Facial Plast Surg 2022; 38(01): 088-093
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1736582
Original Research

The Role of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Facial Plastic Surgery

1   Caruso Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
,
Liuba Soldatova
2   Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,
Oren Friedman
2   Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
› Author Affiliations
Funding None.

Abstract

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become increasingly popular among facial plastic surgery patients. Over the last few decades, there has been a surge in the use of CAM. Despite the increasing prevalence of CAM, patients may feel uncomfortable discussing these therapies with their physicians, and physicians feel under-equipped to engage in meaningful discussions regarding these nontraditional therapies. This article reviews recent literature on the use of CAM for skin treatment in an attempt to provide additional resource. To date, the evidence to support statistically significant symptom improvement with use of non-traditional therapies remains limited. While preliminary data supports essential oil therapy in some cases, the results of the studies investigating other CAM therapies (traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, and homeopathy) have been mixed and inconclusive.



Publication History

Article published online:
08 November 2021

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