Motivations for Cosmetic Procedure in Numbers

Great news for Med Spa practitioners! American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) studies reveal that nearly 75% of adult men and women in Texas are considering or have had a cosmetic procedure on the face or neck. The other 25% of the 160 Texans surveyed are undecided, which suggests most people in Dallas have a never-say-never attitude about having nips and tucks.

Here are the survey results about the motivations why Texans are interested in aesthetic surgery:

•  22% say that they were frustrated because of their pictures on social media
•  31% of the men, compared to 19% of the women were more concerned about looking better in their selfies
• 13% were motivated because of upcoming major life events, such as a wedding celebration, 
• 15% were motivated to go under the knife, laser, needle and more in order to remain professionally competitive
• nearly 33% of the men said they considered facial plastic surgery to stay competitive in the workforce, compared to 10% of women
• 40% said they’re most bothered by their necks
• 39% are bothered by their eyes
• 33% are bothered by their lips, followed by noses and foreheads

According to AFPRS President Stephen S. Park, M.D., 

Over the last five years, the selfie craze has exploded across all age groups. Photographs on social media can deliver a distorted image of reality, holding up a magnifying glass to flaws, real or perceived. This is causing plastic surgery requests to skyrocket in both teens as well as adults.

More on:http://cosmeticsurgerytimes.modernmedicine.com/cosmetic-surgery-times/news/nip-tuck-survey-why-texans-want-treatment

Radiesse: FDA Approved For Hand Rejuvenation

Radiesse is now FDA approved for "hand rejuvenation".

Radiesse is an FDA approved dermal filler for smoothening out facial wrinkles and facial contouring. Recently, Radiesse got its FDA approval, making it the only FDA-approved filler for the hands although hyaluronic acid has been used by physicans for years.

The product, according to its website, can hide visible bones and tendons, making the hands look more youthful and smooth. Radiesse utilizes a safe gel formula that contains calcium microspheres (CaHA). These can immediately create added volume and then stimulate the body to produce collagen which results in volume augmentation that can last for around a year.

According to board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Brent Moelleken, MD FACS:

Radiesse is a great option as a filler for hands. It’s safe for all skin types, and leaves no obvious line between the hand and wrist. The hands are the last frontier, so-to-speak, and often give away the true age of a woman.

Depending on the severity of the volume loss, patients should expect to pay for about one to two syringes of Radiesse at an average cost of $800 - $1,200 per syringe for their hands.

Dr. Moelleken adds that because of the product's pliability and softness, it is a great filler which may also be used for deep filling in the face.

Patients are cautioned to seek out experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon in using the Radiesse hand filler because of the many veins, nerves, and arteries in the hand. During the clinical trials, patients showed swelling, redness, bruising and pain in injection sites.

Because of this recent development, cosmetic doctors may now offer enhancement and rejuvenation for both the hands and faces of their patients.

For more information, you may visit:

https://global.radiesse.com/treatment-options/hands#hands

FDA Approved Saline-filled Breast Implants

Ideal Implant Incorporated has recently announced the FDA approval of its Structured Breast Implant for use in the United States and Canada.

The breast implant was designed by a plastic surgeon and it is the first to provide women with the feel of silicone gel-filled implants combined with the safety of only saline inside. The natural feel of the breast implant is attributed to its patented unique design and internal structure which was a product of more than 10 years of research and clinical studies.

As to its design, the company's website provides the following:

Years of research and testing led to this innovative design, with a series of implant shells nested together and two separate chambers, which hold the saline filler. The internal structure controls movement of the saline, and is designed to reduce folding and wrinkling, thought to be the main cause of implant rupture and deflation. On the outside, the edges have been lowered for better contouring to the chest wall.

According to Robert Hamas, MD, a Dallas plastic surgeon:

Now, for the first time, women can have a breast implant that offers them a natural feel without silicone gel. It has only saline inside for their safety and peace of mind. Unlike silicone gel implants that have a high incidence of silent rupture that requires an MRI scan for detection, with the Ideal Implant, a women can look in the mirror each day and have the confidence of knowing her implants are intact.

In a study, patient satisfaction for those who received their first breast implants were at 94.3% while those who had replacements for their previous implants was at 90.6%. The high satisfaction rating among women were attributed to the natural feel of the implants coupled with ease of mind because of its saline-filled components. The surgeon satisfaction was also high at 95.9% for primary implants and 91.7% for replacements.

