News

Marie Osmond JOINS MD Complete

MA Editor-at-Large talks shop with the newly anointed skincare entrepreneur.

She's Danced with the Stars, lost 50 lbs. on Nutrisystem, founded the Children's Miracle Network, and has been entertaining us all since she was three years old.

And now Marie Osmond, 58, is throwing her hat into yet another ring as part owner and strategic adviser for MD Complete. She's not just another celebrity lending her pretty (and youthful) face and time to a skincare brand, Ms. Osmond is in it to win it. “I don't put my name on things unless I truly believe in them,” she says. “Your beliefs, integrity, and good name are all you have in this world. I would never want to betray the trust people place in me.”

A rather persistent friend suggested Ms. Osmond try the products, the brainchild of Minneapolis dermatologist Brian Zelickson, MD. “Within two weeks, I was seeing crazy results and got very curious,” she says. From there, the icon reached out to Dr. Zelickson and asked to get more involved.

Ms. Osmond, who is known for her staunch work ethic, wasn't actively looking for a new business opportunity, but she felt compelled to bring this product line the attention it deserves.

(Don't believe everything you read. Ms. Osmond and her skincare interest has been the subject of fake news. To set the record straight, MD Complete is the first and only skincare brand that she has ever worked on or endorsed, with the exception of a fan club product during her teen years.)

So just what will Ms. Osmond's involvement with MD Complete look like? She's thinking about redoing the bottle design, but we won't be seeing her face on them anytime soon as she wants the results to speak for themselves. [Editor's note: I sat next to her. They do!]. She is also speaking about the products and their benefits to media and consumers.

Part of the lure for Ms. Osmond was the relative ease of the regimen and the budget-friendly price points. The most expensive product retails for $39.99. Osmond understands that most women don't have the time or bank account to apply a laundry list of products and/or undergo an endless amount of aesthetic services. “We are not trying to sell you this cream and that cream. If it's really good, it should work. Period,” she says. “I don't have time to go into the dermatology office for treatments because of all the downtime for recovery,” she says. “I have been a single mom and provider and when you have house payments, car payments, and kids, moms always put themselves last.”

And she practices what she preaches. “In the morning, I wash my face with a warm washcloth and put on my sunscreen, and at night, I wash my face with our Clarifying Cleanser and then apply the Retinol Vitamin C Concentrate,” she shares. “I spray my face with distilled water and then use the concentrate to help seal moisture in.”

She's also a fan of MD Complete's Healthy Skin Probiotic, which comes in a tiny shot glass and contains a prebiotic and Vitamin B (Niacin) to restore the balance of good bacteria in the belly, which, when out of whack, can negatively affect skin health.

Ms. Osmond lives and works in Las Vegas—where she and brother Donnie just renewed their contract at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino for a tenth year—so she relies on MD Complete's Radiance Renewing Deep Moisturizer to counteract the arid desert weather.

“I have tried every skincare product out there from the cheapest to the most expensive,” she says. “This product line is the answer to everything you need. It's laser results in a bottle.”

New From Cutera: Juliet and Secret RF

Cutera has introduced two new devices to its laser and energy-based device offerings: Juliet and Secret RF. The North American launch of the Juliet laser represents Cutera's first entry into the women's health segment of the aesthetics market and offers patients a best-in-class alternative for improving sexual function and overall vaginal health. Secret RF is a new fractional radiofrequency (RF) microneedling device that effectively remodels collagen, improves mild wrinkles, and diminishes scars.

Juliet is a minimally invasive, no-downtime treatment that utilizes Er:YAG laser technology to deliver two modes of energy to the vaginal area. The first mode stimulates the remodeling of collagen and the second mode stimulates the damaged tissue. As a result, patients experience improved sexual function and an overall improvement in vaginal health.

Juliet treats burning, itching, dryness and painful intercourse in the vaginal wall typically associated with diminished estrogen production and post-partum changes. It is the ideal treatment option for women who have signs and symptoms associated with genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Additionally, women who have undergone breast cancer treatments or are interested in vaginal cosmetic improvements including tone and flexibility can benefit greatly from Juliet treatment.

The in-office procedure typically takes approximately 10 minutes to treat internally and externally in the same treatment session. Patients often feel and see improvement after the very first treatment, with optimal results seen after three treatments.

Secret, Cutera's new fractional RF microneedling device, delivers heat into the deeper layers of the skin using controlled RF energy. The targeted energy revitalizes, rebuilds, and firms up tissue, effectively remodeling collagen, improving mild wrinkles, and diminishing scars while leaving the outer layer of skin intact.

Used on all skin types, the Secret RF technology, has customizable microneedle tips and two specialized handpieces to treat both the face and body. The non-surgical, in-office treatment typically takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. Many patients see improvement after the first treatment, with optimal results seen after three treatments.

