• Home
• About Us
• Aesthetic Medicine Training
  • Botox Training
  • Hands-On Botox and Dermal Filler Training
  • MedSpa / Aesthetic Practice Business Traininig
• Resources
  • Magazines and Periodicals and Other Links
  • More Resources
  • Associations
  • Events
  • International Aesthetic Medicine Resources
  • Archives
• Consumer Information

Subscribe

Exploring Varicose Vein Treatments: What You Need to Know about Asclera

If you’re concerned about the appearance of varicose or spider veins, or if the veins are causing you pain, a visit to your dermatologist is likely in order.  He or she will assess your condition and recommend treatment options ranging from conservative to more aggressive, depending on the particulars of your situation.  Mild cases may benefit from simply elevating the legs, or wearing compression stockings; however, in many cases, additional treatment is necessary.

Sclerotherapy: A Non-Surgical Varicose Vein Solution

One of the most common forms of treating varicose veins is called sclerotherapy.  Sclerotherapy is an in-office procedure that minimizes the appearance of varicose and spider veins in the legs.  The sclerotherapy treatment consists of injecting a chemical or saline solution into the visible section of the vein.  The injected solution serves as an irritant to the vein walls, causing them to thicken and then bind together, effectively closing the vein and allowing it to turn into scar tissue that is then absorbed by the body.

Asclera, Now Available in the United States

Though it’s been used in Europe for years, it was only recently that the FDA approved the Asclera sclerotherapy solution for use in the United States.  Like other sclerotherapy solutions, Asclera uses a chemical solution—in this case, a drug called polidocanol—as a method by which to damage or irritate the blood vessel lining, causing the veins to close and in time, disappear. Read more

               

IAPAM Aesthetic Medicine Symposium with Botox Training - March 3-4, 2012

Presented by the IAPAM, the Aesthetic Medicine Symposium is designed by physicians for physicians who are looking to add aesthetics to their existing practice, open a medical spa, or work as a medical director. This is the only aesthetic medicine conference program available that combines the business and clinical aspects of incorporating aesthetic medicine procedures into your practice, along with one year unlimited practice support. Read more

               

Non-Surgical Facial Procedures Spike Dramatically In 2010

New survey results released today (http://www.aafprs.org/media/stats_polls/aafprsMedia2010.pdf)  by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) showed three-fourths of the procedures performed by the Academy’s surgeons in 2010 were non-surgical procedures, highlighting a trend that more people are choosing non-surgical procedures to delay more invasive surgical procedures. The survey results also showed that the number of procedures performed annually has risen 45 percent over the last two years, with a 16 percent increase in non-surgical procedures. The results were released at the AAFPRS Rejuvenation of the Aging Face Meeting. The meeting is being held January 19-23, at the U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego, CA.

A majority of surgical procedures, including facelift, revision surgery, rhinoplasty, forehead lift, chin augmentation, lip augmentation, and scar revision, increased in cost from 2009, which may be one reason why people opted for less invasive surgeries. In addition, surgeons reported performing fewer lip augmentations, hair transplants and collagen/cosmoderm/cosmoplast procedures in 2010.

“Non-surgical procedures are an excellent option for some people, with the added benefits of lower costs and shorter recovery time; two things that are consistently important to those considering facial plastic surgery,” said Jonathan M. Sykes, M.D., President of the AAFPRS. “We have been seeing a trend over the past few years that people who want to look and feel younger and rejuvenated are turning to non-surgical, less invasive procedures to obtain the refreshed look they want.”

The most common non-surgical procedures last year were Botox and hyaluronic acid injections. Surgery is still popular, with the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures in 2010 being rhinoplasty, facelift, and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). Read more

               

If approved, dentists could use Botox [for TMD]

Botox, the drug that’s helped so many people get rid of those wrinkles, could soon pop up in your dentist’s office. The Tennessee Board of Dentistry is considering a rule change that would allow dentists to treat their patients with the drug.

The board has already given the okay to oral surgeons. They can start using Botox Thursday to help treat jaw pain and discomfort.

If the board approves the change, dentists like Dr. Angela Cameron of Sophisticated Smiles would be able to use Botox too.

“To me it seems like a very good marriage,” Dr. Cameron said. “Dentists have so much training with the anatomy of the head and neck and we give injections in the head and neck region. That’s what we do everyday.”

