Expanding the Canvas
By Inga Hansen
Facial treatments geared toward reducing wrinkles and uneven skin tone are the foundation of cosmetic medicine. High satisfaction rates with noninvasive techniques that help patients turn back the hands of time and put their “best faces forward” have spawned growing interest in treatment options for other highly visible areas of the body, namely the hands, neck and décolleté. According to Harold J. Brody, MD, clinical professor of dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine and member of Hailey, Brody, Casey and Wray, MD, PC, Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery in Atlanta, requests for off-the-face cosmetic treatments are not as rare as one might think. “These procedures are now being performed routinely by dermatologists and plastic surgeons,” he says. This burgeoning trend has sparked a variety of treatment options to address common aesthetic concerns, including sun damage-related pigmentary problems and telangiectasia. Secondary concerns include skin laxity on the neck, wrinkles and volume loss in the hands.
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Noninvasive Lifting
By Inga Hansen
“I don't want a facelift, but can't you just tighten up some of this saggy skin a little?” It's a question asked in aesthetic practices around the world. With new advances in technology and treatment protocols, answers are shifting from a tentative “maybe” to a qualified “yes.” Whether the energy comes from infrared broad-based light (IR), radio frequency (RF), laser energy or ultrasound, noninvasive skin tightening devices produce results through thermal injury to underlying dermal tissue with little or no harm to the epidermis. Early reports of painful procedures and unpredictable outcomes have now given way to more dependable results, less pain and patient satisfaction rates of up to 80%. While we’ve seen some notable advances in skin tightening devices in the past few years, much of the improvement is attributable to more effective protocols, better patient selection and better management of patient expectations. To keep you up-to-date on the latest in noninvasive skin tightening, we spoke with a panel of physician experts about the latest devices and how they can be used to achieve optimal outcomes.
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A Nonsurgical Approach
By Inga Hansen
Upon entering Westside Aesthetics in Los Angeles, it’s not uncommon to find Dr. Alexander Z. Rivkin, a pioneer in the field of nonsurgical facial enhancements, seated in the reception area discussing procedures with his patients. The Yale-trained head and neck surgeon put his scalpel down shortly after completing his medical training to focus his skills in the discipline of noninvasive care. “During my training when we studied aesthetic surgery, I always felt like these were big procedures for small gain,” says Dr. Rivkin. “I thought that there were easier ways to achieve the results we wanted without surgery.”
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Dark Side of Social Media
By Joe Dysart
The Internet has changed the way the world communicates and proven a powerful marketing tool for physicians and, specifically, medical aesthetic practices. Online blogs, social media sites like Facebook (www.facebook.com) and micro-blogging site Twitter (www.twitter.com) allow you to maintain contact with existing patients and establish your expertise with new prospects. Unfortunately, the rapid free-flow of ideas and the ability to communicate anonymously online can leave your practice vulnerable to disgruntled former employees, dissatisfied patients and even Internet trolls who find pleasure in inciting negativity. Successfully harnessing the promotional power of the Internet and online social media requires one also to grasp its perilous darker side: the ability to damage a business with a few, choice mouse-clicks.
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 Connecting the Dots
By Andrea Sercu
Promising results that rival full surface CO2 ablation with downtimes that rival nonablative lasers, fractional resurfacing devices burst onto the scene in late 2004. The growing number of fractional devices—both ablative and nonablative—on the market today is testament to the high patient satisfaction rates these systems can deliver. But risks remain, and the plethora of equipment options raises questions as to which device is right for specific practice and patient needs
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