ASDS Covers Medical Aesthetics
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology Combined Annual Meeting in Atlanta last October covered a wide range of medical aesthetic topics, and manufacturers supporting the industry were well represented among the sponsors and on the exhibit floor.
Notable presentations included:

• "State of the Art in Aesthetic Dermasurgery,” Ronald L. Moy, MD

• "Laser Resurfacing Complications,” Roy G. Geronemus, MD

• "Botox in Relationship to Cosmetic Surgery,” Sue Ellen Cox, MD

• "Reloxin: The Other Botulinum Toxin—New Findings in Clinical Research,” Gary D. Monheit, MD

• "Comparative Efficacy of Nonpurpuragenci Pulsed Dye Laser and Intense Pulsed Light for the Treatment of Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea,” Isaac M. Neuhaus, MD

• “What’s New in Radio Frequency?” moderated by Murad Alam, MD. Session included reports on the safety of radio frequency treatments on skin previously injected with filler materials, cellulite treatment options, comparison of
  radio frequency and infrared light for treating skin laxity.

• “What’s New and Hot From Europe,” moderated by Gary D. Monheit, MD, and Gerhard Sattler, MD. Session included reports on European trends in peeling, resurfacing, cosmetic surgery and dermal filling.

• “Controversies in Dermasurgery,” moderated by Tina S. Alter, MD, and Lisa M. Donofrio, MD. Session included presentations on the pros and cons of mesotherapy, and fractional photothermolysis, as well as the pros and cons of using nonphysician extenders in cosmetic practice.

The 2006 ASDS Annual Meeting will be held in Palm Desert, California, October 26-29. Visit www.asds.net for details.

DUSA Protects Levulan Patents
In late November 2005, DUSA Pharmaceuticals announced that it has filed lawsuits against physicians in California, Florida and Tennessee to prevent their continued use of versions of its Levulan brand of aminolevulinic acid HCL (ALA), produced by compounding pharmacies. The suit alleges that ALA obtained from sources other than DUSA Pharmaceuticals infringes on the company’s patents. Additionally, some doctors are being sued for the misuse of DUSA’s trademarks and for violation of the Lanham Act for using the Levulan brand name on their websites and promotional materials while performing patient treatments with ALA obtained from other sources.

“Unlike compounded ALA, our products have undergone years of extensive and expensive clinical testing and evaluation to reach the dermatology marketplace,” says Robert Doman, DUSA’s president and chief operating officer. “Use of compounded ALA for our patented therapies is a violation of DUSA’s intellectual property rights. Because DUSA’s patents cover all uses of ALA, compounding pharmacies are putting physicians at legal risk by offering it for sale and encouraging its use.” For more information visit www.dusapharma.com.

Cruise Postponed
The intense hurricane season has forced The International Medical Spa Association to postpone its Symposium@Sea. Because of the departure point, a majority of those planning to attend lived in some of the hardest-hit areas, including along the Gulf Coast. “We certainly understand the concerns expressed and were particularly saddened to hear from those who either had no facility left or had been evacuated and did not know when they would be open again,” said Eric Light, IMSA president. “With so many people needing to focus elsewhere, postponing the symposium cruise only made sense.”

Efforts to reschedule the event are underway. “It is a question of both timing and location,” says Hannelore Leavy, IMSA director. “Every option, including moving the symposium on shore, will be explored.”

Ideal Image Chooses Candela
Candela Corporation has signed an exclusive long-term agreement with Ideal Image to supply the laser hair removal franchise with its GentleLASE and GentleYAG lasers. Specializing in hair removal, Ideal Image has more than 30 franchise locations throughout the U.S. and Australia. The agreement calls for the placement of 300 lasers in new clinics over the next two years.

“Ideal Image is a rapidly expanding, world-class organization specializing in bringing hair removal solutions to our guests nationwide,” said Dean Akers, CEO. “Our business is highly dependent upon patient satisfaction. Ideal Image performed multiple vendor technology comparisons and chose the Candela GentleLASE as the preferred technology for fast, efficacious hair removal.”

Physician Recruiting
Delta Medical Consulting, a national physician placement firm, has released the third-quarter edition of “The Physician Recruiting Standard,” a free resource that provides a summary of real-time data on fair market trends in physician recruitment.

“The Standard is the essential source for physician compensation and recruiting data,” explains Jeff Bowling, president and CEO of Delta Medical Consulting. “Each quarter, more and more hospital administrators are looking forward to the release of the new issue to help them make informed, compliant recruiting decisions.”

“The Physician Recruiting Standard” provides real-time, fair-market values through extensive research and recruiter contributions around the nation. Additionally, it provides an analysis summarizing the information and predicting trends that will occur in the near future. For the latest issue log on to www.deltamedcon.com, or write to Delta Medical Consulting, West Las Colinas Blvd., North Tower, Ste. 1800, Irving, Texas 75039.

Merger of MSQ and Orion Lasers
MSQ Ltd. and Orion Lasers have merged to form Alma Lasers Ltd., headquartered in Caesarea, Israel, with U.S. operations located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. With installations in more than 45 countries, MSQ and Orion Lasers have earned the reputation in the medical community as developers and producers of innovative laser, light-based and radio frequency systems.