Although Dr. Cameron and other dentists can do other injections, they are not able to inject Botox at this time. Dr. Cameron says Botox would prove helpful in treating TMD (Temporomandibular disorder). According to Cameron, TMD is a disorder that causes pain, joint imbalance, and muscle spasms in the jaw. Read more

               

IAPAM Announces its Top Aesthetic Medicine Trends for 2011

The International Association For Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM) has surveyed its membership, its medical faculty, and has consulted with numerous experts in aesthetic medicine, to develop a forecast for the top aesthetic medicine treatments or trends physicians can expect to see in 2011. Ultimately, physicians who add body transformation modalities such as minimally-invasive body shaping options or hCG for weight loss, and high income/low capital expense options such as medical grade chemical peels and physician directed skin care, will position themselves for growth in 2011.

The market for all minimally invasive procedures, from botox to laser hair removal to ultrasound fat reduction will continue to out perform surgical options in 2011.  Dr. Jessica Krant, respected New York City dermatologist confirms that, “given the tight economy and a bit of a backlash against “extreme” trends in aesthetic procedures, I believe that in 2011, the new aesthetic trend will be toward how LITTLE someone can get done and achieve a refreshed, more youthful version of themselves.”  Consistent with this trend of “less is more,” the IAPAM (http://www.iapam.com) forecasts a growth in non-invasive treatments in all aesthetic medicine arenas (botox, dermal fillers, chemical peels, lasers, microdermabrasion, and weight loss) for 2011.

1.  Body Shaping Market Expands 

The aesthetic medicine industry will continue to see three types of body shaping equipment utilized, but laser-assisted lipolysis will be the most effective procedure with the most dramatic results. Physicians will see the non-invasive body shaping options increase, including CoolSculpt by Zeltiq and Sound Surgical’s ultrasound based VaserShape. “2011 should be the year that “Ultrashape’s Countour and Medicis’ Liposonix ultrasound equipment will receive FDA approval,” forecasts Jeff Russell, Executive Director of the IAPAM, “and these technologies will capture a growing segment of the laser lipolysis market.”   Read more

               

Bigger breakfast doesn’t help weight loss

Eating a big breakfast may help you lose weight — but only if you eat a lighter lunch or dinner, researchers in Germany say.

Dr. Volker Schusdziarra of the Else-Kroner-Fresenius Center of Nutritional Medicine in Munich, Germany, and colleagues say they wanted to address previous research, which suggests that eating a big breakfast reduces total calorie intake during the day. The researchers say this research is misleading.

The study involved more than 300 people who were asked to keep a journal of what they usually ate — some ate a big breakfast, some ate a small breakfast and some skipped breakfast, Schusdziarra says.

The study, published in Nutrition Journal, showed that people ate the same at lunch and dinner, regardless of what they had for breakfast. A big breakfast, on average 400 calories greater than a small breakfast, resulted in a total increase in calories eaten during the day of about 400 calories. Read more

               

HealthFirst: Botox treatment for Parkinson’s disease

A popular wrinkle treatment is bringing great relief to some people with Parkinson’s disease and other muscular disorders.

HealthFirst reporter Leslie Toldo explains why the magic of Botox is much more than skin deep.

This is a non-surgical option that is sparing people some of the worst symptoms of diseases like Parkinson’s - tremors, pain and balance.

For five years, 61-year-old Doug Eshelman had to fight to stand, walk or even sit. He wasn’t in control, Parkinson’s was. “Well, I tripped a lot. Because I dragged my right leg, I just, subconsciously, you just don’t pick it up, so I dragged it. And I mean I could literally trip over a line on a basketball court.”

Help came from something he never expected. “Doctor said I want to try Botox on you, and we laughed. We thought Botox was basically a cosmetic drug.”

At the Muhammad Ali Parkinson’s Center, patients with Parkinson’s and other muscular disorders get multiple targeted injections of botulism toxin, guided by electro myography.

The neurotoxin in Botox can release the grip of muscle spasms, tremors and pain.

“The Botox, what it does is it goes into the nerve terminals and then makes those nerve terminals fire less. And by firing less, the muscles or the limbs return to their original or more normal position,” Dr. Guillermo Moguel-Cobos said.

