Digital Edition

Equipment

The Evolution of IPL

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Advances in engineering are making IPL devices safer, more consistent and easier to use.
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By Inga Hansen
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The Evolution of IPL

Intense pulsed light piqued the interest of many in the medical aesthetic community when it was first introduced 20 years ago. Its inclusion of multiple spectra of light delivered using laser-based technologies suggested the ability to treat multiple indications in one system. Unfortunately, the original Photoderm quickly fell out of favor.

Gain Without Pain

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Navigating the growing options in noninvasive body contouring.
Byline: 
By Cindi Myers
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Gain Without Pain

The idea that people can go to a doctor’s office, pay a fee, lie on a table and have fat removed from their bodies, without any type of surgical incision, once seemed the domain of science fiction novels and teenage dreams. Now, with the emergence of FDA-approved devices, such as CoolSculpting from Zeltiq (coolsculpting.com) and Liposonix from Solta Medical (liposonix.com), those dreams have become a reality in the eyes of the media and the general public. But questions remain: Do these noninvasive body contouring devices really deliver on the promise of nonsurgical weight loss?

Skimming the Surface

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The gentle exfoliating powers of microdermabrasion make it a popular treatment tool for estheticians working with medical cosmetic patients.
Byline: 
By Inga Hansen
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Skimming the Surface

When microdermabrasion first came to the United States more than 20 years ago, there were several early adopters and a long line of skeptics. As with most new technologies, many questioned whether it was a passing fad or a valuable new tool worthy of its substantial price tag. More than two decades later, microdermabrasion devices have become a staple in esthetic and medical aesthetic treatment rooms, thanks to their proven ability to rejuvenate dull skin and stimulate collagen as well as their strong safety profile for all skin types.

Beyond the Face

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Aesthetic practitioners share insights into their most popular and successful combination treatments for the décolleté, hands, arms and legs.
Byline: 
By Linda W. Lewis
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Botox is not the only aesthetic procedure patients ask for by name these days. And the face is not the only area of aesthetic concern. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons around the world are finding a raft of recipes for younger-looking skin all over the body. Ingredients include skincare topicals and injectables mixed with energy treatments from laser, radiofrequency (RF) and ultrasound devices. Many are now packaging combination procedures for the neck, décolleté, arms and legs, along with liquid facelifts and body contouring specials.

BBL Rejuvenates Aged Skin

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For the first time, researchers use gene sequencing technology to study the effects of broadband light on skin aging.
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BBL Rejuvenates Aged Skin

“Clinical and histological studies have been showing the rejuvenating effects of broadband light (BBL) for some time, but this is the first study to show rejuvenation at the genetic level,” says Hayes Gladstone, MD, Berman Gladstone Skin Institute, Palo Alto, California.

Noninvasive Fat Reduction

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Navigating the growing options in noninvasive body contouring.
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Noninvasive body contouring

The idea that people can go to a doctor’s office, pay a fee, lie on a table and have fat removed from their bodies, without any type of surgical incision, once seemed the domain of science fiction novels and teenage dreams. Now, with the emergence of FDA-approved devices, such as CoolSculpting from Zeltiq (www.coolsculpting.com) and Liposonix from Solta Medical (www.liposonix.com), those dreams have become a reality in the eyes of the media and the general public. But questions remain: Do these noninvasive body contouring devices really deliver on the promise of nonsurgical weight loss?

Firm Results

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Innovation and experience are helping to improve the predictability of outcomes in noninvasive skin tightening.
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Firm Results

Treating lax skin noninvasively can be a Jekyl-and-Hyde experience for doctors. Patients who have a tremendous response think the doctor is wonderful, while those who have no noticeable improvement want to check his credentials. The unpredictable nature of early skin tightening devices led to a flux of new technologies and new generation devices designed to offer more consistent outcomes. But the questions remain: What tools offer patients the best solutions to skin laxity and how do treating physicians decide which of the available tools will work best for a specific patient?

Technology Comes Home

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Home-use devices are hitting their stride with new FDA approvals and growing consumer awareness.
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Technology Comes Home

Home use skincare devices generated an estimated $1 billion worth of retail sales in 2011 with exponential growth expected for the next five years, according to the market research firm Kline and Co. (“At-home Skin Care Devices 2011: U.S. Market Analysis and Opportunities” www.klinegroup.com). The majority of these devices were developed to address the same concerns voiced daily in medical aesthetic practices, covering the spectrum from acne treatment to hair removal, hair restoration and antiaging.

Smoothing the Surface

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New techniques and combination treatment protocols offer the most promise for acne scar patients. By Russell A. Jackson
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Smoothing the Surface

Acne scars remain one of the most challenging skin conditions to treat. The lack of a gold standard treatment to banish these permanent reminders of acne past has led physicians and product manufacturers to try new technologies, techniques and products in hopes of finding a magic bullet. While a cure remains elusive, new modalities are showing promise while offering a less traumatic path for patients seeking to reduce the appearance of their scars.

Cellulite Game Changer

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The FDA clears Cellulaze, the first minimally invasive procedure specifically indicated for the treatment of cellulite.
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Cellulite treatments are a multibillion-dollar industry in the United States alone. More than 80% of women are afflicted with the cottage cheese appearance of cellulite, and they have been rubbing on lotions, sweating through wraps and enduring deep kneading sessions for years. Results of these treatments have often been minimal and fleeting. The United States Food & Drug Administration’s 510(k) approval of the Cellulaze device (Cynosure, www.cynosure.com) in January has raised hope that an effective, long-term treatment may now offer reliable relief.

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