More Men Opt for Nonsurgical Procedures
According to a study released by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), 2,000 board-certified
AAFPRS members report increases in cosmetic nonsurgical procedures by 30% in women and 60% in men since 2000. While in the past it was unusual for men to elect cosmetic procedures, AAFPRS says that the availability of simple, nonsurgical procedure options such as chemical peels and Botox has boosted the number of men who want to reduce the signs of aging. “It’s no surprise that men are eager to look younger and more fit,” states Ira D. Papel, MD, president of AAFPRS. “Today, patients have many choices to safely reach their personal goals due in large part to the continuous increase in availability of nonsurgical treatments for an aging face.” The 2005 survey shows a 9% increase in the number of men who underwent nonsurgical procedures overall, with a 22% increase in the number of men opting for microdermabrasion, 47% growth in fat injections and a whopping 417% jump in skin resurfacing treatments over 2004 statistics. For more information visit www.aafprs.org.

Substantial Satisfaction with Laser Procedures
According to a study conducted by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), 6 in 10 patients undergoing minimally invasive or nonablative laser procedures said they are satisfied with overall improvements from the treatment.

“Nonablative laser treatments are becoming increasingly popular with patients compared with invasive lasers because they significantly decrease risks for adverse events and downtime, produce gradual improvement instead of sudden effects, and have a lower incidence of scarring and pigmentary changes,” said lead author Ashish C. Bhatia, MD.

Dr. Bhatia noted that the acne-scarred subjects reported higher satisfaction levels with the treatments than the photoaging subjects. This could be attributed to higher expectations of photoaging patients. “The results from this study show that patients first reported seeing changes in their skin between the third and fourth treatment,” he said. “This helps us set up realistic expectations as to when they will see results. With therapies that do not produce immediate and striking results, it is helpful to provide guidance to the patients as to when changes should be seen.”

Positive Self-Image Linked to Ethnicity, Not Wealth
A recent study conducted by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) states that Americans’ satisfaction with their appearance is consistent across different income brackets, but varies significantly among different ethnic groups. Only 20% of surveyed Americans would describe their appearance as above average, while 78% would say their looks were average or below average. There was no variance between households with annual incomes over or under $50,000, the survey found. However, minorities are more self-confident than Caucasians, with 29% describing their appearance as above average; only 18% of Caucasians see themselves the same way.

Regardless of self-esteem or income, Americans have an ever-increasing interest in the benefits offered by cosmetic procedures. Three out of four Americans surveyed believe that cosmetic procedures offer at least one benefit, ranging from looking younger to appearing more attractive, the study reports.

TriStrata Wins Patent Infringement Case
On March 31, a state district court in Wilmington, Delaware, ordered Mary Kay to pay more than $26.4 million in back royalties to TriStrata Technology, a wholly owned subsidiary of NeoStrata Company, in connection with a patent infringement case. However, with interest compounding quarterly since Feb. 1, 1995 at 4.77%, the total amount comes to more than $40 million. While Mary Kay alleges that the lawsuit is related to products created in the 1990s using its own patented technology, the jury found that Mary Kay infringed several patents owned by TriStrata related to alpha hydroxy acid skincare technology. Additionally, the court also granted TriStrata’s motion for a permanent injunction enjoining Mary Kay against making or selling the infringing products. Mary Kay said in a statement that it would begin an appeals process.

Franchise News
Mona Sappenfield, CEO of the Mona Spa & Laser Centers, with locations in Memphis, Tennessee, and Jackson, Mississippi, is now offering franchise opportunities. Because Sappenfield will interact with all franchisees on a regular basis, she plans on limiting the number of franchises to ensure her team can meet or exceed expectations. The first Mona Spa & Laser Center franchise opened in Mattawan, Michigan, with seven more slated to open later this year, including a new facility in the Memphis-based University of Tennessee Medical Group.

Dermacare Laser & Skin Care Clinics, a physician-based medical skincare franchise, has partnered with Brisbane, California-based Cutera to provide a customized package of laser products and services to all new Dermacare clients. The equipment package consists of three Cutera laser systems, including the Solera Opus, a pulsed-light system; Solera Titan, a light-based system that heats the deep layers of the skin; and CoolGlide Vantage, a long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser. Dermacare, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, plans to provide the laser package to 500 franchises within the next three years.

Fat-Seeking Laser?
Researchers at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility have shown that a laser can selectively heat fat in the body without harming the overlying skin. Using a free-electron laser at certain wavelengths, scientists were able to heat up the fat, which was then broken down and excreted by the body. Laser therapies based on the new research could treat a variety of health conditions, including severe acne, heart disease and cellulite. The results were presented at ASLMS’ annual meeting in Boston.

