YoungMD Connect Review: Tell-All Tribune

The Tell-All Tribune aesthetic think tank in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in April emerged as a groundbreaking collaborative conference, providing a platform where thought leaders in aesthetics converged to shape the future of the field. Under the leadership of course director Shino Bay Aguilera, DO, this nontraditional meeting took an interactive approach to showcase a diverse array of presentations, underscoring the collaborative nature of aesthetics. Experts from various specialties, including dermatology, plastic/oculoplastic surgery, ophthalmology, psychiatry, and functional medicine, convened with industry professionals to share insights, techniques, and cutting-edge research.

One of the conference's standout features was a series of engaging debates between experts on hot-button topics, such as the impact of nonsurgical procedures on facelift outcomes and which procedure is superior between lip lifts and lip fillers. This interactive format fostered dynamic discussions and propelled innovation within the aesthetic community, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing patient care and outcomes.

This revolutionary think tank captivated attendees with a series of intriguing insights that underscored the diverse expertise present at the conference. Some of those insights are summarized below:

• Integration of functional medicine with aesthetics is growing, as discussions delved into potential supplements tailored to individual patient needs, including vitamin D, niacinamide, coenzyme Q10, glutathione, and astaxanthin. Optimization of factors such as hormones and nutrition in the context of our personal genetics is promising for the future, but further studies are needed.
• In the realm of injection techniques, experts delved into the prevention and management of vascular occlusion. One expert proposed that use of small boluses, low extrusion pressure, smaller needles (such as 30 gauge), and retrograde movement may together prove superior to aspiration for prevention of occlusion. Additionally, approaches to management after an occlusion event such as the use of massage, eye pressure-lowering medications (topical timolol, oral acetazolamide), carbogen hyperventilation, leeches, nitrous oxide, and hyperbaric oxygen in addition to hyaluronidase were presented.
• Ophthalmologists challenged conventional wisdom by presenting findings to suggest retrobulbar injections of hyaluronidase might not be as effective as previously believed for filler occlusion events affecting vision. Instead, peribulbar injections may be preferred for ease of use, enhanced safety, and dissolution of filler emboli in smaller periorbital blood vessels other than the central retinal artery. Referral to the local emergency room is common in practice but may be too slow to meaningfully impact outcomes.
• Optimal patient selection for a lip lift vs lip filler was explored, with a consensus for the long philtrum/upper cutaneous lip as a marker for a good surgical candidate, while patients desiring reversibility are best served with filler treatment. However, many patients would likely see improvement from either modality.
• Basic science discussions elucidated the pivotal role of fibroblasts in skin aging, emphasizing the importance of nourishment and stimulation for optimal anti-aging effects.
• A private equity business expert revealed a compelling statistic: An average of 30% of a clinic’s patients who have remained loyal for 5 years or more contribute significantly to 70% of the clinic’s lifetime revenue.
• Industry experts augmented these insights by exploring novel poly-micronutrients formulations entering the US market, illustrating the collaborative synergy among diverse stakeholders in advancing aesthetic medicine.
• Intimate meetings like this provide key opinion leaders with an adequate forum to discuss their signature techniques and approaches.

The Tell-All Tribune was full of friendly debates and contrasting opinions on controversial topics in aesthetics. As mentioned above, new approaches toward a holistic aesthetic patient experience were discussed. Experts in mental health also chimed in on strategies that providers can employ to strengthen the patient-provider relationship and maximize satisfaction. The meeting was also filled with time to engage with industry experts to learn first-hand about the latest innovations in the field, while devising collaborative plans that focus on patient access. As with any successful meeting, a collegial atmosphere was felt from the first morning lecture of the day to the evening networking events overlooking the beautifully sunny Fort Lauderdale beach.

In summary, this meeting captured the enthusiasm and forward-thinking nature of the current thought leaders in aesthetic medicine, providing a platform of innovation for the next generation. As the landscape of aesthetics shifts to encompass topics from all aspects of medicine, we must stay vigilant at the cutting edge, to provide our patients with safe and effective care. The Tell-All Tribune is the meeting to address all these topics, and after outstanding feedback from attendees and industry, we look forward to the future of this great meeting.