Coming

Surgeries

Botox, fillers, and other minimally invasive treatments will always be in demand, but we will likely be seeing more requests for actual surgeries in the coming months. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has left some people with disposable income (due to lack of vacations or need for new clothing) and a greater acceptance of downtime. (Where is anyone really going these days, anyway?)

The most recent stats from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery back this up with gusto. Fully 64 percent of facial plastic surgeons believe patients have more disposable income due to decreased spending in other areas, and 96 percent indicate patients have more time and flexibility to recover.

Forty percent of facial plastic surgeons are reporting upticks in requests for eye procedures. This makes sense, as eyes are the only feature that can be seen while we are masking up. Close to 40 percent of facial plastic surgeons say patients are more interested in facelifts and neck lifts and other neck procedures than ever before, too. Make sure you are ready for the rush by updating your website and social media content to reflect the breadth of procedures you perform and highlight all of the steps your office is taking to protect patients from COVID-19.

Going

Bumpy Bums

Endo’s Qwo is here, and this means many patients can say goodbye to cellulite on their butts. Qwo is the first-ever injectable to get rid of dimply butts, and we are seeing results in 10 weeks after three treatments spaced 21 days apart. Qwo may work by releasing fibrous bands, redistributing fat cells, and stimulating the growth of new collagen. Injections take just 10 minutes, which is a major plus for us and our patients.

That’s not all that is exciting on the cellulite front, either. Soliton just scored an FDA nod for their Rapid Acoustic Pulse (RAP) device for the short-term improvement of cellulite. This device utilizes a rapid pulse of acoustics to break apart the fibrous septa band underneath the skin that causes cellulite and provides results in one 40–60-minute treatment.

For the first time, we have a choice of techniques and technologies to offer patients who are concerned about cellulite on their butts or thighs and have been frustrated by the lack of results of anti-cellulite treatments in the past. Beach season is almost here, and these procedures will surely resonate with patients who are planning to put on bathing suits or shorts this summer.