Many people know New Beauty as a magazine that is an excellent resource for cosmetic treatments and plastic surgery. The magazine has just released its fourth annual Beauty Choice Awards based on voting by readers, editors, and beauty experts. This year, CoolSculpting has been awarded ‘The Best Body Treatment,’ a high honor considering the number of body sculpting treatments currently available. CoolSculpting has certainly established itself as the best way to eliminate stubborn fat without having to resort to surgery.
CoolSculpting Wins ‘The Best Body Treatment’ in New Beauty Magazine
March 21, 2013
Why Patients Should Not Want Kate Middleton’s Nose
Recently there has been a lot of media attention about patients requesting Kate Middleton’s nose when they undergo rhinoplasty. Some plastic surgeons are trying to capitalize on this trend by offering a ‘Kate Middleton rhinoplasty.’ Any rhinoplasty specialist knows that noses are not ‘one-size-fits-all’ and that each nose presents its own set of limitations. Simply put, a surgeon cannot produce the same nose each time. And while a surgeon can certainly perform the same rhinoplasty procedure in each patient, this is a dangerous proposition, as it will produce very inconsistent results according to each patient’s anatomy.
In truth, Kate Middleton’s nose has its own set of flaws. For one, her tip appears to be bulbous and could be further refined. But it’s not really important to critique the Duchess of Cambridge’s nose. What’s more important is that patients should understand that what is good for one patient may not be good for another. Patients should instead desire their own unique nose that is customized for their face.
February 25, 2013
Cosmetic Trend #5 – Neuromodulation
While Botox has dominated the landscape for many years, new competitors will continue to arise. Xeomin has been the newest kid on the block, and physicians have awaited the release of PurTox from Mentor. Patients can expect the availability of new products for years to come; many different forms of Botox exist throughout the world, but are not available in the U.S. It will also be interesting to see if the topical form of Botox ever becomes available to patients. There are many reasons to be skeptical of a topical Botox, but it would certainly be a very attractive alternative to patients.
February 17, 2013
Cosmetic Trend #4 – Male Plastic Surgery
Since 1997, male plastic surgery has seen a 121% increase. Despite this increase, men only represent 9% of all plastic surgery procedures (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery data 2012 statistics). Perhaps most surprisingly, men accounted for 47% of the volume of health and beauty products. This may be a sign that men will increasingly seek cosmetic treatments in 2013. Historically, men tend to seek liposuction or facial enhancements such as rhinoplasty or eyelid surgery, but men also gravitate toward niche treatments as well, such as calf implants. Botox and filler treatments continue to climb in the male population, as the public becomes more aware that natural results are easily attained by an experienced injector. The unfortunate truth is that there has been some well-televised bad plastic surgery in the male population. These examples of bad male plastic surgery can be seen on any Bravo reality TV show, but the true reality is that this is not the norm.
February 6, 2013
Cosmetic Trend #3 – New Fillers
The ever-popular fillers continue to evolve, and patients can look to see this trend continue in the upcoming years. In 2012, Belotero was the newest filler to become available in the U.S. Like Restylane and Juvederm, Belotero is a hyaluronic acid filler that can be used to treat fine lines and wrinkles. Its major advantage is its ability to fill very superficial lines on the face without creating a Tyndall effect, which is a bluish hue sometimes seen after shallow misplacement of other hyaluronic fillers. Another new filler on the hoizon is Voluma, which will soon gain FDA approval and be available from Allergan. This filler has been available overseas, and has been effective for patients who need more facial volume. I expect to see more companies develop products with longer lasting effects in the near future, similar to Voluma. I also expect fillers that are specifically designed to volumize the orbit and eyelids to become available in the future. With these new long-lasting fillers, many companies are abandoning the word ‘filler’ for ‘volumizer.’ These are simply marketing terms, designed to make a product appear more unique. In reality, all fillers are designed to volumize, and the majority of fillers have the capability to add significant volume to the face. However, ‘volume’ is now the latest trend, so expect to see more of these ‘volumizers’ in the future.
January 21, 2013
Cosmetic Trend – Non-Invasive Skin Tightening
There is no doubt that a traditional facelift is the most effective way to tighten the soft tissues of the face and produce a dramatic result. Many patients choose this option in an effort to achieve a long-term solution to their facial aging. Despite this, there are still a number of patients who simply do not want to go under the knife, or want to avoid a facelift for a few years. From fractionated laser resurfacing to volumizing fillers, many patients can now achieve near-surgical results without ever entering an operating room. And while the advent of fractional lasers has revolutionized treatment of aging and sun damaged skin, new alternative options have emerged that seek to limit downtime without sacrificing results.
