News and Updates

LIVE FROM OCTANE’S AESTHETICS TECH FORUM 2023: seven AESTHETIC PATIENT TREATMENT TRENDS

Aesthetics is big business, and it is getting bigger and bolder. This is among the main takeaways from a presentation on patient treatment trends at Octane’s Aesthetics Tech Forum 2023 in Newport Beach, California.

The 2-day immersive, in-person and digital experience brings together leading physicians, industry, and entrepreneurs to discuss groundbreaking medical aesthetic technologies as well as unmet clinical needs and new business opportunities. Modern Aesthetics® magazine is the exclusive media partner for Octane’s Aesthetics Tech Forum 2023.

Certain trends are helping to drive interest in and the uptake of cosmetic procedures in 2023.

No. 1: More Aggressive Procedures Produce More Natural Results

Surgical interventions are having a moment, said Kamakshi R. Zeidler, MD. She is a plastic surgeon and managing partner at Aesthetx in San Jose, California, and a senior advisor to Octane’s Launchpad, which helps entrepreneurs boost their chances of success. “We are digging deeper and doing more aggressive things to make results look more natural,” she said. “We are not just injecting tons of filler. Instead, we are going into the deep plane and lifting cheeks, [producing] much more natural results.”

No. 2: The Zoom Boom Still Booms

From selfies to Zoom meetings, patients are getting nearly constant feedback on how they present themselves digitally, and this is pushing them to want to look their best in real life, Dr. Zeidler said.

No. 3: Combination Procedures Are in Demand

This is a hot growth area across aesthetics, including combinations targeting collagen stimulation from a multimodal approach such as Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid, Galderma) injections plus laser, said Jason Bloom, MD, a facial plastic surgeon at Bloom Facial Plastic Surgery in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

No. 4: Minimally Invasive Procedures Maintain Surgical Results

Injectables, lasers, and energy-based devices can help maintain surgical results, Dr. Bloom said. “Patients are seen postoperatively by aestheticians and physician extenders,” he stated. “This promotes a holistic and team approach to facial rejuvenation.”

No. 5: Today’s Aesthetic Patients Are Younger and More Diverse

Today’s aesthetic patient is younger by about 5 to 10 years, Dr. Bloom said. Other growing populations include members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community and people of different ethnicities, added Leslie Fletcher, a nurse injector and founder of the InjectAbility Clinic in Torrance, California. There is a corresponding shift in how patients and physicians talk about aesthetics, and it is opening the door for a new type of consumer, said Dr. Zeidler. “Rejuvenation is an outdated term,” she said. “Aesthetics is not really about fixing something that time and age created anymore. It is more about being your best self in the here and now.”

No. 6: Patient Financing Boosts Sales

Todd Watts, CEO and cofounder of PatientFi, said that cost is the main barrier for patients aged 35 to 44 who choose not to move forward with aesthetic procedures. However, 87% of consumers aged 22 to 44 are interested in monthly payment plans.

“Early adopters of monthly price promotion will benefit greatly with existing and new patients,” he said. PatientFi offers medical providers a next-generation point-of-care financing platform. The company was a LaunchPad People’s Choice Award Winner in 2019.

No. 7: Influencers Hold Sway in Aesthetics

The influencer industry is valued at $16.9B, and lifestyle and beauty hold the Nos. 1 and 2 spots where influencers have the most sway, according to data from RealSelf. That said, a sneak peek at proprietary data from EvolveMKD, a public relations and digital marketing agency in New York City, found that younger and older consumers agree on the importance of the point of view of a trusted third-party source, said Alex Christian, vice president of research and analytics at EvolveMKD. “With the expansion of who people get their information from, our latest study shows that medical-based voices stand out from the rest,” she said. “These experts offer a leg up with consumers but [that] also means their content and perspectives are held to a higher standard.”

FDA CLEARS SOFWAVE’S SUPERB TECHNOLOGY FOR CELLULITE IMPROVEMENT

Sofwave’s SUPERB (Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam) technology has been cleared by the FDA to improve the appearance of cellulite.

SUPERB technology employs cooled transducers that are directly coupled to the epidermis to create a unique 3D array of volumetric thermal zones that deliver parallel energy simultaneously and heat precisely at the right depth in the middermis, according to a company new release.

Clinical trials submitted to the FDA as part of the 510(k) application in support of the cellulite FDA clearance evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the device for the noninvasive dermatological aesthetic improvement in cellulite appearance. A total of 68 women were treated at four sites in the United States. Eligible patients received two treatments (2–4 weeks apart) using SUPERB technology on one side (right or left) of the lateral/posterior upper thigh or buttocks. Serial clinical photographs were collected under standardized conditions before treatment (baseline) and at the 3-month follow-up visits. Photographs were assessed by blinded independent reviewers to identify pretreatment images when compared to posttreatment images and to grade the pre- and posttreatment images using the Cellulite Severity Scale. Improvement was also evaluated using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale and Laxity Scale. Safety assessments included evaluation of adverse events via physician examination during and after the treatment.

