Aesthetic Predictions for 2010

I think everyone staring out in the aesthetic industry, especially if you are a non-core practice, needs some sort of a guru. Someone to guide you along the way in your decisions on equipment, procedures, pricing, staffing, standard operating procedures, menu of services, etc. Our guru many years ago was Fran Acunzo from Acara Partners. Perhaps Fran's most famous, or successful client, is Dr. Bruce Katz of Juva MediSpa in New York City.

I remember listening to some of his suggestions he had for us at the time and saying "Is he serious? I have no idea what this SmartLipo thing is, but if he thinks it is going to be the next big thing, then we had better trust him as our consultant". Needless to say, Fran was right. And not only about adding SmartLipo to our practice when it was first approved by the FDA, but other procedures and services as well. So, to me, when Fran speaks... I listen.

Fran blogged his predictions for aesthetic procedures for the year 2010 and it's already making it's way across the internet cited and adapted into blogs by SpaFinder.com (Read Susie's comments on such predictions) and many, many others. If you have not yet read his predictions, I'd like to post them here in their entirety:

Here are my 2010 top 10 predictions in the world of Aesthetic Medicine

1. Dysport will become a strong competitor to Botox.  Dysport, Medicis’ new entry into the world of botulinum toxin, was launched in the spring of 2009 and has begun to see increased demand as market awareness grows.

2. Non-invasive body contouring will continue to grow in popularity lead by Erchonia’s Zerona.

3. Face lifts will continue to drop in demand while liquid face-lifts grow in popularity, especially with the younger market (40 -54 year olds)

4. Fat transfer, specifically for natural breast enhancement, will become sought after by women who were previously uncomfortable with implants.

5. Laser Lipolysis will continue to be one of the most in-demand medical aesthetic procedures due to its minimal downtime and great results.

6. The younger audience (24 – 40 year olds) will continue to discover aesthetic medical services for preventive aging.

7. There will be an increase in the number of men having aesthetic medical procedures starting with facial fillers and injectables (i.e. Botox, Restylane, Radiesse, etc.)

8. The tipping point of when men and women want to have their tattoos removed will arrive and the demand will grow exponentially.

9. Facial Rejuvenation will come of age as medical practitioners perfect their skill combining aesthetic medical facial procedures for a complete Medical Makeover including the combination of fractional resurfacing, ablative resurfacing, chemical peels, photofacials, skin tightening, injectables and facial fillers, etc.

10. What was an Extreme Makeover in 2003 when the then popular TV show hit the airwaves will now become the Everyday Makeover.

It is entirely up to you whether or not you place your trust in Fran's predictions. I would guess to say there would be some discepancies amongst professions, but I can tell you I am already beginning to see many of these prove true in our own practice. It's also interesting to me that, upon research, I could find no other person or entity posting such predictions.

So, unless you have a crystal ball somewhere that has worked for you, I'm sticking to what has worked for us!

Author: Paula D. Young RN runs internal operations and training at Young Medical Spa and is the author of the Medical Spa Aesthetics Course, Study Guide, and Advanced IPL & Laser Training course for medical estheticians and laser technicians.

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Non-Invasive Fat Melting Devices: Sail or Sink?

There’s a lot of buzz about the new wave of non-invasive fat melting devices like Zerona™ (635nm low level laser), Lipo-Ex™ (radio frequency) and UltraShape® (selective focused ultrasound) who all lack the illustrious FDA clearance desperately needed to make a huge impact in the body sculpting arena.

Sure they possess FDA clearances for safety, but not yet efficacy in the key category of actual fat reduction. What’s the FDA’s hang up? Apparently it has to do with fat metabolism. Specifically, the FDA wants to know what happens to the fat that is expelled from the liposome after treatment, it’s ingestion by macrophages, the transportation to the lymphatic system, and the final excretion by the kidneys. The FDA wants to ensure no harm will come to a patient by this natural process of foreign body elimination. They also want to prove they work as a stand-alone therapy.

I’ve talked with many physicians at ASLMS and The Aesthetic Show and have read posted discussions by fellow MAPA members like, Dr. Lornell Hansen who is extremely proficient in the development of lasers in the U.S. and is highly regarded for his opinions. If I may quote Dr. Hansen, he states every time he asks physicians who have used, specifically the Zerona™ by Erchonia, over the last few clinical trial years if the device actually works, the answer he receives is they “think it does”. For many physicians that answer doesn’t quite cut the mustard when you're thinking of investing time, money and your reputation on a device. On the other hand, if the technology is proven to be clinically advantageous for your patients, and they finally do receive the FDA’s approval in the next few months as all companies are claiming, are you willing to “miss the boat” and sit idly by on the shore watching everyone else sail into a sea of opportunity? Or, will you get into the boat too early and risk having it sink? It’s a gamble and timing is everything.

Well, our medical spa has thought long and hard on this technology and we have come to the conclusion that if the device is positioned in the right practice and for the right patient, it can be advantageous for both our practice and the patient. Many patients we see during complimentary consultations don’t want to have a minimally invasive surgical procedures, or the multiple injections of lipodissolve. They diet and exercise regularly, but can’t seem to lose those pockets of fat that seem impenetrable by their current regimen. Our practice offers SmartLipo™, SlimLipo™, VASER® Lipo, lipodissolve and VelaShape™. Body contouring is 80% of what we do. We believe this device has a place in our practice either before or after laser lipo, or combined with the lymphatic drainage abilities of the VelaShape™. Of course, with all body contouring procedures, optimal patient selection is a must for success.

Our decision was influenced in the faith and belief in technology and also the fact that the Zerona™, unlike the UltraShape® and Lipo-Ex™, is at least FDA market cleared for laser assisted liposuction. And just think, a few years ago even laser lipolysis was scoffed at. And, who would’ve even dreamed that fractional technology would exists and prove to be beneficial? Technology will continue to advance. Sometimes it works they way you hoped it would, other times your dreams fall a little short.

So, we are very excited to take the leap of faith into the Zerona™ low level laser and look forward to only positive results for our patients. If it works like we trust it will, we all win and score one more for technology! If it falls short, the worst that could happen is that the technology will need a little more “tweaking” and we’ll sail out boat back to shore.

We’ll keep you all posted on our travels.

Author: Paula D. Young RN runs internal operations and training at Young Medical Spa and is the author of the Medical Spa Aesthetics Course, Study Guide, and Advanced IPL & Laser Training course for medical estheticians and laser technicians.

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