Medicina Estetica in Cure Palliative: migliorare la qualità della vita e ridurre il dolore nel fine vita attraverso trattamenti non farmacologici per una migliore percezione della propria immagine.

This thesis of this PhD in Applied Sciences for Well-Being and Sustainability addresses the topic of Aesthetic Medicine in Palliative Care, specifically how to improve the quality of life and reduce pain in terminally ill patients through non-pharmacological treatments, contributing to a better perception of their self-image. Palliative Care focuses on symptom management and global support, aiming to meet not only the physical needs but also the psychological, social, and spiritual needs of patients and their families. The importance of Palliative Care has emerged since the 1970s and 1980s, with the recognition that every terminally ill patient deserves quality care. Law 38/2010 formalized patients' right to access these services, promoting the formation of multidisciplinary teams capable of providing assistance in both home and structured settings, such as hospices. The latter, in particular, represents an environment where patients can receive continuous care until the end of life, maintaining their dignity. The concept of a terminally ill patient is defined as an individual with an advanced disease, with no prospects for a cure, who requires support to enhance comfort and quality of life. Patients may experience "total suffering," which includes physical and psychological pain, social difficulties, and spiritual issues. This necessitates an approach that integrates pharmacological therapies with unconventional forms of intervention, such as Aesthetic Medicine, which aims to address body image issues that often afflict cancer patients. In this context, Aesthetic Medicine should not be viewed as a luxury, but as a key component to improving the quality of life for terminally ill patients. It offers solutions to confront the aesthetic damage caused by illness and treatments like chemotherapy, which can negatively impact self-esteem and the quality of social relationships. Aesthetic Medicine interventions can help patients shift their focus from the disease to life itself, thereby improving their perception and attitude toward the illness. The objectives of the PhD program included analyzing the impact of Aesthetic Medicine on objective parameters of quality of life and on patients' attitudes towards their conditions. Observational and interventional studies were conducted, revealing that the integration of Aesthetic Medicine leads to significant improvements in quality of life, symptom management, and pain perception. The statistical analyses confirmed that patients treated with Aesthetic Medicine interventions showed improvements in quality-of-life parameters, reducing symptoms like pain and depression. The research highlighted how appropriate multidisciplinary care, which also integrates Aesthetic Medicine, can enhance the overall well-being of terminal patients, providing holistic and significant support during such a delicate time in their lives. In conclusion, this study suggests that including Aesthetic Medicine professionals in palliative care teams is not only feasible but could bring significant benefits to patients, improving their quality of life and their approach to the disease.