Embracing Spectrum: Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Journeys in Aesthetic Medicine: A Kaleidoscope of Identity

• Published in: Aesthetic plastic surgery 2024-08, Vol.48 (15), p.2902-2914
• Main Authors: Rahman, Eqram, Rao, Parinitha, Webb, William Richard, Philipp-Dormston, Wolfgang G., Sayed, Karim, Almeida, Ada R. T., Mosahebi, Ash, Carruthers, Jean D. A., Carruthers, Alastair
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bisexuality; Education; Empowerment; Female; Health care; Humans; Interdisciplinary research; Male; Medical education; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Otorhinolaryngology; Plastic Surgery; Qualitative research; Review; Sexual and Gender Minorities - psychology; Surgery, Plastic
• ISSN: 0364-216X; 1432-5241; 1432-5241
• DOI: 10.1007/s00266-024-03923-4

Purpose This synaptic systemised review critically examines the provision of aesthetic medical care to LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more) individuals, assessing both the clinical practices and the educational frameworks that guide interactions with LGBTQIA+ patients in aesthetic settings. Methods Following PRISMA-S guidelines, a comprehensive review was conducted, initially identifying 159 potentially relevant articles. Upon stringent full-text review, 33 studies met the inclusion criteria and were subject to an in-depth thematic analysis. The scope encompassed qualitative studies, quantitative analyses, and a cross section of interdisciplinary research, predominantly from Western settings. Results The analysis distilled four principal themes: the imperative of identity affirmation in aesthetic interventions, substantial barriers to inclusive and empathetic care, the critical need for patient empowerment, and the existing deficiencies within medical education regarding LGBTQIA+ care. These themes highlight a complex interplay between the clinical aspirations of LGBTQIA+ individuals and the current capacity of aesthetic medicine to cater to this diversity. Conclusions There is a pressing need for a paradigmatic shift towards more inclusive, competent, and sensitive aesthetic medical care for LGBTQIA+ patients. It underscores the necessity of reform in medical education and advocates for policy changes that promote a more equitable healthcare environment. This research serves as a call to action, emphasizing the ethical imperative to integrate comprehensive LGBTQIA+ care competencies into aesthetic medicine curricula and practice. 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