For more info,

you may visit www.idealimplant.com

or contact Adeena Fried, 917-633-4380, idealimplant@evolvemkd.com

Fear of the Unknown in Cosmetic Surgery

A study commissioned by CCR Expo reveals that only half of the women who are interested in cosmetic surgery actually undergo the procedure.

Aside from cost, CCR Expo research reveals that there is actually fear of botched treatment as seen in media, wariness in the results (patients fear that they might not like what they will see in the mirror), and not knowing if the practitioners themselves are qualified to perform the procedure.

The annual CCR Expo, or the Clinical Cosmetic and Reconstructive Expo 2015, will be held on October 8-9, 2015 at the Olympia National Hall, London, United Kingdom. Prior to the event, three surveys were conducted among to know the opinion of various individuals including aesthetic practitioners, medics such as general practitioners and dentists, and the women patients who constitute majority of the patients undergoing such treatments.

Notwithstanding the governments efforts to regulate and "clean up" the cosmetic surgery arena, research revealed that patients and practitioners alike have a lot of fears. This is attributed to the fact that the aesthetic sector is largely unregulated.

Practitioner's View 

•  There are too many untrained cosmetic providers who perform procedures that damage the reputation of credible and qualified practitioners.
•  There is a lack of training and expertise in the following: facial anatomy, diagnosing and coping with complications, wrong treatments, and the use of unproven products.
• Medical colleagues see that there is a strong prejudice for practicing aestheticians and the later are regardes as "beneath them". On the other hand, the survey also revealed that colleagues saw the field as lucrative but they got scared to enter because of lack of knowledge.
• 90% of the surveyed GPs and dentists had considered providing aesthetic treatments, yet they did not push through because of: lack of specialized training, concerns in tax regulations and botched jobs, not understanding its legal frameworks, and the marketing involved.

According to CCR Expo organizer Peter Jones:

We don’t necessarily encourage more clinicians to join the aesthetics arena, but our research clearly shows there is a strong desire for more clarity in the sector, alongside some understandable concerns. At CCR Expo our logic is, if you’re going to do it, then do it right! This is why we have put together a full programme and roster of experts who can offer support and guidance to those who do wish to enter this field, so they have the tools enabling them to practise ethically and safely.

Clinicians have honed their careers over many years – sometimes decades, and being protective of their reputation is entirely natural. We are here to help them train andmaintain their hard-earned standing, whilst also helping keep the public safe. They certainly deserve no less.

More on: https://www.prime-journal.com/fears-continue-to-grow-around-aesthetics-sector/

Filler Injections: Achieving the Ideal Lip Shape

Our lips provide competence to the oral cavity when we chew our food. They may also affect sounds and facilitate facial expression which help us communicate what we feel. Lips also have their own aesthetic value.

Earlier this year, the Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge went viral on the internet. People who took the challenge sucked the air out of a glass to create fuller lips that is said to be more attractive. Of course, everything did not go well for others because many attempts ended in painful bruisings and trips to hospitals.

Sucking glass cyclinders did not make Kylie's lips look plump - it was cosmetic enhancement that did it. In an interview with Cosmopolitan magazine, she admitted using a filler and advised others who want a similar look to try a filler that lasts about two to four months, in case they change their mind and want to give it up.

For dermatologists and Medspa owners who work with patients desiring for plump lips, giving advice to patients during patient consultation may boost patient satisfaction rate.

A study in Germany was conducted "to clarify what it is that makes lips attractive - and whether there are gender-related differences of an attractive lip and lower third of the face".

After patients' lip and chin regions were photographed and evaluated by voluntary judges through a Likert scaling system, the results showed that there were certain parameters of the lips that add attractivity of both male and female individuals. Further, gender-related differences were manifested in the form and shape of an attractive lower third of the face.

• There is a significant higher ratio of upper vermillion height/mouth-nose distance in frontal-view images of attractive compared to unattractive female (p < 0.001) and male (p < 0.05) perioral regions.
• Furthermore, the ratio of upper vermillion height/chin-nose distance was significantly higher in attractive than in unattractive female (p < 0.005) and male (p < 0.05) lip and chin regions.
• The nasolabial angle was significantly sharper in attractive compared to unattractive female perioral regions (p < 0.001).
• Attractive female lip and chin regions showed a wider mentolabial angle compared to unattractive female lip and chin regions (p < 0.05).
•  Comparing men and women, we found that attractive female perioral regions showed a higher ratio of lower vermillion height/chin-mouth distance (p < 0.05) and lower vermillion height/chin-nose distance than attractive male perioral regions (p < 0.05).