After the study, the blinded reviewers correctly identified the posttreatment images for 89% of the patients. No serious or unanticipated adverse event was reported during the study.

In 2021, the FDA cleared other indications for SUPERB technology, for lifting the eyebrow and lifting lax submental tissue and neck tissue. The technology was also cleared for a noninvasive dermatological aesthetic treatment to improve facial lines and wrinkles.

DERMALOGICA RELEASES COURSE ON TREATING MELANIN-RICH SKIN

To address underrepresentation in the professional skincare industry’s training curricula regarding melanin-rich skin tones (specifically those categorized as Fitzpatrick levels 4–6), Dermalogica is launching “Treating Melanin-Rich Skin.”

“Textbooks primarily feature lighter skin tones on models and in medical illustrations, and classes often omit how skin conditions present in darker skin tone variations. This causes a learning gap that can lead to inequalities in care, from the initial client consultation through skin analysis and treatment,” Dermalogica stated in a company news release.

The free course is designed for skin therapists and future industry professionals to strengthen their foundational knowledge of understanding and treating melanin-rich skin. It comprises three self-led modules. Module one focuses on cultural intelligence to strengthen communication and improve the client experience. The second module delves into the science of melanin and melanin-rich skin structure and explores how they affect skin conditions such as aging, hyperpigmentation, breakouts, sensitivity, and more. Students reportedly will learn how to unlock effective skin treatments for these skin conditions and types of ingredients to use and avoid when treating melanin-rich skin. The third module addresses advanced skin services and focuses on chemical peels, microneedling, nanoinfusion, dermaplaning, and LED. The curriculum details precautions and contraindications that may be present with melanin-rich skin to guide the professional on how to perform each of these services successfully.

The course, found at TreatingMelaninRichSkin.com, is open to the professional skincare industry and currently offered in seven languages: English, German, Spanish, Italian, Vietnamese, French, and Mandarin. A certificate of completion is available to print out or share digitally.

STUDY: JEUVEAU ‘EXTRA-STRENGTH’ DOSE SHOWED LASTING RESULTS

According to Evolus, in an interim analysis, Jeuveau (prabotulinumtoxinA-xvfs) Extra-Strength achieved a 1-point improvement on the Glabellar Lines Scale (GLS) and a 26-week duration of effect, representing a prolonged 6-month performance across the three metrics presented. These included the time it took for patients to return to their baseline GLS score after treatment, time back to baseline for patients with a response of none or mild on the GLS, and the duration of effect of at least a 1-point GLS improvement.

The extra-strength glabellar line study is a multicenter, double-blind, randomized phase 2 trial that is observing 150 patients for up to 12 months or until the patient loses their correction. The study has three arms: Jeuveau Extra-Strength 40 units and two active controls, Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA, Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company) 20 units and Jeuveau 20 units. The interim analysis was performed to assess the safety and efficacy of the extra-strength formulation. The adverse events profile across all three arms was similar. The severity rating demonstrated that 88% of the events were mild and 12% were moderate. No serious adverse events were reported.

Trial completion is expected later this year, with final results anticipated in the second half of 2023. The findings were presented at the 2023 International Master Course on Aging Science World Congress in Paris.

Jeuveau is approved for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe vertical lines between the eyebrows seen at maximum frown (glabellar lines) in adults younger than 65 years of age.

Beauty Through Science Conference Makes Its US Debut

With expert faculty and engaging presentations, BTS was a success.

By Wendy Lewis

I have fond memories of speaking at Beauty Through Science (BTS) Stockholm back in the early days when Restylane (hyaluronic acid gel, Galderma) was still owned by Q-Med and aesthetics was finding its way as a field. Per Hedén, MD, PhD, an associate professor in plastic surgery at the Karolinska University in Sweden, was my go-to source for everything to do with fillers and breast implants, and I still consider him to be one of the wisest aesthetic doctors in the field. His clinic, Akademikliniken, which he founded in 1991 with Jan Jernbeck, MD, PhD, was the largest and most advanced clinic in Europe. Dr. Hedén was lecturing about how to run a successful practice and be profitable years before most of his peers.

Fast-forward to December 2022, when BTS New York was launched by Dr. Hedén and M. Bradley Calobrace, MD, FACS, a plastic surgeon based in Louisville, Kentucky. I was delighted to attend, particularly because it was in my hometown. The winning and inclusive program featured world-class experts on everything from injectables and lasers to face-lifts and breast surgery.