The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery Names New President and Welcomes New Officers & Trustees

Alexander Sobel, DO, of Anderson Sobel Cosmetic Surgery in Bellevue, WA, is the new President of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.

Dr. Sobel is a triple board-certified surgeon in general cosmetic surgery, cosmetic facial surgery, and otolaryngology/facial plastic surgery. He has served the board as Vice President, Trustee, and Fellowship Director, in addition to his former role as President of the American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery.

“I have enjoyed great satisfaction and pride through my service to the Board for two terms as Vice President and Trustee,” says Dr. Sobel, in a news release. “I look forward to continuing my service in this new capacity. It is an honor to accept the torch passed by [immediate Past President] Dr. Jacob Haiavy, whose hard work, commitment, and vision have set the bar for excellence within our Board.”

In addition to naming Dr. Sobel as new acting president, the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery has named both new and re-elected Officers and Trustees in 2018.

Other 2018 Officers:

• Wilbur Hah, MD (Vice President)
• J. Kevin Duplechain, MD (Treasurer)
• Robert Shumway, MD, FACS (Secretary)

New Trustees:

• Mohammad Banki, MD, DMD
• Gerald Edds, MD
• Filiberto Rodriguez, MD
• Jeffrey Swetnam, MD
• Howard Tobin, MD

Cynosure Introduces TempSure Envi

Hologic's Cynosure division is launching TempSure Envi—an FDA-cleared advanced radiofrequency device.

TempSure Envi heats the deep layers of skin to regenerate collagen and improve the appearance of cellulite and wrinkles associated with forehead lines, frown lines, crow's feet, smile lines, and wrinkles on the chin. Treatments are safe for all skin types and require no downtime, lasting between 30 and 60 minutes based on the area treated.

TempSure Envi comprises Therapeutic Logic Control (TLC)—a system that links treatment time with target temperature, allowing for consistent treatment temperatures and high patient comfort levels. In fact, 99 percent of patients who participated in a Cynosure in-house study reported a pain-free treatment experience.

New AAFPRS Data: Social Media Makes Lasting Impact on Industry

Like it or not, the selfie and its impact on aesthetics is here to stay, and continues to have a huge effect on how we perceive and project ourselves in front of the camera and off.

This is among the main findings from the annual survey of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS).

In 2017, 55 percent of facial plastic surgeons saw patients who want to look better in selfies in their practices (up 13 percent from 2016). First identified by AAFPRS members more than three years ago in the annual survey, the trend continues to gain steam and transform the facial plastic surgery industry.

“Consumers are only a swipe away from finding love and a new look, and this movement is only going to get stronger,” says AAFPRS President William H. Truswell, MD, a facial plastic surgeon in Northampton, MA.

And it's not just enhanced selfies that are trending. From public healing diaries to A-list and Insta-celebs baring all on their social media accounts, nothing is off limits when it comes to sharing aesthetic enhancements and edits. From lip injections to chin implants to ear lobe reduction, 2017 showed us that there is no shame in sharing your road to self-confidence!

While surgery is no longer a hush-hush topic, 2017 made the phrases “anti-aging” and ”you look good for your age” taboo. The tables are turning on what it means to look and feel great, with a focus on health, vitality, and empowerment rather than a number.

The average number of procedures performed by AAFPRS members has increased 25 percent since 2012. More than half (56 percent) of AAFPRS members saw an increase in cosmetic surgery or injectables with patients under age 30 last year and more than four-fifths of treatments in 2017 were cosmetic non-surgical procedures.

“This emerging segment is knowledgeable about high-tech skincare and sun prevention and starts with facial injectables before they turn thirty,” says Dr. Truswell. “As more millennials come of age and gain disposable income for aesthetic treatments, our members have seen steady growth in the demand for cosmetic procedures.”

No matter the treatment or age, a natural-looking outcome is paramount for patients—33 percent said a fear of looking unnatural is their top concern.

A full 57 percent of facial plastic surgeons reported patients' desire to stay relevant and competitive at work as a major driver in the decision to have a cosmetic treatment. Advances in noninvasive and combination technologies are allowing men and women to refresh their appearance with little to no downtime.

Some of the most requested procedures were tailored to these specific lifestyle concerns. Eyelid procedures to look less tired were reported as a rising trend by 73 percent of members along with combined nonsurgical procedures by 72 percent of members.

“By combining nonsurgical choices such as novel lasers, hybrid lasers, and microneedling systems, we are able to treat a wide range of facial rejuvenation concerns in the span of one appointment,” says Dr. Truswell. “These procedures all boast very little downtime, meaning patients with demanding careers can be back in the office without skipping a beat.”

Botox (Allergan), along with Dysport (Galderma) and Xeomin (Merz), remain the most popular minimally invasive procedures for women and men, followed by fillers and skin treatments.