Read more on: http://www.jprasurg.com/article/S1748-6815(15)00137-0/abstract

Make Sure Your Medspa Staff Meet Their Sales Goals

Technological advancement is all around us. It would be advantageous to make use of all the available online applications and technological trends to reach your clincs sales goals, rather than unduly stress yourself out by not utilizing the available tools at your fingertips.

ELECTRONIC NOTEBOOKS

Using electronic notebooks such as the Evernote suite may come in handy when you do some scheduling, note-taking, and even have effective meetings by presenting your work as it evolves. This app has also a voice recognition feature and even allows you to sketch a whiteboard type image to facilitate communication with your prospective client.

According to Evernote developers, this application allows you to bring your life's work together in one workspace. It also allows you to collaborate with your colleagues and create more opportunities for your team. Also, it has a function which allows you to keep track of tasks, and write notes without the need of the conventional pen and paper.

A comparable application to Evernote is Microsoft's OneNote which allows you to sync and open your notes while using a your computers, tablets and phones. There is also Springpad, an app which is designed to automatically guess what you have clipped from the web or uploaded to your notebooks and then organize it without your help.

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING TOOLS

When you would need to generate more leads and reach out to your potential customers, here are some tools that will help you reach your sales quotas: There are tools that allow you to monitor when your brand is mentioned on social networks, blogs, or forums.

The app Mention allows you to monitor your brand presence and even monitor keywords that you want to keep track of. If you have your own Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google account, Buffer is a social media tool that sends your updates to the your social networking sites. It also tells you when is the best time to make updates based on your updates.

Collaboration with your team can also be done so your accounts are up to date. Other tools include Feedly for content discovery, Twitter Counter for tracking the progress of your tweets, and Bottlenose which displays information based on its order of importance.

A provider of marketing intelligence service such as InsideView and Data.com may help you in making decisions about your sale territory because these provide your with valuable marketing data useful in accelerating your sales.

Using these available and easy-to-use technologies may greatly improve your business' performance. With these apps, ease of communication and coordination among you and your members is facilitated, making it easier for your to achieve your sales targets.

First Implantation of FDA Approved Orbera Gastric Balloon

Following the FDA approval of Orbera's gastric balloon, the very first implantation after its approval has been made by Dr. Shawn Garber.

The gastric balloon has recently gained its FDA approval as an option for patients who are battling obesity but are not qualified to undergo invasive surgery.

According to Dr. Garber, a silicone intragastric balloon is inserted non-surgically in a deflated state into the stomach and then inflated with sterile saline solution through a self-sealing valve once it enters the stomach. The intragastric balloon will remain in place for a maximum of six months. During that six month period the patient will enjoy a feeling of fullness sooner and satiety will last longer after meals, which encourages portion control and helps manage hunger.

The procedure made by Dr. Garber lasted for around 15 minutes and the patient was under light sedation. After the gastric balloon was inserted, the patient stated that she felt full, and the patient was able to leave after 30 minutes. The procedure was performed in the office under light sedation and took approximately 15 minutes. The patient was able to leave the office 30 minutes later.

The patient stated "I feel full" after the procedure. Though this is one of the very first procedure done after its FDA approval, the procedure had already been used internationally for over 20 years.

For more information, you may contact:

Jon Libasci of New York Bariatric Group at 516-616-5500 or jon@nybg.com http://www.orberaweightlosssystem.com.au/

Hyaluronic Acid for Facial Paralysis

Lip filler hyaluronic acid may be useful for people with facial paralysis.

In an interesting use case for the fillers in use at every cosmetic clinic,... A small research study conducted at the Johns Hopkins and Stanford universities reveal that aside from hyaluronic acid's use in cosmetic surgery, it may be useful for patients who struggle with drooling, eating, and drinking because of lack of lip control due to facial paralysis.

According to Kofi Boahene, M.D., a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, facial paralysis causes both both physical and psychological problems among patients making them self-conscious about how they look.

Boahane has used the analogy of a plant filling its leaves and stems with water to maintain structure. He says that

It’s a crude analogy, but injecting the lips with hyaluronic acid works in much the same way. It tones the tissue surrounding the muscle.

