Mastering the Launch (or Relaunch!) of Exosomes into Your Practice
Enhancing skincare treatments and patient outcomes with successful skin rejuvenation
AT A GLANCE
- Shelf-stable exosome serums represent an exciting advancement in skincare, leveraging the latest in cellular biology to potentially offer more targeted and effective results to patients.
- Incentives create excitement and passion around a new product for both patients and employees.
- It’s crucial to demystify exosomes for both staff and patients, emphasizing their distinct benefits over traditional skincare and their role in regenerative medicine.
Launching or relaunching a product successfully requires a strategic blend of market research, branding, targeted marketing, and an exquisite understanding of the product to captivate your client’s interest. This article provides tips on launching exosomes, a product that allows aesthetic practitioners to enter the third pillar of aesthetics: regenerative aesthetics.
However, before we tackle best practices on launching exosomes into your practice, we must first lay the groundwork of what exosomes are (and what they are not). Exosomes provide the skin with proteins, lipids, platelets, and essential growth factors for maximized skin healing beyond typical medical-grade skincare. Shelf-stable exosome serums represent an exciting advancement in skincare, leveraging the latest in cellular biology to potentially offer more targeted and effective results to patients.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EXOSOMES AND STEM CELLS
In the realm of regenerative medicine, exosomes and stem cells are often mentioned in tandem, yet they play distinctly different roles. While both promote healing and regeneration, exosomes do so without the risks associated with cell-based therapies. Unlike stem cells, which are unique cells capable of differentiating into various cell types, exosomes are not cells themselves but crucial for cell signaling and tissue repair. Exosomes are tiny extracellular vesicles that are typically 30 nm to 100 nm in size, while stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can develop into many types of tissue.1
Additionally, both stem cells and exosomes originate from plants, humans, or animals. Human-derived exosomes, from adipose tissue, bone marrow, or umbilical cord blood, are lauded for their compatibility and efficacy in enhancing hydration, elasticity, and wound healing. Animal-derived exosomes, while similar in function, face limitations due to potential immune reactions and ethical concerns. Plant-derived exosomes, rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals, show promise for skin protection, though their efficacy and safety are still under investigation.
Understanding and educating patients on these differences is essential for proper use of these products, and you can expect savvy patients to ask you about the differing types.
COMPARING EXOSOMES TO MEDICAL-GRADE SKINCARE
Medical-grade skincare generally defines itself as effective, research-backed skincare that offers higher concentrations and purities of skincare ingredients compared to over-the-counter modalities. Though not classified as medical grade, exosome serums represent a leap forward in regenerative medicine. In our practice, exosome serums have proven to be exceptionally popular, driving more retail sales than the top-selling medical-grade product for the past 11 years. This impressive performance underscores client interest to have the next best scientifically backed at-home product.
Topical exosome serums offer targeted cellular rejuvenation through their uniquely small size improving healing times, whereas medical-grade skincare delivers clinically proven formulations designed to address specific skincare concerns. Exosomes work at a cellular level by delivering regenerative molecules that foster deep tissue repair and rejuvenation. Conversely, medical-grade skin care relies on potent active ingredients to address surface-level concerns such as aging and hydration, providing targeted improvements through topical application. Using both in conjunction provides the best formulation for overall skin health.
ELEVATING YOUR PRACTICE
Launching exosome serums into clinical practice offers patients advanced aesthetic solutions and improved results. Exosome serums offer a specialized approach to skin renewal, delivering science-based nutrients that complement daily skincare routines and enhance results from in-office treatments. Though not classified as medical grade, these serums are a form of regenerative medicine that can reduce post-treatment healing times by nearly 50% to 60% overall, 30% to 50% compared to platlet-rich plasma (PRP), and within hours, depending on the procedure.2 Topical exosomes offer patient satisfaction by catering perfectly to those with demanding schedules who seek effective, quick-turnaround skincare solutions.
In a busy office with tight patient schedules, addressing each patient’s complete treatment needs can be challenging. When exosomes were first launched, patients who were already enthusiastic about PRP treatments often came to appreciate exosomes even more. Our patients are informed that exosomes are 100 times more potent than PRP and contain more than three times the number of growth factors.3 When injectors are fully booked for the week, exosomes enable aestheticians to offer patients advanced treatments for optimal results. Aestheticians and nurses are at the forefront of this transformation, as they will be applying this treatment in a bottle directly to patients. Their inclusion in the training process is not just beneficial—it is essential when mastering the launch.