For surgical trends, rhinoplasty continues to lead the way (performed by 97 percent of surgeons in 2017) followed by blepharoplasty (95 percent) and facelifts (88 percent).

Botox and hair transplants both notably increased in the past five years, with the number of Botox procedures in the survey increasing by 33 percent from 2012 to 2017. The number of hair transplants jumped by more than 538 percent in that time span. Noninvasive fat reduction and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are newer procedures that facial plastic surgeons are also seeing requested more often, the survey showed.

The data for this study was collected by SSRS online between December 7, 2017 and January 5, 2018. A survey link was provided to the AAFPRS, and members were invited via email by the organization to complete the survey. In total, 99 members responded to the survey, and numbers are projected.

Are Millennials Driving the Med Spa Boom?

The medical spa industry is one of the fastest developing in the US, with revenues growing at a double-digit pace since 2010, and by more than 20 percent each year since 2013. According to a new American Med Spa Association (AmSpa) State of the Industry Report, the $4 billion industry projects to grow an additional eight percent by 2020 as the millennial population ages and invests in noninvasive procedures.

Millennials currently account for nearly 20 percent of medical spa patients, and that number is growing. This age group (18-34) is dedicated to prevention and enjoys the non-clinical environment and shortened wait times for appointments that med spas offer. It's no surprise then that 50 percent of medical spa owners believe that their revenues will increase more than 10 percent this year according the AmSpa survey.

“Today's society is highly influenced by Hollywood, where looking younger has become the best way to feel younger,” says Alex Theirsh, CEO & Founder of AmSpa, in a news release. “Consumers are very focused on the many affordable and ingenious ways to retain that feeling of vitality and youth.”

RealSelf Announces 2018 Fellowship Winners

RealSelf has named the 2018 recipients of the RealSelf Fellowship, which awards financial grants to medical professionals who give back by delivering care and training to underserved communities around the world.

Each Fellow receives a $7,500 grant to be applied toward a nonprofit-sponsored humanitarian trip they have planned for 2018. In addition to bringing care to those who need it most, many of the 2018 Fellowship recipients will provide training to local physicians and continue to impact the communities they visit for years to come.

2018 financial grants were awarded to:

• David M. Alessi, Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon working with Face Forward in March 2018
• Frank P. Fechner, Worcester Facial Plastic Surgeon traveling to Vietnam with Face-to-Face in November 2018
• Mark Hanikeri, Perth, Australia Plastic Surgeon traveling to the Philippines with Operation Rainbow in June 2018
• Monica Kieu, Marina del Rey physician traveling to Ho Chi Minh City with the Project Vietnam Foundation in March 2018
• Wayne F. Larrabee Jr., Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon traveling to Ethiopia with Seattle Anesthesia Outreach in March 2018
• Derek Lou, Houston Plastic Surgeon traveling to Mexico with the Crystal Foundation in May 2018
• James M. Pearson, Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon traveling to Vietnam with HUGS in March 2018
• Ifeolumipo O. Sofola, Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon traveling to Rwanda with Face the Future in February 2018
• Laura A. Sudarsky, Fort Lauderdale Plastic Surgeon traveling to Guatemala with Healing the Children in November 2018

“We feel fortunate to support the efforts of the 2018 RealSelf Fellows who selflessly donate their time and expertise to bring reconstructive care to communities that need it most,” said RealSelf Founder and CEO, Tom Seery. “Looking forward, we aim to deepen and expand the impact of our global giving efforts and further the RealSelf mission to bring confidence to people worldwide.”

HiMirror and Other Smart Beauty Devices Take Center Stage at CES 2018

Beauty products and devices took center stage at the recent Computer Electronics Show. HiMirror was named a CES 2018 Innovation Awards Honoree for its HiMirror Mini ($249), the first voice-activated smart mirror. Available in the US by September, the mirror offers personalized skincare analysis based on the condition of the user's skin, local weather conditions, and more.

HiMirror also keeps an ongoing record of the user's skin to track goals and the results of products used. It also allows users to provide feedback on product efficacy. A user's collection of skincare products can be scanned into the system through a virtual “My Beauty Box” by barcode, with reminders sent for any product expirations. The HiMirror features an entertainment center consisting of news stories, music, ambient make up lighting, video tutorials, and more. Equipped with a mobile app, the HiMirror lets users track and tweak their skincare needs on the go, too. It is equipped with Amazon Alexa-enabled features, privacy facial and voice recognition account access, and a noise cancellation microphone. The HiMirror Mini will also introduce a touchscreen feature to the HiMirror portfolio.