Expert Faculty

“I was thrilled to partner with Per Hedén to continue his 20-year legacy of the Beauty Through Science meeting in Stockholm in the United States,” said Dr. Calobrace in an interview. “New York seemed to be the perfect place to launch BTS and really set the meeting apart. Per Hedén, along with Patrick Maxwell, MD, from Nashville, have been two of the most important leaders in breast education over the past 30 years, and having them both at BTS New York was a milestone.”

Dr. Calobrace said the faculty was a big part of the meeting’s success (Figure 1). “The level of faculty and content at this meeting, both surgical and nonsurgical, was stellar. The audience was constantly in ‘shock and awe’ over the sessions they were watching. The feedback we got from everyone was incredibly positive, and many said it was one of the best meetings they had attended.”

Figure 1. BTS New York was led by world-class experts, including (from left to right) Giovanni Botti, MD; Ofir Artzi, MD; Per Hedén, MD, PhD; Patricia Ogilvie, MD; Yoav Barnea, MD, PhD; Shino Bay Aguilera, DO, FAAD; Kamakshi Zeidler, MD, FACS; Louis P. Bucky, MD; and M. Bradley Calobrace, MD, FACS.

He shared a few examples. One of the panel sessions included a discussion and debate between some of the world leaders in facial rejuvenation, including Timothy J. Marten, MD, FACS; Andrew Jacono, MD, FACS; and Chia Chi Kao, MD (Figure 2). For a panel discussion of current trends and techniques in breast surgery, Dr. Calobrace was joined by Dr. Hedén, Louis P. Bucky, MD, FACS; Giovanni Botti, MD; and Eyal Gur, MD. The nonsurgical program also had in-demand speakers, including Shino Bay Aguilera, DO, FAAD; Patricia Ogilvie, MD; and Mary P. Lupo, MD.

Figure 2. The Facial Panel: How Would You Approach This Case? Led by Per Hedén, MD, PhD (far right), the session was a resounding success and featured panelists (from left to right) Eyal Gur, MD; Giovanni Botti, MD; Louis P. Bucky, MD; Timothy J. Marten, MD, FACS; Chia Chi Koa, MD; Andrew Jacono, MD, FACS; and M. Bradley Calobrace, MD, FACS.

“[When] there are many conferences in aesthetics, BTS continues to be the one meeting at which key opinion leaders from all over the world choose to present and learn from their peers,” said Dr. Aguilera in an interview. “The caliber of the presentations and discussions among the presenters and attendees [are] the most brilliant part of this meeting.”

Dr. Lupo, who moderated several sessions on the nonsurgical track and shared her elegant filler techniques, noted that “BTS is a great meeting because it combines experts from across the world and across specialties for great cross-pollination of ideas. The important blend of artistry and science was a running theme.”

Kamakshi Zeidler, MD, FACS, a plastic surgeon in San Jose, California, said that BTS New York is the newest installment of her favorite meeting, BTS Stockholm, at which she has been a surgical faculty member for many years. “This year’s deep dive into facial surgery was amazing,” she commented. “I most enjoyed our panels on fat transfer to the face and getting to both teach and learn from my peers.” She went on to say that BTS is a can’t-miss event for aesthetic doctors who are looking to improve their techniques and stay on the cutting-edge of aesthetics.

“Congratulations to my friends and world-class surgeon educators Drs. Calobrace and Hedén,” she added.

According to Adam Rubenstein, MD, a plastic surgeon in Aventura, Florida, “BTS has always been a special meeting. The opportunity to network with practitioners from around the country and internationally makes it a great opportunity for learning. There’s no other meeting that features an A-list faculty of highly experienced practitioners who share their tips and tricks so transparently.” He emphasized the value of the learning environment, created by both the faculty and attendees, that is at a higher level than at other meetings. “I love visiting Stockholm, but BTS NYC is a great addition,” he said. “I can’t wait until next year!”

The Future of BTS

The BTS team wasted no time in starting to plan for 2023. “We will continue to have this international aesthetic meeting in New York City on the first weekend of December every year,” Dr. Calobrace stated. Next year’s meeting will focus on breast and body for the surgical portion (this year was geared toward breast and face), he noted, and the nonsurgical track will continue to share innovative treatments, new products, and advanced techniques.

Save the Date

Beauty Through Science
New York
December 1 to 3, 2023
New York Hilton Midtown
www.bts-newyork.com/nyc

Wendy Lewis
Founder/President of Wendy Lewis & Company Ltd, a strategic marketing communications boutique in New York City
Author of Aesthetic Clinic Marketing in the Digital Age, a second edition of which is due out in 2023, and six chapters in medical textbooks
wl@wendylewisco.com
Financial disclosure: None