Boahene was working on a patient with then-undiagnosed case of muscular dystrophy when he had his own eureka moment. He stumbled across a possible role for hyaluronic acid injection to improve a patient's lip muscle tone. After trying the injection, the patient's face appeared stronger and her articulation improved.

Boahene and his collaborators tested 22 more patients with facial paralysis. His team got the participants' baseline measure of lip tone and the weakest points were identified by having them blow air with pursed lips. The researchers injected hyaluronic acid at the point where the air escaped.

After the procedure, he said that the patients showed marked improvement as confirmed by a speech therapist who conducted the assessment. Boahene further adds that the injection may last up to a year when done for cosmetic improvement.

Because lip augmentation and injection is a minimally invasive procedure, a plastic surgeon or dermatologist may perform such procedures. However, Boahene mentions that it is advised that the lip injectionsbe done by physicians who are experienced with treating muscle weaknesses and facial paralysis.

Read more on:

http://ictr.johnshopkins.edu/news_announce/cosmetic-surgery-drug-to-treat-facial-paralysis/

miraDry: FDA Approved Treatment for Unwanted Underarm Hair and Sweat

Good news for armpits or another player competing in the same space?

The US Food and Drugs Administration has recently approved miraDry - the only FDA cleared technology for the treatment of unwanted underarm hair of all colors and permanent reduction of underarm sweat.

How does miraDry work?

According to its manufacturer Miramar Labs, the miraDry System delivers precisely controlled microwave energy non-invasively to the region where the sweat glands reside resulting in thermolysis of the sweat glands.

At the same time, a continuous hydro-ceramic cooling system protects the superficial dermis and keeps heat at the level of the sweat glands. Because sweat glands do not regenerate after treatment, the results are significant and lasting with most patients reporting an average of 82% sweat reduction.

CEO and President of Miramar Labs, Mr. Michael Kleine says that

We believe the potential for microwave energy in aesthetics is exceptional. Miramar was the first company to receive clearance for axillary sweat reduction and we are now the only company with FDA clearance for permanent reduction of axillary hair of all colors. These are both tremendous market making opportunities in aesthetics.

The miraDry System, which came out as a result of more than 6 years of study and clinical research provides a range of energy settings, hydro-ceramic cooling system to protect dermis and a vacuum to stabilize tissue. It also comes with a custom software that guides the procedure.

Is anyone using this system and willing to share thoughts?

Read more on:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miramar-labs-announces-fda-clearance-for-the-permanent-reduction-of-underarm-hair-of-all-colors-and-subsequent-launch-of-mirasmooth-300117634.html

http://physicians.miradry.com/physicians/miradry-system

High Dissatisfaction among Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: Opportunity for New Market Entrants

Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, appears most commonly in one-year old children, and about half of these children will have them when they become adults. Sadly, research reveals a very high dissatisfaction among adult patients of the treatments available for atopic dermatitis (AD). On the other hand, this is a good news for new entrants in the market.

The research done by GfK Disease Atlas on atopic dermatitis covered eight countries, over 4,000 pediatric and adult atopic dermatitis patients, and over 800 physicians. Results reveal that 6 out of 10 patients experiencing moderate to severe atopic dermatitis who were treated with topical steroids are not satisfied with the results.

This is amidst the the fact that about 92% of them said that their doctors explained what is expected from the treatment. Four out of 10 of doctors also expressed their dissatisfaction. Topical steroids are used mainly to reduce the swelling and inflammation in affected areas and control eczema.

There is a lack of options available for patients, making them repeat the same treatment options.This is the reason why GfK Immunology and Dermatology Therapy Director Alison Rose said that there is a huge potential for new players to enter the market and provide with other therapy options.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, atopic dermatitis cannot be cured but it can be controlled. This is done by preventing AD from getting worse, calming the skin and relieving pain and itch, preventing infections, and stopping the skin from thickening.

Further, according to the AAD website, there is no way to determine if AD will ever go away or it will be a lifelong disease, however, it gets milder with age. Treatments, therefore, are very much important in preventing AD from getting worse and relieving a patient's discomfort.

Read more on: http://www.gfk.com/news-and-events/press-room/press-releases/pages/dissatisfaction-in-atopic-dermatitis-treatment.aspx https://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/a---d/atopic-dermatitis

Understanding Women as Customers

Failure to understand the role of women as consumers and decision makers is seen as an impediment which prevents Americans from getting good health care.