“He gave me nine shots in my leg, and within a week, that inside muscle relaxed and my leg went back into place and I walked fine. Sometimes I cry when I think about it, like right now. It’s my whole life is back.” Read more

               

Your Resolution To Lose Weight - Write It Down And Succeed

The first step to reaching your ideal weight in the New Year may be as simple as writing it down.

Putting a pen to paper and keeping a daily journal of meals and snacks is one of the best strategies of successful dieters, says Dr. Christopher J. Mosunic, a specialist in weight management and diabetes at Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, Connecticut.

“Keeping a food diary is like exercise, it will always help you lose if you do it consistently,” says Mosunic, a licensed clinical psychologist and registered dietitian who trained at Duke University’s famed weight loss clinic. More importantly, the writing habit “is one of the top predictors of weight loss success,” Mosunic adds. No wonder some of the country’s major commercial diet plans strongly recommend the write-what-you-eat journaling practice to their clients.

Journaling about food intake on a regular base seems to function as a form of cognitive behavioral therapy for Dr. Mosunic’s patients, many of them Type 2 diabetics for whom weight management is critical to their health and well-being. Read more

               

IAPAM Announces Top Aesthetic Medicine Trends for 2011: Body Transformations from Lasers to hCG Lead the Market

The International Association For Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM) has surveyed its membership, its medical faculty, and has consulted with numerous experts in aesthetic medicine, to develop a forecast for the top aesthetic medicine treatments or trends physicians can expect to see in 2011. Ultimately, physicians who add body transformation modalities such as minimally-invasive body shaping options or hCG for weight loss, and high income/low capital expense options such as medical grade chemical peels and physician directed skin care, will position themselves for growth in 2011.

The market for all minimally invasive procedures, from botox to ultrasound fat reduction will continue to out perform surgical options in 2011.  Dr. Jessica Krant, respected New York City dermatologist confirms that, “given the tight economy and a bit of a backlash against “extreme” trends in aesthetic procedures, I believe that in 2011, the new aesthetic trend will be toward how LITTLE someone can get done and achieve a refreshed, more youthful version of themselves.”  Consistent with this trend of “less is more,” the IAPAM forecasts a growth in non-invasive treatments in all aesthetic medicine arenas for 2011.

Body Shaping Market Expands 

The aesthetic medicine industry will continue to see three types of body shaping equipment utilized, but laser-assisted lipolysis will be the most effective procedure with the most dramatic results. Physicians will see the non-invasive body shaping options increase. Industry experts predict that, “Zeltiq’s CoolSculpting treatments will stay strong,” and Dr. Debra Jaliman agrees.  “I have been using this innovative new technology in my practice since April, 2010. We use an external freezing device, so there is no pain or medication required. It is non-invasive, and 16 weeks later the patient has the effects of liposuction in the trunk area. We use it for love handles, backs, and belly fat.”  Dr. Charles Mok is also a proponent of this innovative new technology.  “By far the most exciting trend in aesthetic medicine is the FDA approval for the first ever non-invasive (non-surgical) device to permanently remove fat, CoolSculpt by Zeltiq.  Read more

               

Written by leslie · Filed Under Aesthetic Medicine News | 3 Comments 

Aesthetic Medicine: What’s Popular for 2011?

January 12, 2011

What’s popular in aesthetic medicine this year? The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) released their predictions late December, and we aren’t surprised with their list. These are the predictions we found most interesting.

1. Facelifts and facial rejuvenation procedures of any kind will see a lot of demand this year. The ASAPS predicts that while non-surgical methods will continue to grow in popularity, many patients will choose to go the surgical route after waiting for so long for the economy to improve.

2. The popularity of injectables, like BOTOX® and Juvederm™ is undeniable, and we may be seeing new products enter the market this year as manufacturers strive to meet the demand.

3. With obesity remaining a huge concern across North America, more patients will seek body contouring procedures, particularly following dramatic weight loss. While surgical options are better suited to treat skin laxity on the body following massive weight loss, non-surgical treatments like skin tightening are good for targeting the face and neck.

4. As the economy continues to struggle, news stories will continue to emerge regarding bad experiences with “bargain bin” procedures performed by poorly-skilled doctors. Make sure you base your choice on who performs your medical procedure on experience, professional reputation and education first, rather than just price. Read more

               

Written by leslie · Filed Under Aesthetic Medicine News | 1 Comment 

Next Page »