[Sponsored article] China’s exponential economic growth is no secret. The country’s trading power and economic rise have contributed to a substantial increase in the average resident’s disposable income. According to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics, China’s per capita disposable income in the first half of 2019 saw an 8.8 per cent year-on-year increase. This economic shift has helped to lift many people out of poverty and also created a middle class that is able to enjoy a higher standard of living, and has grown more fashion and image consciousness. A 2016 Ipsos MORI research study found that Chinese women, in particular, are taking advantage of the country’s economic boom to pursue beauty and skin care goals, leading to a significant increase in the use of dermal filler treatments across the country. The popularity of dermal filler treatments is no surprise following an industry report published in January 2019, based on an online survey conducted by China’s state-run news agency, Xinhua. Up to 200 university students in Beijing took part in the survey, with many of them saying that looking good was not simply a frivolous desire, but an important way to greater career or education opportunities. Galderma, the world’s largest independent global dermatology company, has recognised this growing market demand in Asia and is training health care professionals who conduct these dermal treatments. The goal is to ensure these health care professionals have a complete understanding of the treatments required and are helping customers to achieve their preferred looks. To date, Galderma has performed more than 40 million dermal filler treatments globally. As the first company to enter the medical aesthetics market in China – its dermal filler treatment was approved by the National Medical Products Administration of China in 2009 – Galderma is well placed to serve this unique consumer base. The average age of Galderma’s Asian customers is much lower than that of their Western counterparts. “It’s really different from the rest of the world. In China, it’s mostly women in their 20s and 30s who are driving the growth of the [medical aesthetics] market,” Alexandre Brennan, Galderma’s vice-president for global aesthetics, says. Galderma’s Asian customers also tend to have specific aesthetic features that they consider ideal and hope to achieve, unlike customers in the West. People in the West are inclined to seek medical aesthetic treatments to reverse the physical signs of ageing. No matter the motivations, Galderma is committed to putting their customers’ needs at the heart of every treatment, and strives to be a source of empowerment for women in Asia and beyond. The views and opinions expressed are those of the sponsor and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of South China Morning Post Publishers Limited. Any content provided by our sponsors is of their opinion, and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organisation, company, individual or anyone or anything