Hawaii Dermatology Seminar Wrap-Up

I have just returned from the 33rd Hawaii Dermatology Seminar with exciting thoughts on the future of non-invasive cosmetic aesthetic treatments. What became clear at this meeting is that the current economic difficulties have not stopped investigators and industry from exploring further non-invasive methods that will lead to more beautiful skin.

Hot topics included discussions about the use of stem cells to promote healthier skin, new fractional skin tightening methods, cryolipolysis of fat, and the next generation of Botox® like substances.

Fractional skin tightening by Primaeva is an attempt to improve upon the non-surgical approaches already seen with such technologies such as Thermage’s (now called Solta) ThermaLift and Cutera’s Titan technology. With this technique small electrolysis sized needles deliver scientifically controlled heat to tighten jowls.

Cryolipolysis by Zeltiq involves the precise delivery of cold to unwanted fat areas such as love handles. Initial work was done on animals, but data was recently presented at the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery meeting, showing that dramatic results can be seen in humans.

Here's a before picture:

Patients sit and read the newspaper while their fat is frozen away! Our NJ office is one of the FDA sites where we are treating love handles. This far patients have only been treated one time with this method of fat reduction.. Yet to be seen are whether multiple treatments lead to better results and how this method compares to other more-invasive methods of fat removal.

Here is the same patient four months afterward:

At the Hawaii Dermatology Seminar there was also ample discussion about Reloxin from Medicis.. This yet to be approved product is probably going to be the first US competitor for Botox® . Also discussed were other potential Botox® competitors such as PurTox from Mentor and Xeomin from Merz.

The future of cosmetic dermatology is great!

David Goldberg, M.D.
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center