“The rapid growth of both MSQ and Orion was one compelling factor in the merger,” says Mauro Wjuniski, CEO and president of Alma Lasers’ U.S. operations. “We believe that the merger will enable us to fulfill our company vision of providing ‘Wellbeing Through Technology’.” The company’s products include the multi-technology Harmony platform, the Sonata diode hair removal laser system and the Accent radio frequency system for the treatment of cellulite. For more information visit www.orionlasers.com.

AAD Skin Academy News
In recognition of National Healthy Skin Month in November 2005, the American Academy of Dermatology hosted Skin Academy in New York City. Topics and speakers included:

• “More than Skin Deep: Unique Care and Treatment for Skin of Color,” Eliot F. Battle, MD, Howard University, Washington, DC

• “A Delicate Balance: Skin Care Tips for the New Mother and Baby,” Andrea Lynn Cambio, MD, New York City

• “From Hair Loss to Shaving: Dispelling the Myths of Men’s Skin Care,” Bruce E. Katz, MD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York City

• “Unclogged Pores: What’s New in the Treatment of Acne,” Wendy E. Roberts, MD, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California

• “Beyond the Face: Cosmetic Dermatology Offers Treatment Options From Head to Toe, Susan H. Weinkle, MD, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

For more information, contact the Academy at 888.462.DERM or visit www.aad.org.

Medical Spa Expo
From the newest LED light and laser treatments to powerful antioxidant liquid extracts that boost the immune system, the 2006 Spa & Resort and Medical Spa Expo and Conference, February 26-27, 2006, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, will showcase a comprehensive sampling of cutting-edge treatments, techniques, technology and products. With several hundred vendors set to display the most up-to-date services for doctors, spa and salon owners, physical therapists, nutritionists and holistic healers, the LA event will define the trends that will resonate with spa and medical spa customers during the next year, ensuring those in the spa and medical spa industry stay abreast of the timely issues that will affect business.

“The steady increase of both attendees and exhibitors at the Spa & Resort and Medical Spa Expos in New York, Miami and Los Angeles, is a strong testament to the spa and medical spa industry’s continued growth and success,” said Eileen Baird, vice president and show manager.

Developed in conjunction with the Medical Spa Society, the conference will include an all-new educational program in which industry experts will deliver insider expertise, insights and practical tips on marketing, spa service operations, the latest trends in medical treatments, and how spas and practices can boost revenue. Additionally, two in-depth, full-day sessions, including a Spa Management and Medical Spa Start-Up session, will be held on Saturday, February 25.

The popular Spa and Medical Spa tours will be available once again, where a leading spa and medical spa in Los Angeles will open their doors to attendees, offering a “behind the scenes” tour of their facilities, while sharing insider secrets on how they made their spas successful. For more information visit www.spaandresortexpo.com or www.medispaexpo.com.

Events

2006

January 26-29 The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) 22nd Annual Scientific Meeting, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Orlando, FL. Contact: Moira Murphy, 312.981.6762; www.cosmeticsurgery.org.

February 19-23 American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) 13th Annual Winter Symposium on Rejuvenation of the Aging Face, Boca Raton, FL. Contact: Meetings & Education Coordinator, 703.299.9291, ext. 239; www.aafprs.org.

Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors Association’s Cosmetic Technical/Regulatory Forum, Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club, Redondo Beach, CA. Contact: ICMAD, 800.334.2623; info@icmad.org.

February 25-28 International Franchise Association’s 46th Annual Convention, Palm Springs, CA. Contact: 202.662.0775; www.franchise.org.

February 26-27 Medical Spa Expo, Los Angeles Convention Ctr., Los Angeles, CA. Contact: Reed Exhibitions, 877.271.6789; www.medispaexpo.com.

March 1-4 Association of Dermatology Administrators and Managers 14th Annual Meeting, Renaissance Park 55 Hotel, San Francisco, CA. This year’s conference title is “Mastering the Curves with ADAM.” Contact: Dana
DePonzi-Haas, Executive Director, 510.839.2326.

March 2-5 Dermatology Nurses’ Association (DNA) 24th Annual Meeting, Hyatt Regency Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA. Contact: Rose Marie Sonni, 800.454.4362; www.dna.inurse.com.

March 3-7 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) 64th Annual Meeting, The Moscone Ctr., San Francisco, CA. Contact: Robin Downey, 847.330.0230; www.aad.org.

April 5-9 American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery (ASLMS) 26th Annual Meeting, Sheraton Boston Hotel, Hynes Convention Ctr., Boston, MA. Contact: Dianne Dalsky, 715.845.9283; www.aslms.org.

April 7-9 International Congress on Anti-Aging Medicine, Miami, FL. Contact: A4M Customer Service, 773.528.1000; www.worldhealth.net.

April 21-26 American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) Annual Meeting, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, FL. Contact: ASAPS, 800.364.2147; www.surgery.org.

October 26-29 American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Annual Meeting, Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa, Palm Desert, CA. Contact: 847.956.0900; www.asds.net.