This is the result of the research conducted by the Center for Talent Innovation (CTI) among more than 9000 women respondents in US, UK, Germany, Japan and Brazil. Their study reveals that 70% of global consumer decisions are controlled by women, with 94% of them making their own health care decisions.

However, 77% of them do not do what they have to do to stay healthy because of lack of time. There is much information available online but only 31% of them trust the information they see in the internet. But the good news, according to CTI, is that they have also found out ways to make a difference in improving the trust and satisfaction among women.

Doctors and medical professionals can foster dialogue and provide clear communication. Providing them with enough information allows them to make informed decisions leading to a trusted partnership. Allowing women to also make their opinions matter may achieve connections to the female market. CTI research reveal that women make up around 88% of the health care workforce. It was found that women who share their stories and personal experiences as a heath decision maker allowed them to make connections with fellow women.

Researchers at CTI say that:

Developing a keen understanding of these women's wants and needs in health care, and using that understanding at every stage of product development and commercial relations, will help companies uncover and leverage huge market opportunities as well as surprise and delight their customers.

More on: http://www.talentinnovation.org/_private/assets/PopHealthcare_Infographic-CTI.pdf

Kerastem: FDA Approval for Clinical Trials for Androgenic Alopecia

US Food and Drug Administration Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) office has recently granted conditional approval to Kerastem Technologies for its clinical trial investigation on the feasibility of the company's treatment for female and early male pattern baldness.

The clinical study will determine if the use of Kerastem's Celution and Puregraft Systems is safe and feasible in the processing and preparation of an autologous fat graft enriched with adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) in the treatment of early alopecia androgenetica.

Initial clinical works have been done in Europe and Japan which also served as basis for the FDA submission. The STYLE trial will compose the phase II of the study where 70 controlled patients, coming from 8 centers in the United States, are expected to be enrolled in late 2015.

According to the ClinicalTrials.gov,

The STYLE Trial is a prospective, randomized, multi-center device trial intended to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Celution and Puregraft Systems in the processing and preparation of an autologous fat graft enriched with adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) in the treatment of early alopecia androgenetica.

The patients will undergo fat harvest using local anesthesia and then they will be randomly assigned to receive either of the following: fat graft cell enriched with ADRCs (available in two different doses),a fat graft without cell enrichment using a visually-matched blood saline solution (fat alone control), or a saline injection (no-fat control) in a 2:2:2:1 ratio.

While undergoing liposuction, lipoaspirate will be processed in the Puregraft System to remove the lipoaspirate of impurities and in the Celution System to isolate and concentrate ADRCs. After the liposuction is completed), patients will have, under a ring block local anesthesia (see further description below), a subcutaneous scalp injection of either Puregraft purified autologous fat or saline (no-fat control) followed by a separate second injection, of either ADRCs (available in two different doses),a visually-matched blood saline solution (fat alone control), or saline (no-fat control) in a 2:2:2:1 ratio.

Currently, there are studies to regarding the use of plasma rich plasma injection to address hair loss problem. Research has shown that application of minoxidil (a tablet used for treatment of high blood pressure)directly into the scalp may promote hair growth. 

Read more on:

https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02503852?term=kerastem&rank=1 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kerastem-receives-conditional-approval-from-fda-for-alopecia-trial-300119592.html http://www.puregraft.com/category/news/

Avoid Medspa Litigation Claims = Provide Comprehensive Information

Exceptional patient services will do more than just keep your patients happy, they'll also keep you out of court (or may your stay much shorter).

In a recently decided case of James v. Decorato, the defendant medical practitioner was absolved of liability after showing to the court the the patient has been adequately informed about the procedure that she will be undergoing.

Their case stemmed when the patient and plaintiff Rebecca B. James sued the defendants John W. Decorato, M.D. and Aesthetic Pavilion, LLC for alleged negligence and malpractice by the latter. In her complaint, Rebecca claimed there was negligence in the performance of various cosmetic surgeries which included liposuction, blepharoplasty, lipoplasty, autologous gluteal augmentation with fat grafting, submental and neck smartlipo, bilateral transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty with CO2 laser resurfacing, and autologous upper and lower lip augmentation with fat grafting.

