Every year, two of the highest profile scientific meetings for board certified dermatologists, plastic surgeons and other aesthetic specialists take place within weeks of each other. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) will hold its annual meeting September 28-October 1, in Chicago, Ill., and the 2018 annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) is set for October 11-14, in Phoenix, Ariz. Both offer topnotch education and numerous opportunities to network with peers, researchers and industry leaders.
When asked why a practitioner should attend the 2018 ASPS conference, Jeffrey Janis, M.D., the current ASPS president stated: “It is easy to get to and has a crazy amount of education.”
One major highlight of the 2018 meeting includes hands-on cadaver labs. “It is rare to be able to take what you are learning in the classroom and translate that into clinical practice, with experts at your shoulder helping to guide you in real time,” Dr. Janis pointed out. Sessions will cover abdominal wall reconstruction, migraine surgery, rhinoplasty, face- lifts, facial implants, breast reconstruction and a hand/upper extremity lab.
For David H. McDaniel, M.D., a dermatologist and researcher in Virginia Beach, Va., the ASDS meeting provides a great opportunity to learn from fellow presenters and attendees. “It is one of the premier meetings for teaching and live demonstrations. In a few hours you get to see and learn about a lot of technologies.”
Dr. McDaniel will unveil initial results of a groundbreaking study that is using 3D imaging and printing to track age-related changes in the face and neck. Using data gleaned from a projected 400 patients, researchers are considering issues such as the driver’s side window effect.
According to dermatologist Tina S. Alster, M.D., F.A.A.D. (Washington, D.C.), “Many dermatology residents do not receive a
large amount of surgical instruction in their respective training programs; therefore, attending the ASDS annual meeting is a good way for those who are interested in surgery and/or cosmetic dermatology to learn a lot very quickly.”
Advances being featured at the ASDS and/or ASPS meetings range from new and established energy-based devices for anti-aging treatments, tattoo removal and body contouring, to a host of microneedling devices – currently one of the most popular trends in aesthetic medicine.
Among the microneedling devices being featured at these meetings, the SkinPen from Bellus Medical (Addison, Texas) is the only FDA-cleared Class II microneedling device currently available, according to the manufacturer. SkinPen helps leading physician-directed providers grow their businesses and protect their patients by setting standards for safety, efficacy and profitability. The procedures are short, comfortable and minimally invasive. They work for all skin types and require little to no downtime. As a result, 90% of subjects in a clinical trial said they would recommend SkinPen treatments to friends and family.
Collagen P.I.N. from Induction Therapies (Louisville, Ky.) is an advanced medical-grade, automated percutaneous induction
needling device. This non-invasive technology delivers enhanced collagen and elastin regeneration. Safe and effective for all Fitzpatrick skin types, it targets photo-aging, acne, scarring and more. Its companion, private-label skincare products result from years of research, expertise and input from physicians seeking very specific formulations, resulting in more than 25 unique products. Additionally, the company now offers the A Method by Dr. Alster, based on years of clinical expertise.
Expanding on this basic concept of microneedling, many device manufacturers are focused on developing radiofrequency-based microneedling systems. The Vivace from Aesthetics Biomedical (Phoenix), is FDA-cleared for patient safety. This minimally invasive treatment stimulates the natural production of collagen and has proven effective in alleviating facial wrinkles and fine lines, as well as tightening and toning the face, neck, hands and body. Physicians may combine the treatment with breakthroughs in numbing cream, serums and recovery care to create an optimal patient experience, with virtually no pain or downtime.
Rohrer Aesthetics (Homewood, Ala.) will feature its full product line, which includes the Spectrum Laser/IPL, the Phoenix CO2 and the recently added PiXel8-RF microneedling system. The PiXel8-RF uses bipolar energy with minimally invasive microneedles to facilitate effective skin tightening with little to no downtime. The Spectrum includes four lasers and an IPL for removing vascular and pigmented lesions, tattoos and unwanted body hair, as well as for skin resurfacing. The Phoenix CO2 laser can cut, coagulate and vaporize soft tissue. Treatment improves pigmentation, reduces fine lines and coarse wrinkles, and helps improve women’s wellness.
Along the lines of energy-based systems, many leading manufacturers will highlight new or updated devices for a variety of skin and body treatments.
The new Vbeam Prima from Syneron Candela (Wayland, Mass.) takes the company’s 595 nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) to the next level, providing advanced treatments for benign vascular and pigmented lesions, wrinkles and several other FDA-cleared indications.
This dual-wavelength (595 nm and 1064 nm) laser platform offers more innovative features, including two skin cooling options and up to 50% more energy. From port-wine stains to mature, aged skin, Vbeam is the go-to device used in nearly 700 universities and hospitals worldwide. Discover Vbeam Prima for fast, long-lasting, customized treatments with high patient tolerability and minimal side effects.
PICOCARE by Wontech (Daejeon, South Korea) is a novel picosecond laser system for treatment of benign pigmented lesions, scars, tattoo removal and skin rejuvenation. This dual-wavelength (532 nm and 1064 nm) system can treat epidermal and dermal pigment, along with various tattoo colors in all skin types. Optional handpieces include 595 nm and 660 nm dye for treating certain tattoo colors, epidermal pigment and active acne; and HEXA MLA for scarring and skin rejuvenation.