Like lasers, radiofrequency treatments (also known as RF) are heat-based treatments that seek to denature (i.e. break apart) collagen in order to stimulate collagen remodeling and new collagen formation. But unlike resurfacing lasers, RF devices are safe for all skin types and lead to very little downtime. The safety of these RF devices has made their popularity soar with devices such as eMatrix, Pelleve, and the new Elos Plus. RF is not restricted to just the face, as the Velashape II uses RF and infrared light to tighten the skin of the body. And finally, focused ultrasound has also been used to tighten the skin. Known as Ulthera, ultrasound is used to heat the deep skin layers to tighten the skin of the face and neck. It will be exciting to see how these treatments evolve, and if other new heat-based treatments emerge.
January 14, 2013
Cosmetic Trend – Non-Invasive Body Sculpting
In all of cosmetic surgery, there is probably no higher rate of growth than in non-invasive body contouring. This is due to the rapid advances and significant improvements that have occurred in this area of Medicine. One of the best examples of this is cryolipolysis (also known as CoolSculpting). While many of the early body contouring devices suffered from inconsistent results, cryolipolysis has proven itself to be a much more effective treatment. Body contouring is also very technique dependent, so it is imperative that patients seek a physician’s office that is experienced in these procedures. Another recommendation would be for a patient to seek a physician’s office for treatment, rather than the spa around the corner. Patients should not underestimate the value of having a supervising physician on-site. Each contouring device has its own unique indication. For instance, while CoolSculpting non-invasively removes fat through a controlled cooling process, another device such as Velashape targets cellulite by using radiofrequency and infrared light. The benefit is that different treatments can be combined to maximize a patient’s desired outcome. And while the engineers and scientists have finally developed technologies that are actually very effective, body contouring is still in its relative infancy. I expect this evolution to continue over the next few years, and new indications for treatment (such as the targeted treatment of arm or neck fat) to follow.
January 8, 2013
Top Cosmetic Trends for 2013
Whenever the New Year rolls around, it is always interesting to reassess all of the new trends in cosmetic surgery and medicine. Cosmetic medicine and surgery continue to evolve, and the landscape is continually changing. One trend that will certainly continue for a while is the push toward minimally invasive procedures. This trend is evident in almost every area in medicine, from cardiology to plastic surgery. Below is a list of some trends that should continue to gain popularity in 2013.
2. Non-Invasive Skin Tightening
Check back in the upcoming days to stay ahead of the curve and learn more.
December 9, 2012
The Botox Effect Continues
Over the past decade,
the current trend toward minimally invasive cosmetic procedures has continued, according to statistics compiled by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). In this survey, the ASPS analyzed trends from 2000 to 2010. While cosmetic surgical procedures decreased by 48%, this decrease was compensated by the 45% increase in minimally invasive procedures. Overall, all cosmetic procedures increased by 9%.
The most impressive statistic was the 258% increase in Botox treatments, many by males. As Botox is one of the most effective, predictable, safe, and minimally invasive of all treatments, this statistic is not surprising. There is perhaps no other minimally invasive treatment available that can make such a profound difference. And now that the public is aware that these treatments produce natural results, men are increasingly seeking treatment. The other impressive statistic was the 141% increase in laser skin resurfacing. This is easily explained by the advent in fractional laser treatments, which have revolutionized laser treatments by making them safer and more useful in darker skin types. I expect this trend to continue, especially with the recent expansion of radiofrequency treatments by companies like Syneron & Candela.
It will be interesting to see what the next decade brings. My guess is that this trend will continue, and possibly even more so, with the emergence of effective non-invasive body sculpting treatments such as CoolSculpting. There is no question that cosmetic surgery is not going away any time soon, but there is no denying that the public is increasingly seeking safer and more effective non-invasive treatments every year.
September 3, 2012
Make Your Skin Grow
It seems advances in skin care are made on a near-daily basis, as new products come and go. One of the most exciting new areas of skin care is the emerging use of Growth Factors. So, what are growth factors anyway? Growth factors are naturally occurring proteins that stimulate cell growth and proliferation. This leads to increased production of collagen that is crucial in maintaining healthy, youthful skin. Back when I was attaining my Ph.D., I conducted research of various growth factors, so I am well aware of their widespread importance in the physiology of the skin.
TNS Essential Serum is one of the most effective growth factor products available today, containing 110 growth factors. This product combines naturally occurring growth factors, antioxidants, collagen and cytokines (which are also growth factors), all of which have been shown to improve skin texture, reduce age spots, and enhance elasticity. As with most skin care products, TNS Essential Serum should be applied daily, and results can be seen in as little as 30 days. Unlike some of the more harsh retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids, growth factors are well tolerated and can be incorporated into essentially any skin care regimen. Users should know that the TNS Essential Serum has a slight odor to it, due to the high concentration of growth factors, but that this odor dissipates within a few moments.
New products containing growth factors are likely on the horizon. But regardless of the product that you choose, growth factors have been heavily researched, and the science behind them is sound. I recommend them to any patient who wants to maximize their anti-aging skin care regimen.
thecosmeticadvisor 
January 28, 2014
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