Rox Anderson, MD, lead author on the study and a practicing dermatologist at Harvard, led the experiment using pig fat and skin samples about 2 inches thick. Dr. Anderson is most excited about the potential for using lasers on acne. “The root cause of acne is a lipid-rich gland, the sebaceous gland, which sits a few millimeters below the surface of the skin,” says Dr. Anderson. “We want to be able to selectively target the sebaceous gland, and this research shows that, if we can build lasers at this region of the spectrum, we may be able to do that.”

Dr. Anderson also believes that these laser treatments could be used for other medical conditions involving lipid-rich tissues, such as cellulite and body fat as well as the fatty plaques that form in arteries leading to heart attacks.

ASLMS Names New President
An assistant professor of plastic surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, A. Jay Burns, MD, was named president of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS). Dr. Burns took office at Laser ’06, the society’s annual scientific meeting held in Boston, and will serve for one year.

“I am honored to be working with such a renowned group of multidisciplinary experts who are responsible for many of the newest diagnostic techniques and clinical applications in the field,” says Dr. Burns. “Supported by a unique mix of ASLMS researchers, educators, clinicians and captains of industry, I look forward to guiding the society to the next level of laser innovation in our diverse specialties.”

Board-certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Burns is in private practice at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas with offices at the Tom Landry Center and Children’s Medical Center. He is a noted speaker on laser and cosmetic surgery and serves as the director for several national laser symposiums each year.

Syneron Announces New North American President
Syneron Medical, developer of elos combined-energy medical aesthetic devices, announced that Doron Gerstel, former CEO and co-founder of Zend Technologies, has been appointed the new president of Syneron, Inc. “We are very pleased that Doron Gerstel will be applying his extensive managerial talents and creativity to the aesthetic sector by joining Syneron,” said CEO David Schlachet. “We look forward to having Doron as part of our Syneron team and to his contribution to Syneron’s growth and development.”


ASAPS Names New Executive Committee
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery named Miami plastic surgeon James M. Stuzin, MD, as the new president of the society during its annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. In addition to his private practice, Dr. Stuzin is clinical assistant professor of plastic surgery (voluntary) at the University of Miami School of Medicine and is an attending physician at Mercy Hospital in Miami. Other elected officers include: president-elect Foad Nahai, MD; vice president Alan Gold, MD; treasurer V. Leroy Young, MD; and secretary Renato Saltz, MD.

Aluma Exclusivity in Italy
Lumenis, a developer, manufacturer and seller of laser and light-based devices, announced that it has signed a three-year exclusive sales and distribution agreement with the Fasel Group for the sale of Aluma Skin Renewal Systems, units that combine radio frequency energy with vacuum to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. One of the largest aesthetic and medical products distributors in Italy, Fasel agreed to purchase a minimum of 175 Aluma systems by the end of 2008 to maintain exclusivity in Italy.

“The combination of Lumenis’ superior technology and Aluma’s competitive advantages, together with Fasel’s excellent aesthetic market knowledge and accessibility, is the perfect launchpad to introduce and develop the market for RF devices in Italy,” commented Amnon Harari, Lumenis’ vice president of European sales and service.

According to Elisabetta Fasani, CEO of Fasel Group, “We have chosen Lumenis because we recognize and value their combination of advanced technology, longtime quality of products and the professional support of Lumenis in Italy.”

New DUSA Appointment
DUSA Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company based in Wilmington, Massachusetts, announced the hiring of William F. O’Dell as executive vice president, sales and marketing, effective April 17. “We are delighted to have Bill join our management team,” says Bob Doman, president and CEO of DUSA. “His credentials and successful track record spanning over 30 years in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries will strengthen and enhance DUSA’s presence in the marketplace.” Commenting on the appointment, O’Dell states, “I am thrilled to be joining DUSA at such an exciting time in the company’s history and believe that Levulan PDT [photodynamic therapy] has untapped growth potential both domestically and in the international markets that we will be seeking to exploit.” DUSA is primarily engaged in the marketing and development of its Levulan PDT technology, which is currently approved for the treatment of precancerous actinic keratoses and is being developed for the treatment of acne and photodamage, and complementary dermatology products.

Radio Show Hosts Skin Cancer Education Program
To commemorate national Skin Cancer Awareness month, on May 26 The Cancer Crusaders Organization and Grapevine Talk Radio Network introduced the “Only Skin Deep?” Peer Educator’s Program via Internet radio. “The curriculum was originally created to be a college course through Utah Valley State College,” says Danielle White, co-founder of The Cancer Crusaders Organization. “The opportunity to provide everyone, everywhere with access to personalized and interactive skin cancer education is truly phenomenal. Those who complete the course will be put on our speakers bureau of peer educators.” The copyrighted three-part curriculum, approved by dermatologists in October 2005, covers the basics about skin care, skin cancer prevention and environmental health. The show is broadcast Fridays at 1 p.m. MST (3 p.m. EST) on www.grapevineradio.com.