Thermi (Irving, Texas) will be launching the new ARVATI system with EPIC Technology. This state-of-the-art platform emits continuous, powerful RF waves with an enhanced 50 W capacity system, featuring advanced temperature-controlled RF EPIC technology and intelligent software with electrode recognition. ARVATI provides the speed and control needed for various modalities (ThermiTight, ThermiRase, ThermiSmooth Face and ThermiVa), with added versatility to treat more body areas.
Cutera (Brisbane, Calif.) will feature the new truSculpt iD. This powerful, non-invasive monopolar RF-based body sculpting technology provides a personalized, hands-free or hand-held solution tailored to patients’ individual needs, featuring real-time temperature control for clinically-proven results, safety and patient comfort. truSculpt iD treats the entire fat layer, resulting in approximately 24% fat thickness reduction. It offers unique handpiece and placement versatility, and customized 15-minute protocols to treat a full abdomen or multiple body areas simultaneously.
InMode (Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada) is a medical aesthetic technology company focused on developing products and procedures that utilize the most innovative RF, light-based energy and laser technologies. The company’s newest product EmbraceRF, creates a new segment of subdermal adipose tissue remodeling. It is designed to bridge the treatment gap between non-invasive and more extensive surgical options. The company will also highlight Triton, the FDA-cleared workstation with simultaneous multi-wavelength hair removal energies operating at high levels. This combination of the three most popular wavelengths (755 nm, 810 nm, 1064 nm) in one platform allows practitioners to address a broader range of skin types and tones.
Solta Medical, a division of Bausch Health Companies, Inc. (Bothell, Wash.), is a global leader that helps drive revenue growth to aesthetic practices by providing innovative and effective skin rejuvenation and body contouring solutions. Solta offers seven aesthetic lasers and energy-based devices to address a range of concerns, including resurfacing and rejuvenation, body contouring, fat reduction, skin smoothing, hair removal and acne reduction. More than 5 million procedures have been performed with Solta Medical’s portfolio of products around the world.
Zimmer MedizinSystems (Irvine, Calif.) has 45 years of expertise in manufacturing high-quality medical devices. Originally a manufacturer of physiotherapy devices, Zimmer rapidly evolved into the aesthetic industry. Zimmer’s Aesthetic Division offers award-winning devices for the treatment of cellulite and enhancing body shaping, as well as skin cooling during laser and other dermatological treatments. The company’s flagship products, Z Wave and Z Cryo, utilize advanced Radial Pulse an Cryotherapy technologies.
Shifting from energy-based technologies to topical science, the defensin peptides found in DefenAge’s Clinical Power Trio products from Progenitor Biologics, LLC (Carlsbad, Calif.) reprogram the skin to get younger every day. DefenAge Age-Repair Defensins represent evidence-based, revolutionary anti-aging technology implemented into skincare. Multi-center placebo-controlled clinical research shows that the Clinical Power Trio regimen globally improves the visual appearance of aging skin and offers most of the advantages of retinols and growth factor containing cosmeceuticals, without irritation or inflammation, sun sensitivity or concerns about neoplasia.
Episciences (Boise, Idaho) will launch the new Epionce Purifying Spot Gel Blemish Clearing Tx. Combining powerful botanical ingredients with new and improved moieties of traditional anti-acne ingredients, this product reduces acne lesions faster and more completely than prescription products, as proven in a head-to-head clinical study, without dryness or irritation. Physicians can pair it with the new Epionce Purifying Wash to help their patients control acne on the face and body.
While not a topical, Bellafill by Suneva (San Diego, Calif.) is the only dermal filler FDA-approved for the correction of nasolabial folds and moderate-to-severe atrophic, distensible facial acne scars on the cheek in patients over the age of 21 years. This smooth, collagen-based filler is composed of 80% bovine collagen gel and 20% polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microspheres. The collagen immediately volumizes smile lines or atrophic acne scars, lifting them to the level of surrounding skin. The PMMA microspheres form a matrix that supports production of endogenous collagen, which replaces the injected collagen over time.
There will be many products and companies on hand at both meetings that can help improve and/or advance various operational aspects of running a successful aesthetic practice.
Advice Media (Park City, Utah) has partnered with thousands of aesthetic practices over its 20 years of helping physicians achieve personal and professional success. The company provides website design and digital marketing, delivering more patients and allowing aesthetic physicians to achieve their own definition of success. With easy-to-understand marketing bundles, the company offers options to fit any practice’s budget.
FotoFinder Systems (Columbia, Md.) will offer demonstrations of its Mediscope Bodystation, the innovative imaging solution for consistent before-and-after photo documentation of virtually any aesthetic, medical or surgical procedure. This system features the unique Laser Liner for consistent patient positioning at baseline and follow-ups. Every photo is automatically labeled and stored. Proposer software enhances consultations with procedure protocol and skincare product recommendations. The Universe iPad app provides image access at one’s fingertips. With no floor mat, a small footprint, just one power cord and no loose cables, it is a truly mobile studio system.