She alleged that there the malpractice resulted in the formation of excessive and severe scarring, non-uniform appearance of her abdomen, concave left inner thigh with pain, hypo-pigmented skin under eyes leaving non-uniform skin color on the face, among others.

Further, she said that Dr. Decorato violated the Public Health Law when he allegedly failed to disclose alternatives, risks and benefits that may arise after the treatment. She said that had she known of them, she would not have undergone with the treatments altogether.

In an answer, Dr. Decorato said that the plaintiff was able to sign multiple consent forms which outlined the risks and effects that may happen after the treatment. The defendant doctor also argued that the plaintiff's argument must be summarily dismissed because they only stemmed out of her dissatisfaction with the results of the procedures.

In support, Dr. Decorato submitted to the court the examination done by Dr. Theodore Diktaban, a certified Plastic, Reconstructive as well as Head and Neck Surgeon. Dr. Diktaban indicated that he was able to review the consent forms signed by the plaintiff and found them all clear and complete.

According to Dr. Diktaban's affidavit,

The forms adequately provided for the proposed procedures, alternatives thereto, and the reasonably foreseeable risks and benefits associated therewith, including the need for revisionary surgery. The lack of an informed consent could not be a proximate cause of any of plaintiff's subjective dissatisfaction, which she classifies as injuries. Regarding the issue on malpractice and negligence, the pre-and post-operative care rendered to plaintiff comports with good and accepted medical practice.

He further opined that the results of plaintiff's surgery were devoid of any functional deficits, except for the purported and subjective paresthesias of the left medial thigh.

These claims were opposed by the plaintiff Rebecca and presented the statement of a cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Richard Marfuggi. He claimed that after examining Rebecca, he can say that "with a reasonable degree of medical probability, the complications experienced by plaintiff were the result of Dr. Decorato's failure to follow good and accepted practice".

According to the Supreme Court, the basis for establishing the liability of the physician is the departure of the physician from accepted community standards of practice and this was the proximate or direct cause of the plaintiff's injuries.

The Supreme Court sided with Dr. Decorato and summarily dismissed the case. Dr. Decorato, with the affirmation of the statement of Dr. Diktaban, was able to show that indeed he did not deviate from accepted medical procedures. The Supreme Court noted that the plaintiff's claim of "lack of informed consent" has not been proven. Instead, Dr. Decorato was able to produce in evidence the fact that Rebecca was able to sign the consent forms.

On the other hand, the plaintiff Rebecca and Dr. Marfuggi's affidavits did not show any medical evidence establishing that Dr. Decorato was indeed negligent. According to the Supreme Court, Dr. Marfuggi's recitation of facts failed to address the concern of whether or not this was a departure from accepted practices.

Note to self: make sure that all forms are clear and complete.

Aesthetic Show 2015: We are Invited!

On July 9-12, 2015, the Aesthetic Show will bring together new procedures and breakthrough products related to running a Medical Spa.  This will be held at The Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada.

This is a sales-oriented show that is an avenue for medical professionals, buyers and potentials partners to meet. Continuing education credits are provided for attendees.

This is great opportunity to learn about marketing strategies, discover new products and meet other Medical Spa practitioners.

According to its website, the show presents Advanced Techniques for Practice Success courses which are helpful in building, growing and marketing an aesthetic business. Some of the lecture topics include Internet and digital marketing, expanding practice and profitability, analysis of one's business model, mastering patient consultations, improving staff management skills, and real world success examples.

There will also be discussions about emerging procedures and techniques, use of energy-based treatments for skin resurfacing and tightening, and updates about injections techniques and tips from experts among others.

You may visit the Aesthetic Show website for more information: http://www.aestheticshow.com/ or call +1 (949) 830-5409. 

PicoWay: FDA Approved Laser for Removal of Tattos and Benign Pigmented Lesions

Here's some good news for patients who want to remove their tattoos and cosmetic surgeons alike: the Food and Drug Administration's has approved of Syneron Candela's PicoWay, a dual-wavelength picosecond laser.

It is estimated that about 25% of the population in the United States have tattoos and about 50% of them want to have their tattoos removed.

The newly FDA approved PicoWay enables the removal of recalcitrant and multi-colored tattoos, as well as benign pigmented lesions on any skin.

According to the Syneron Candela's site, the PicoWay works by delivering ultra-short picosecond pulses of energy to the tissues. The burst of energy create a photo-chemical impact which breaks up the tattoo ink or pigmentation into smaller and more easily eliminated particles. 

