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Several weeks back, I had the opportunity to experience a full-body scan in the eastern part of London. This diagnostic clinic utilizes ECG tests, blood tests, and a talking skin-scanner to examine patients. The company states it can spot multiple underlying cardiovascular and energy conversion problems, determine your probability of contracting borderline diabetes and locate questionable moles.

From the outside, the facility appears as a vast crystal mausoleum. Internally, it's closer to a rounded-wall spa with pleasant dressing rooms, personal consultation areas and pot plants. Regrettably, there's no pool facility. The whole process requires under an hour, and features among other things a predominantly bare screening, different blood collections, a test for grasping power and, at the end, through some swift data-crunching, a physician review. Typical visitors depart with a relatively clean medical assessment but an eye on future issues. Throughout the opening period of business, the clinic reports that a small percentage of its patients received perhaps critical intel, which is significant. The concept is that this data can then be provided to health systems, direct individuals to required care and, finally, extend life.

The Screening Process

The screening process was very comfortable. There's no pain. I enjoyed strolling through their pastel-walled areas wearing their comfortable sandals. Furthermore, I valued the unhurried experience, though this is probably more of a demonstration on the situation of national health services after extended time of inadequate funding. Generally speaking, perfect score for the experience.

Worth Considering

The crucial issue is whether it's worth it, which is trickier to evaluate. Partly because there is no comparison basis, and because a positive assessment from me would rely on whether it identified problems – at which point I'd possibly become less concerned with giving it five stars. It's also worth pointing out that it doesn't perform X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging or body imaging, so can exclusively find blood abnormalities and cutaneous tumors. Members in my family tree have been affected by growths, and while I was comforted that my pigmented spots seem concerning, all I can do now is live my life anticipating an concerning change.

Medical Service Considerations

The issue regarding a private-public divide that commences with a commercial screening is that the onus then lies with you, and the public healthcare system, which is possibly responsible for the difficult work of treatment. Medical experts have noted that these scans are more sophisticated, and feature extra examinations, in contrast to conventional assessments which assess people aged between 40 and 74.

Preventive beauty is rooted in the constant fear that one day we will look as old as we actually are.

Nevertheless, experts have commented that "addressing the rapid developments in commercial health screenings will be difficult for government services and it is essential that these screenings contribute positively to patient wellbeing and prevent causing additional work – or patient stress – without obvious improvements". Although I suspect some of the facility's clients will have alternative commercial medical services tucked into their finances.

Wider Implications

Prompt detection is vital to manage serious diseases such as cancer, so the benefit of testing is apparent. But such examinations tap into something underlying, an version of something you see in certain circles, that vainglorious segment who honestly believe they can extend life indefinitely.

The organization did not invent our focus on longevity, just as it's not surprising that rich people enjoy extended lives. Some of them even seem less aged, too. The beauty industry had been fighting the passage of time for generations before current approaches. Prevention is just a new way of expressing it, and fee-based proactive medicine is a expected development of preventive beauty products.

In addition to beauty buzzwords such as "extended youth" and "preventive aesthetics", the objective of proactive care is not halting or turning back aging, words with which compliance agencies have expressed concern. It's about delaying it. It's indicative of the extents we'll go to conform to unrealistic expectations – another stick that people used to beat ourselves with, as if the obligation is ours. The industry of preventive beauty presents as almost sceptical of youth preservation – particularly facelifts and cosmetic enhancements, which seem undignified compared with a skin product. However, both are stemming from the pervasive anxiety that one day we will show our years as we really are.

Personal Reflections

I've tried numerous such products. I appreciate the process. And I dare say various items improve my appearance. But they cannot replace a good night's sleep, good genes or maintaining lower stress. However, these represent solutions to something beyond your control. However much you embrace the perspective that ageing is "a mental construct rather than of 'real life'", society – and aesthetic businesses – will still have you believe that you are aged as soon as you are past your prime.

Theoretically, these services and similar offerings are not focused on avoiding mortality – that would represent absurd. Additionally, the positives of timely detection on your wellbeing is clearly a completely separate issue than early intervention on your wrinkles. But finally – scans, treatments, any approach – it is essentially a struggle with biological processes, just tackled in slightly different ways. Following examination of and utilized every aspect of our planet, we are now seeking to conquer our own biology, to transcend human limitations. {