begins with patient intake forms, greeting, and kind words throughout the visit.
a) Physicians and staff should always refer to a person according to their indicated gender identity and pronouns. Using the wrong pronoun can cause undue stress and negatively impact care. When unsure, ask the patient their preference.
b) Staff should be in the habit of practicing gender neutral pronouns as well (they/them) so that they feel comfortable using this language. They should ask for these directly when introducing themselves if it is not written. For example: “Hello, I’m ____ and I use the pronouns he/him. I noticed you did not indicate a pronoun preference on your intake form. What name and pronouns do you use?”
c) All patients should be informed that official identification will be kept private and secure. Any photographs taken should also be prefaced with the reassurance that they are private, secure, and part of the record to monitor progress. It is not required that patients view their own photographs if they do not wish to do so.
d) Physicians should keep in mind that the gender indicated on official identification cards such as a driver’s license may not match a person’s gender identity.18–20
Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
Many standard EMRs do not contain basic gender-related fields.20 Any standard EMR should include three easily added pieces of information:
a) Sex assigned at birth (male, female, intersex)
b) Gender identity (male, female, genderfluid, nonbinary, or other with option to input)
c) Preferred pronouns (he/him, she/her, they/them, or other with option to input)
These three pieces of information (along with a complete medication list and medical/surgical history), equips the dermatologist with everything needed to give excellent care to all patients.
Approach to the Patient’s Aesthetic Treatments (Figure 4)
a) When seeking feedback about a desired or proposed aesthetic change or enhancement, the focus should be on how the person feels. Do they feel comfortable with a more prominent cheek contour or a fuller lip contour?
b) When discussing aesthetic goals of treatment, we might ask:
i. “What do you see?”
ii. “Do you prefer a more arched or flatter eyebrow?”
iii. “Do you like the look of a more prominent, angular jawline or a more tapered and narrower jawline and heart-shaped face?”
c) After treatment, seek feedback.
i. How do you feel about your results? (Intentionally vague)
ii. Do you wish____ (…your lips could be fuller, your jawline could be slimmer, etc.)
When Masculine and Feminine Might Matter
Ultimately, some patients may prefer using gendered terms like “masculine” and “feminine” when describing their goals for aesthetic treatments. Individuals’ desired appearance may align with traditional gender binaries, and they may express feminizing or masculinizing goals.10 Physicians should respect and welcome this while continuing to use specific, descriptive language themselves. After all, dermatology is the art of describing things accurately. If a patient is unclear what a technical description means, the dermatologist may explain it using plain language in different ways and, if appropriate, by referencing historically masculine or feminine examples. Physicians should let the patient lead when using gendered language and not introduce such terminology unless first used by the patient.
a) Physicians and staff should always refer to a person according to their indicated gender identity and pronouns. Using the wrong pronoun can cause undue stress and negatively impact care. When unsure, ask the patient their preference.
b) Staff should be in the habit of practicing gender neutral pronouns as well (they/them) so that they feel comfortable using this language. They should ask for these directly when introducing themselves if it is not written. For example: “Hello, I’m ____ and I use the pronouns he/him. I noticed you did not indicate a pronoun preference on your intake form. What name and pronouns do you use?”
c) All patients should be informed that official identification will be kept private and secure. Any photographs taken should also be prefaced with the reassurance that they are private, secure, and part of the record to monitor progress. It is not required that patients view their own photographs if they do not wish to do so.
d) Physicians should keep in mind that the gender indicated on official identification cards such as a driver’s license may not match a person’s gender identity.18–20
Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
Many standard EMRs do not contain basic gender-related fields.20 Any standard EMR should include three easily added pieces of information:
a) Sex assigned at birth (male, female, intersex)
b) Gender identity (male, female, genderfluid, nonbinary, or other with option to input)
c) Preferred pronouns (he/him, she/her, they/them, or other with option to input)
These three pieces of information (along with a complete medication list and medical/surgical history), equips the dermatologist with everything needed to give excellent care to all patients.
Approach to the Patient’s Aesthetic Treatments (Figure 4)
a) When seeking feedback about a desired or proposed aesthetic change or enhancement, the focus should be on how the person feels. Do they feel comfortable with a more prominent cheek contour or a fuller lip contour?
b) When discussing aesthetic goals of treatment, we might ask:
i. “What do you see?”
ii. “Do you prefer a more arched or flatter eyebrow?”
iii. “Do you like the look of a more prominent, angular jawline or a more tapered and narrower jawline and heart-shaped face?”
c) After treatment, seek feedback.
i. How do you feel about your results? (Intentionally vague)
ii. Do you wish____ (…your lips could be fuller, your jawline could be slimmer, etc.)
When Masculine and Feminine Might Matter
Ultimately, some patients may prefer using gendered terms like “masculine” and “feminine” when describing their goals for aesthetic treatments. Individuals’ desired appearance may align with traditional gender binaries, and they may express feminizing or masculinizing goals.10 Physicians should respect and welcome this while continuing to use specific, descriptive language themselves. After all, dermatology is the art of describing things accurately. If a patient is unclear what a technical description means, the dermatologist may explain it using plain language in different ways and, if appropriate, by referencing historically masculine or feminine examples. Physicians should let the patient lead when using gendered language and not introduce such terminology unless first used by the patient.
