INTRODUCTION
As the number of aesthetic procedures increases, it is important for physicians to understand who comprises the expanding population seeking such treatments. In recent years it is clear that as procedures become more widely accepted and commonplace, the patient population seeking them has also grown in terms of its racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. While many published treatment algorithms in the US are suitable for Caucasian patients, there are far fewer that focus on the aesthetic concerns and needs specific to the Asian patient. In addition, very little data exists focusing on Asian Americans which is a broad community of people representing several countries.
Over the past decade, the total number of Asian patients who received cosmetic procedures in the US increased by 33% with a growing number of younger patients (ie, 18 to 40 years of age) among them.1-3 A predominance of minimally-invasive facial aesthetic treatments has grown to represent at least 90% of all cosmetic procedures performed in the US in 2017.1 Similar to this trend in aesthetics, Asian patients primarily seek non-surgical, minimally-invasive treatment modalities, and express concerns for maintaining a natural appearance.3
The descriptor “Asian American†encompasses a diverse population with ethnic origins in East Asia (eg, China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan), South Asia (eg, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka), and Southeast Asia (eg, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines). Among this diverse population, there is also a wide range of facial morphologies and Fitzpatrick Skin Phototypes (FSPs).4 Importantly, variations in skin type and underlying structural anatomy impact the rate, pattern, and severity of facial aging among different ethnicities.5-8 However, social and cultural influences ultimately have a defining influence in perceptions of beauty and motivations for seeking treatment.9-11 For the aesthetic physician, understanding not only the structural and cutaneous components of aging
