What should you tell a 75-year-old female patient who wants to look like a 28-year-old model?

Informing the patient that her expectations are unrealistic is essential for several reasons. Firstly, it's important to establish a clear understanding of what is achievable, especially considering the natural aging process and the limitations of cosmetic procedures. While there are many advancements in aesthetic treatments, they cannot fully reverse age-related changes or transform someone's appearance to that of a significantly younger individual without potential for dissatisfaction.

Moreover, addressing unrealistic expectations can help the patient avoid disappointment and foster a better body image by encouraging her to embrace her age and beauty in a different light. Providing guidance in this manner supports ethical practice in dentistry, as the provider has a responsibility to ensure that treatments align with the patient’s best interests and realistic outcomes.

In contrast, encouraging her to undergo extensive procedures or imply it is possible to achieve such drastic results may lead to emotional and financial disappointments. Suggesting a more mature look could be misinterpreted as dismissive of her desires, while promoting advanced procedures without caution could contribute to a cycle of dissatisfaction. Therefore, by communicating the realistic limitations of cosmetic procedures clearly, the patient can better align her expectations with what is feasible.