BEST PRACTICES FOR LAUNCHING EXOSOMES
Know the Myths that Exist about Exosomes
When introducing a new product, it’s vital to address common myths, especially something as new and mysterious as an exosome. Patients may ask if the product is a stem cell treatment, bioidentical, vegan-friendly, or a replacement for their current skincare. Staff should be ready to clarify that exosomes are not stem cells but advanced tools for skin rejuvenation. As discussed earlier, exosomes are shelf-stable, meaning they can be stored properly by manufacturers, and they will not replicate into different cell types.
Know Your “Why” on the Exosome Type You Selected for Your Practice
There are various types and brands of topical exosomes available. After conducting thorough research, choose the type that best suits you and your patients. Contact local representatives to obtain detailed clinical studies and information on their specific brands with your muse client in mind. Since each topical exosome is formulated differently, select one that aligns with your practice’s needs and be ready to speak to your “Why.”
Align Your Team Via All-Included Staff Trainings About Exosomes
Our front office staff is always invited into new trainings and back-office meetings to learn about a new product or new treatment launches. Rep meetings are the start of this process and provide the full staff with general knowledge of the product. Once it is launched for patients to start using, a front office staff member with one back office medical provider work together to present a Grand Rounds presentation to the full team. Here, we educate and relate the treatment to how our practice can best use this new product. Using a front office and back office staff member brings perspective from both ends of the office staff and allows for the full team to fully understand the patient experience of this product from start to finish.
Incentivize Your Team to Learn, Advocate, and Recommend Exosomes
From there, an incentive is created. For example, a $25 gift card can be given to each individual staff member who sells one of these new products to a patient. This creates excitement and passion around the new product. To make a new product even more appealing, incorporate a “Product of the Month” into the practice. Each month, a different—new or old—product can be featured with exclusive savings. This gets both patients and staff excited about a unique product.
Creative Marketing Ideas for Exosomes
Effective marketing tools are vital for a successful product launch, and leveraging platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and weekly blogs can significantly enhance visibility and provide valuable educational content. However, one of the most impactful strategies in our practice is surprisingly straightforward: using placards in treatment rooms to highlight “What’s New?” These simple displays capture patients’ attention while they wait for their treatments or interact with their providers, sparking curiosity and encouraging inquiries about the latest innovations, such as new exosome treatments. This approach not only informs patients but also fosters direct engagement, making it a powerful tool in both educating and exciting them about new offerings.
Educate, Educate, Educate Your Patients on Exosomes
At our practice, every patient is introduced to the latest advancements in skincare during their initial intake. We invite them to explore new options, like “x product” or “x treatment,” and with the arrival of exosomes, there’s much to be excited about. To maximize their enthusiasm, we recommend applying the product at the end of their visit, allowing patients to experience the texture, scent, and immediate benefits of exosomes firsthand. Also, educate patients on how exosomes offer remarkable versatility as both pre- and post-treatment solutions. Patients can use these at-home serums to prepare their skin before procedures such as ablative lasers or resurfacing treatments, and then continue using them to accelerate healing and rejuvenation.
At our practice, we view exosome serums as a groundbreaking “at-home treatment” that not only complements traditional skincare but also eliminates days of healing time, establishing them as a crucial third pillar in skincare.
ALIGN WITH THE FUTURE
Topical exosomes mark a transformative moment in dermatology, blending science with practical skincare solutions. These innovative serums promise to elevate our approach to skin rejuvenation, offering patients accelerated healing and visibly enhanced results. As we navigate this exciting frontier, it is crucial to demystify exosomes for both staff and patients, emphasizing their distinct benefits over traditional skincare and their role in regenerative medicine. By integrating exosome technology into our practices, we align ourselves with the future of skincare, setting new standards for patient care and practice excellence. As we continue to explore and educate about these advancements, we position ourselves not just as participants in the skincare revolution but as leaders shaping its trajectory. The future of dermatology is here, and with it, a new era of possibilities for our patients and practices alike.
1. Ong SG, Wu JC. Exosomes as Potential Alternatives to Stem Cell Therapy in Mediating Cardiac Regeneration. Circulation Research. 2015;117(1):7-9. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.115.306593.
2. Peredo M, Shivananjappa S. Topical Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes for Acceleration of Wound Healing Following Tissue Trauma and Aesthetic Procedures: A Case Series. J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(4):281-284. doi: 10.36849/JDD.C7395.
3. Rui S, et al. Comparison and Investigation of Exosomes Derived from Platelet-Rich Plasma Activated by Different Agonists. Cell Transplantation. 2021;30. doi: 10.1177/09636897211017833
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