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A number of months ago, I was invited to undergo a full-body scan in London's east end. This medical center utilizes heart monitoring, blood tests, and a voice-assisted skin analysis to evaluate patients. The facility states it can spot numerous potential cardiovascular and metabolic concerns, assess your risk of developing early diabetes and locate suspect moles.

When viewed from outside, the facility appears as a large glass memorial. Inside, it's closer to a curved-wall relaxation facility with comfortable changing areas, individual examination rooms and pot plants. Unfortunately, there's no pool facility. The whole process lasts fewer than an one hour period, and incorporates among other things a largely unclothed scan, multiple blood collections, a assessment of hand strength and, finally, through some swift data analysis, a physician review. Most patients leave with a mostly positive health report but awareness of future issues. Throughout the opening period of service, the organization says that a small percentage of its clients received perhaps life-saving information, which is meaningful. The premise is that this information can then be shared with health systems, point people towards essential intervention and, ultimately, extend life.

The Screening Process

My experience was perfectly pleasant. It doesn't hurt. I appreciated strolling through their soft-colored spaces wearing their soft slippers. Additionally, I was grateful for the unhurried atmosphere, though that's perhaps more of a reflection on the state of public healthcare after periods of inadequate funding. Generally speaking, top marks for the process.

Value Assessment

The important consideration is whether the value justifies the cost, which is trickier to evaluate. Partly because there is no benchmark, and because a positive assessment from me would depend on whether it detected issues – at which point I'd probably be less concerned with giving it excellent marks. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that it doesn't conduct X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography, so can exclusively find hematological issues and cutaneous tumors. People in my family history have been affected by tumors, and while I was reassured that none of my moles appear suspicious, all I can do now is continue living waiting for an concerning change.

Medical Service Considerations

The problem with a two-tier system that begins with a paid assessment is that the responsibility then lies with you, and the national health service, which is potentially tasked with the complex process of treatment. Medical experts have commented that these scans are more sophisticated, and include extra examinations, versus standard health checks which screen people ranging from 40 and 74.

Proactive aesthetics is stemming from the pervasive anxiety that one day we will look as old as we really are.

However, experts have said that "dealing with the rapid developments in private medical assessments will be difficult for national systems and it is essential that these screenings add value to individual wellness and prevent causing extra workload – or client concern – without clear benefits". While I imagine some of the center's patients will have other private healthcare options available through their wallets.

Cultural Significance

Prompt detection is crucial to address major illnesses such as cancer, so the appeal of assessment is obvious. But these procedures access something deeper, an version of something you see among certain circles, that proud segment who truly feel they can live for ever.

The facility did not create our preoccupation with life extension, just as it's not news that wealthy individuals enjoy extended lives. Various people even seem less aged, too. The beauty industry had been fighting the passage of time for hundreds of years before modern interventions. Early intervention is just a different approach of phrasing it, and fee-based preventive healthcare is a expected development of youth-preserving treatments.

Together with beauty buzzwords such as "extended youth" and "preventive aesthetics", the goal of prevention is not halting or turning back aging, ideas with which regulatory bodies have taken issue. It's about postponing it. It's symptomatic of the lengths we'll go to conform to unrealistic expectations – an additional burden that women used to criticize ourselves about, as if the obligation is ours. The industry of proactive aesthetics appears as almost questioning of age prevention – especially cosmetic surgeries and cosmetic enhancements, which seem unrefined compared with a night cream. Nevertheless, each are rooted in the constant fear that one day we will appear our age as we actually are.

My Conclusions

I've tried a lot of these creams. I enjoy the process. And I would argue various items enhance my complexion. But they don't surpass a good night's sleep, good genes or maintaining lower stress. However, these represent approaches for something out of your hands. No matter how much you accept the perspective that maturing is "a perceptual issue rather than of 'real life'", the world – and cosmetics companies – will still have you believe that you are aged as soon as you are past your prime.

In principle, these services and similar offerings are not about avoiding mortality – that would be ridiculous. And the benefits of early intervention on your physical condition is evidently a very different matter than preventive action on your aging signs. But ultimately – screenings, creams, regardless – it is essentially a struggle with nature, just tackled in somewhat varied methods. Having explored and exploited every inch of our earth, we are now trying to colonise ourselves, to overcome mortality. {