AAFPRS: Non-Invasive Procedures Continue to Rise

A recent article from the Examiner analyzed the latest plastic surgery statistics released by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). Not unlike last year, the AAFPRS survey reported a significant increase in non-invasive treatments amongst their 2009 plastic surgery trends.

According to the AAFPRS, non-invasive cosmetic treatments rose 47% in 2009. The Examiner sites the current economic standing as an influencer in consumer behaviors. Dermal fillers and botulinum toxin A injections are growing in popularity because, even though their results are temporary, they are much more cost effective compared to invasive surgery.

Of the physicians surveyed, another 80% reported that patients were seeking non-invasive treatments as means to staying competitive in the workplace. The procedures with the largest amount of growth were as follows:
• Poly-l-lactic acid (Sculptra®)-up 71%
• Chemical peels-up 52%
• Hyaluronic acid (Juvederm®, Restylane®)-up 48%
• Botulinum toxin type A (Botox®, Dysport®)-up 45%

The majority of surgeons surveyed (77%) reported that patients are also more educated about their plastic surgery options. Patients are spending more time researching different procedures, costs, recovery time and physician qualifications before even stepping into a surgeon’s office.

The survey also found that women continue to be the majority of facial plastic surgery candidates, accounting for 84% of all non-invasive and surgical procedures.

The surgical procedures with the increases and decreases were:
• Ablative skin resurfacing (up 57%)
• Revision surgery (up 18%)
• Facelifts (up 14%)
• Lip augmentation (DOWN 52%)
• Rhinoplasty (DOWN 13%)

As we continue to see FDA approval for new products such as Xeomin and PurTox, the number of non-invasive procedures performed will surely continue to rise. New non-invasive technologies are continually being developed and put on the market.

A Forecast For the North American Facial Injectable Market

Cosmetic injectables are hands down the most popular aesthetic treatment in North America. The North American facial injectable market consists of four different types of fillers: collagen, Hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal fillers, botulinum toxin (BTX), and particle and polymer filler (PPF). There is a modest growth projected for facial fillers between 2010 and 2014 based on their rising popularity and the approval of new products.

According to BusinessWire.com, the more facial filler products that are available in the future, the greater the competition will be. Companies will have to spend more time and money on creating brand awareness. This will lead to a more informed audience, which can create a whole new set of challenges for the companies who make the injectables. While the recession may hinder the growth of filler companies slightly, it is predicted that they will still remain profitable over the next few years.

The introduction of Sculptra Aesthetic and Dysport® in 2009 into the PPF and BTX markets created new competition for Botox® Cosmetic. While Botox® remains the king of the throne, the “Dysport® Challenge” helped increase the popularity of the new injectable.

It is also projected that the collagen filler market will shrink excessively in 2011 following Allergan and ColBar LifeScience’s withdraw from the market in 2010. With new products expected to gain Canadian and U.S. approval, it will be interesting to see how the market responds. New facial injectables, which can be introduced into any product segment, could theoretically affect average selling prices and heighten competition within the market.

Sculptra FDA-approved for cosmetic use

Sculptra (aka Poly L Lactic Acid) has been around for a few years as an FDA-approved solution to facial atrophy. Many doctors, us included, have either used or read extensively about its use off-label for cosmetic applications, as it is an appealing filler that can last over two years in some cases.

What's unique about it is that, as this Early Show interview yesterday on CBS confirms, the filler actually attracts your body's natural collagen to help maintain the new structure that is being built in the face.

We have been very excited about Sculptra for a long time and covered it in the past here, here, and here.

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Sanctuary Plastic Surgery, Boca Raton

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, Boca Raton
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ

Sculptra Outcomes for Darker Skin Types?

Upon their approval of the heavy-duty filler Sculptra, the FDA mandated that additional clinical trials be performed upon darker-skinned patients for the treatment of HIV-related facial atrophy. The original trials heavily focused on white males.

The Global Medical News Network is out a writeup of the five year study, conducted by Dr. Douglas Mest of Blue Pacific Aesthetic Group in Manhattan Beach, CA.

The results are good, here at year one. A question was whether darker-skinned patients would create too much collagen, causing hypertrophic scars and keloids. But it turned out that "they do very well with this product," according to Dr. Mest, with new collagen forming more quickly than light-skinned patients without any unwanted side effects.


You can see the results in the picture above. SMAC offers Sculptra to restore volume after lipoatrophy, a.k.a facial fat loss.

Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center

Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