The brand's sister product, HiMirror Plus+ (launched in December 2017), first introduced the Amazon Alexa-enabled features to the HiMirror product portfolio. Accessories for the HiMirror product portfolio are sold separately and include the Smart Body Scale and the HiSkin. The Smart Body Scale allows users to identify their body type as well as measure their weight, body mass index, body fat, water level content, muscle mass, bone weight, resting metabolism, etc. The Body and Fitness feature on HiMirror also includes fitness videos for different exercise types, body parts, and equipment to ensure a total at-home health and fitness experience. HiSkin is a hand-held device that connects to the HiMirror to provide a “skin deep” 360° analysis of the skin's condition measuring hydration level, pigmentation, and more.

Kohler Co. was also named a CES 2018 Innovation Awards Honoree for its new Verdera Voice Lighted Mirror ($999). The smart mirror puts Amazon's Alexa assistant into a bathroom mirror, which can be used to turn the lights on or off or perform voice assistant functions.

NeutrogenaSkin360 ($49.99) from Johnson & Johnson attaches to a smartphone and uses sensors to track skin health while providing personalized skincare advice. The Skin360 app and SkinScanner tool measure what's happening below the skin's surface, tracking pores, fine lines, wrinkles, and moisture levels. Each scan generates a Skin360 Score, offering analysis with a recommended skincare routine and products suited to the user's skin type and issues.

The Neutrogena Skin360 app and SkinScanner tool will be available later this year exclusively via Neutrogena.com.

Romy Paris's $800 “miniaturized laboratory” creates a personalized skincare serum daily along with a beauty coaching app that takes environment, activities, and sleep habits into consideration.

And Schwarzkopf Professional's SalonLab tool measures inner hair condition and moisture level and can even identify true hair color. An accompanying app is augmented reality-ready to virtually see how different hair colors look.

Also at CES, Northwestern University researchers and L'Oréal introduced a wafer-thin, feather-light sensor that can fit on a fingernail and precisely measures a person's exposure to UV light from the sun.

MEETING UPDATE

The Medical Spa Show: Advancing the Industry

Presented by the American Med Spa Association (AmSpa), The Medical Spa Show February 9-11 at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, brings together the top medical spas, industry professionals, and educators in the industry to provide something that AmSpa says the medical aesthetics profession truly needs.

In a letter to attendees, Alex Thiersch, Founder and Director of AmSpa writes, “Our goal has always been—and always will be—to advance the industry through business-building and compliance. We want everyone to be profitable, so we've brought together some of the top medical spas and aesthetic centers in the country to offer their secrets on how to build a successful practice. Along with that and equally important, we want the industry to be safe. Because of this, extensive coverage of the laws, the emerging legislation that will impact the industry, and best practices to keep the industry growing at its current pace will also be offered.”

Get the full agenda at Medicalspashow.com.

FFAS Takes NOLA for 25th Annual Meeting

It's almost time for the 25th annual Foundation for Facial Aesthetic Surgery meeting. Slated to be held at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans from March 1-4, 2018, the meeting brings together plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, oculoplastic surgeons, and dermatologists, as well as marketing and spa specialists for four full days of live surgery, live injections, lectures, and information sharing.

“This is the one program where you will hear down-to-earth information, no hype, just practical facts,” says Phillip R. Langsdon, MD, FACS, President, Memphis Medical Society, Meeting Director & President-Elect, American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

On the marketing/business side, “FFAS is truly an up-close and personal experience. Speakers, exhibitors and attendees create lasting relationships and share real life, heart felt experiences, and allow attendees to make friends from different markets to call during the year when you wonder ‘How do other practice do X?,'” says Orlando, FL-based marketing professional Candace Crowe, the Program Chair for the FFAS business and marketing track.

Key talks in the business track this year include “Your Social Security number is worth 10 cents on the black market, EMRs thousands, how should you protect them?” by Andrew Maxon, Vice President, Cybersecurity and Training Systems at Cybernet Systems Corporation in Orlando, FL, and a break-out session by Red Spot Interactive's Director of Sales Ryan Lehrl on starting out in practice.

“Some speakers in these tracks are in the business of providing services to practices, but many are actually physicians with highly successful practices who are willing to share their experience and expertise,” adds FFAS Symposium Manager Michael Spikes.

Visit ffasurg.org/register/ to register.

AAFPRS Facial Rejuvenation 2018 Coming

Updates on facial aesthetics take center stage at the AAFPRS Facial Rejuvenation 2018 Symposium at the Sheraton Grand Chicago, April 12-15, 2018. Organizers promise, “Attendees will be educated on how to deliver beautiful outcomes that take their practices to the next level.”

Organizers say live injections and interactive panel discussions between the audience and experts will be featured. Surgical demonstrations both taped and live will be integrated within the meeting presented by a multi-disciplinary faculty. Also look for demos of cutting edge technologies for facial rejuvenation, video sessions and practice management strategies.

For more information: http://facialrejuvenationmeeting.org