Medicis Reports First Quarter Loss
Scottsdale, Arizona-based Medicis Pharmaceutical reported an $88.5 million first-quarter loss due in part to a $91 million payment to Ipsen, a French company, for the rights to market Reloxin, a Botox-related drug. The loss per share was $1.63 as opposed to the 30 cents per share increase seen a year ago. Additionally, Medicis announced that the government is investigating to determine whether the company violated the federal False Claims Act in relation to marketing Loprox products to pediatricians prior to the May 2004 sale of its pediatric sales division.

In related news, Medecis announced that its once-daily pill Solodyn won U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for the treatment of moderate to severe acne in patients 12 years and older.

Extension Classes at UC Irvine
Beginning the week of September 18, The University of California, Irvine will be hosting a series of extension courses related to the spa and dermatology industries. Among the classes provided are Overview of Medical Spas: Business, Operational and Legal Considerations, Introduction to the Spa Industry, Spa Marketing and Retailing Management and Customer Service for the Spa Industry. For more information, please contact UC Irvine Extension at http://unex.uci.edu or call 949.824.5414.

Events

2006

July 14-16 Intl. Congress on Anti-Aging Medicine, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Chicago, IL. Contact: A4M, 773.528.1000; www.worldhealth.net.

July 14-16 Cosmecon–Intl. Conference on Aging & Antiaging, Jnana Jyoti Auditorium Bangalore, Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Contact: Dr. Chandrashekhar, 91.80.93412.18715; www.bangalorederma.com.

July 19-22 Cosmetic Boot Camp, St. Regis, Aspen, Aspen, CO. Contact: Kenneth Beer, MD, 888.355.3675; www.cosmeticbootcamp.com.

July 20-23 Pacific Northwest Dermatological Conference, Benson Hotel, Portland, OR. Contact: Kory Diemert, 206.956.3646; www.dermatologynw.org.

July 26-30 Amer. Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Academy ’06, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA. Contact: Robin Downey, 847.330.0230; www.aad.org.

August 3-6 Intl. Society of Cosmetic & Laser Surgeons Masters Series Workshop, Regent Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills, CA. Contact: Brandice Pittard, 850.531.8374; www.iscls.org.

September 8-10 California Society of Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery Meeting, Loews Coronado Bay Resort, San Diego, CA. Contact: Calderm, 800.815.6397; www.calderm.org.

September 16-18 The Intl. Congress of Esthetics, Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, CA. Contact: Elsa Herrera, 972.226.2309; www.lneonline.com.

September 17-18 Medical Spa Expo & Conference, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, NY. Contact: Eileen Baird, 203.840.4800; www.medispaexpo.com.

September 28-Oct. 1 15th Intl. Symposium on Cosmetic & Laser Surgery, Venetian Resort Casino, Las Vegas, NV. Contact: Brandice Pittard, 850.531.8374; www.iscls.org.

September 30-October 1 Cosmetic Surgery Expo, Chicago Navy Pier, Chicago, IL. Contact: Ken Field, 248.561.4079; www.cosmeticsurgeryexpos.com.

October 6-11 ASPS/PSEF/ASMS Plastic Surgery Meeting, Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA. Contact: Patty Anderson, 847.228.9900; www.plasticsurgery.org.

October 7-9 Intl. Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL. Contact: Jonnell K. Gailey, 800.624.3248, ext. 15; www.iecsc.com.

October 13-15 European Masters in Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Medicine, Palais des Congrès de Paris, Paris, France. Contact: Catherine DeCuyper, 33.15.683.7800; www.euromedicom.com.

October 26-29 Amer. Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) Meeting, Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa, Palm Desert, CA. Contact: E. Smith, 847.956.0900; www.asds.net.

November 3-5 4th Congress of the Amer. Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, Miami, FL. Contact: Peggy Shepard, 604.681.5226; www.aaamed.org.

November 11-13 Face & Body Expo and Medical Esthetic Conference, Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA. Contact: Maureen Ckuj, 630.653.2155, ext. 561; www.faceandbody.com.

December 2-3 Cosmetic Surgery Expo, John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center, Boston, MA. Contact: Ken Field, 248.561.4079; www.cosmeticsurgeryexpos.com.

December 7-12 Intl. Congress on Anti-Aging Medicine Winter Session, Paris Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV. Contact: A4M, 773.528.1000; www.worldhealth.net.

December 10-13 5th World Congress of the Intl. Academy of Cosmetic Dermatology, Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne, Australia. Contact: Congress Secretariat, 61.3.9682.0244; www. iacd2006.com.

2007

January 12-15 Orlando Dermatology & Aesthetic Conference, The Peabody Orlando, Orlando, FL. Contact: Heather Sote, 212.213.8784; www.orlandoderm.org.

January 25-28 The Amer. Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) 23rd Scientific Meeting, Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego, CA. Contact: Moira Murphy, 312.981.6762; www.cosmeticsurgery.org.

January 31-February 3 Assn. of Dermatology Administrators & Managers (ADA/M) Meeting, L’Enfant Plaza Hotel, Washington, DC. Contact: Dana DePonzi-Haas, 510.839.2326; www.ada-m.org.