Some of the advantages of using PicoWay include its use of dual wavelengths and its ability to treat wide range of tattoos. It claims also to have the shortest picosecond pulses, that is 40% shorter, making it more effective while lowering risks or other side effects.

As early as 1965, Q-switched lasers were already used. These types of lasers produce a very short laser pulse in nanosecond range. This is the most commonly used laser in clinical practice. As Q-switched lasers come in three types, there is a tendency that there will be a need to use another type of laser, rather than owning just one of them to completely remove a patient's tattoo.

To remedy this, physicians shrink the spot size and increase energy deposits which significantly lead to the probability of producing a scar.

Compared to Q-switched lasers, Dr.Shimon Eckhouse of PicoWay says that:

Scientists acknowledge that shorter pulse duration lead to higher efficiency for converting laser energy needed to fracture particles into fragments. Smaller fragments mean that it is easier for the body to effectively remove it. Q-switch technology requires numerous treatment sessions, causes significant discomfort during treatment and incompletely removes tattoos and pigmented lesions.

Picosecond technology has ultra-short pulse durations that are 100 times shorter than Q-switch lasers, and in trillionths of a second. 

Read more on:

http://syneron-candela.com/na/product/picoway

Your Patient's Irrational Decisions Explained by Quantum Physics?

It's a little odd to think that patients in your clinc are making decisons based on quantum physics? File this one under good-to-know.

“Whenever something comes up that isn’t consistent with classical theories, we often label it as ‘irrational.’ But from the perspective of quantum cognition, some findings aren’t irrational anymore. They’re consistent with quantum theory—and with how people really behave.”

This is according to researcher Zheng Joyce Wang who, together with her colleagues, explained their new theoretical approach to psychology. Researchers are using quantum physics to help explain the paradoxical thinking of humans. This allows researchers to delve into certain contradictions in the results of various psychological studies.

Wang says that the classical models of rationality does not compute some aspects of human behavior, and in the classical point of view, this is seen to be an irrational behavior. In fact, in a previous study published by the University College London, it was revealed that irrationality of decisions are consequences of biasing influences.

Wang and her colleagues research revealed that:

Thinking in a quantum-like way­—essentially not following a conventional approach based on classical probability theory—enables humans to make important decisions in the face of uncertainty, and lets us confront complex questions despite our limited mental resources.

The equations and axioms that most closely match human behavior may be ones that are rooted in quantum physics. Quantum cognition is what happens when humans have to deal with ambiguity mentally.

Sometimes we aren’t certain about how we feel, or we feel ambiguous about which option to choose, or we have to make decisions based on limited information. 

Wang adds that:

I think the mathematical formalism provided by quantum theory is consistent with what we feel intuitively as psychologists. Quantum theory may not be intuitive at all when it is used to describe the behaviors of a particle, but actually is quite intuitive when it is used to describe our typically uncertain and ambiguous minds.

Superposition happens when we think of our options and in our mind's eye and all of the options co-exist at varying degrees of potential to be chosen. Then, we choose a preferred option and then other options will cease to exist. With the classical approach to psychology, the answers might not make sense, and researchers have to construct new mathematical axioms to explain behavior in that particular instance.

The result: There are many classical psychological models, some of which are in conflict, and none of which apply to every situation. With the quantum approach, Wang and her colleagues argued, many different and complex aspects of behavior can be explained with the same limited set of axioms.

The same quantum model that explains how question order changes people’s survey answers also explains violations of rationality in theprisoner’s dilemma paradigm, an effect in which people cooperate even when it’s in their best interest not to do so.

So, the next time someone says that you are making irrational decisions, just tell them that you are following the laws of quantum physics. =)

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Wang is an associate professor of communication and director of theCommunication and Psychophysiology Lab at The Ohio State University. Co-authors on the papers included Peter Bruza of the Queensland University of Technology in Australia and Jerome Busemeyer of Indiana University, and the research was funded by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

In two new review papers in academic journals, Wang and her colleagues spell out their new theoretical approach to psychology. One paper appears inCurrent Directions in Psychological Science, and the other in Trends in Cognitive Sciences.

Read more on: https://news.osu.edu/news/2015/09/14/you%E2%80%99re-not-irrational-you%E2%80%99re-just-quantum-probabilistic/