Speech Therapy and Facial Esthetic: Experience of Brazil in Primary Health Care

Abstract

Speech Therapy is relatively new discipline in Chile, therefore, it is in the process of growth and development. As part of the orofacial motricity area, a new specialty has began to develop: Facial esthetic. This new area deals with facial muscles and their alterations caused by natural aging processes and/or external factors. Brazil, a pioneer country in this practice, has developed several health intervention plans. In this respect, facial esthetic has been included in the context of primary health care, through the creation of Family Health Support Centers. For instance, a program of facial esthetic has been implemented in the city of Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais. This program aims to promote the integration of physical and mental care. Scientific evidence shows that esthetic’s speech therapy produce relaxation of facial muscles, reducing wrinkles and fine lines and improving the people’s sense of well-being. Therefore, increasing the knowledge about this area in Chilean speech therapists and developing new areas of professional performance would be important issues to address.