhaps sound like basic talk. But I believe it is these basic steps, accumulated, that shape the direction of care.

The standard of beauty differs from person to person and also changes over time. That is why medical professionals, too, need an attitude of trying to understand each person's features and concerns rather than applying one fixed standard to every patient. Thinking about the change each patient needs and approaching it carefully on the basis of medical judgment: this is the direction of care I want to continue at Gangnam Pieobom Clinic.

I will keep listening to patients in the consulting room and strive to be a doctor who never stops learning and thinking.

Thank you.

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