UniCamillus University hosted the second official meeting of its Advisory Board, which comprises Andrea Biondi, Vito Cozzoli, Maria Bianca Farina, Giuseppe Feltrin, Luciana Lamorgese, Gianni Letta and Tiziano Onesti. The Board supports Rector Gianni Profita in developing the University’s academic and scientific strategies.
The meeting aimed to emphasise the urgency of an ethical approach to aesthetic medicine. In a rapidly expanding sector where the boundaries between science, business and aesthetic desire are becoming increasingly blurred, UniCamillus takes a firm position: aesthetic medicine should not be demonised, and it must be practised by professionals who have received university training. However, it must never lose its ethical foundation: patients must be informed and treated with the utmost care and a scientific approach, and must never be subjected to unscrupulous commercial pressure.
Dialogue with lecturers and experts in aesthetic medicine, endocrinology, maxillofacial surgery and innovative technologies is part of a specific strategic question: is it possible to develop this field without scientific compromise while maintaining a solid and recognisable ethical identity?
The figures highlight how urgent this issue is. Aesthetic medicine is now one of the fastest-growing sectors in healthcare, with the global market set to exceed $27 billion. Meanwhile, next-generation metabolic medicines, including those used for weight loss, could exceed $120 billion by 2030. In this context of increasing accessibility and social pressure regarding appearance, there is a very real risk that medicine will become an immediate response to induced needs rather than genuine clinical necessities.
UniCamillus takes a stand on this issue: innovation must not lead to oversimplification, abuse or commercial exploitation, but must always be based on safety, clinical appropriateness and patient protection.
Aesthetic medicine: growth and social change
Following the opening remarks of Rector Profita, Professor Donatella Padua (Secretary General of the Advisory Board) delivered a speech entitled ‘Aesthetic medicine today: longevity and social change’.
“The aesthetic medicine market is currently growing at a rate of over 10% per year. This growth is driven by pressure from social media, technological innovation and an expanding younger demographic. Aesthetics is becoming a new paradigm of social inclusion and exclusion. It is precisely in this area that UniCamillus recognises its responsibility and sees an opportunity: to educate aesthetic medicine practitioners according to ethical and inclusive principles”, emphasised Professor Padua.
The highlight of the meeting was the session entitled ‘Aesthetic medicine between society, technology and clinical ethics’.
Ageing and anti-ageing: the ethical backbone of aesthetic medicine
Professor Salvatore Corsello, UniCamillus’ Pro-Rector for Scientific Communication, opened the discussion by setting out the ethical framework for the entire meeting. He stated that the sole objective of aesthetic medicine must be the genuine well-being of the individual, and that it should not be reduced to a response to social pressures or superficial demands. Ethics and patient-centred care are non-negotiable—they form the very foundation of clinical practice.
Beyond diabetes: the metabolic drug revolution
The debate then turned to the ongoing pharmacological revolution, with Dr Marco Infante—a UniCamillus lecturer, endocrinologist and diabetologist—addressing the topic of GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonists. He made it clear that these are not tools for ‘on demand’ weight loss, but clinical therapies to be used exclusively in the presence of genuine medical conditions, with rigorous specialist management and full awareness of the risks.
Advanced simulation technologies for university education
Next, Dr Candida Marandola, Director of the UniCamillus CPD course in Aesthetic Medicine in Dentistry, and Massimo Giannessi, General Manager and Co-Founder of Accurate, demonstrated how advanced simulation technologies are transforming university education in aesthetic medicine. In a sector where the risk of improvisation is increasing, expertise is the primary means of protecting patients.
Rhinofiller: the non-surgical evolution of the nasal profile
To conclude the event, Dr Giovanna Franceschelli, Director of the UniCamillus CPD course in Facial Aesthetic Medicine, and Dr Francesco Calvani, a specialist in maxillofacial surgery, presented a practical example of health-oriented aesthetic medicine in the form of the functional rhinofiller. This is not merely an aesthetic procedure, but an intervention that improves the function of nasal airflow, providing immediate benefits for the patient. This approach overturns the traditional perspective: health comes first, and aesthetics second.
Aesthetic medicine: the role of universities
This meeting is significant not only as a scientific debate, but also as the start of a structured discussion about the role of aesthetic medicine and the responsibility of universities in setting its standards, limits and quality.
“At UniCamillus, we don’t just train competent professionals; we educate individuals who understand the importance of acting with responsibility and integrity”, concluded Rector Profita. “Aesthetic medicine must be a tool for genuine well-being, serving the health and dignity of the patient, and never profit or vanity. It must never exploit people’s vulnerabilities or insecurities. True professionals do not limit themselves to clinical practice; they make a difference to people’s real lives, health and peace of mind”.