Call for Abstracts
The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) announces a call for abstracts for its annual meeting April 11-15, 2007. The deadline for submission is Monday, November 6, 2006. Interested professionals can present online submissions for consideration in the following categories:

• Basic Science/Optical Diagnostics
• Dentistry-Oral and Maxillofacial
• Dermatology/Plastic Surgery
• Nursing/Allied Health
• Oncology/Photodynamic Therapy
• Ophthalmology
• Otolaryngology
• Photobiomodulation
• Poster Session
• Surgical Applications–Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Gynecology, Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Surgery
• Urology

If you are interested in submitting an abstract but know that your research study will not be completed by the November 6 deadline, ASLMS will accept a limited number of late-breaking abstracts for consideration in the categories listed above. For further information, please contact Nadine Tosk at 847.920.9858 or nadinepr@bellsouth.net.

Sculptra Receives Premarket Approval
Dermik Laboratories, the Bridgewater, New Jersey-based subsidiary of sanofi-aventis, announced on September 19, 2006, that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration accepted the company’s supplemental premarket approval application for Sculptra (injectable poly-L-lactic acid) for facial cosmetic use. Sculptra was previously approved in 2004 for the restoration and correction of facial fat loss in people with HIV.

The company says that more than 150,000 people in over 30 countries have been treated with Sculptra under the name NEW-FILL. The injectable was approved in Europe in 1999 to increase the skin’s volume, including wrinkles, scars and folds.

New Positions at Medicis
Jason Hanson has joined Medicis as executive vice president and general counsel, assuming responsibility for all legal matters and providing guidance on legal, compliance and operational issues. Hanson formerly practiced with the law firm of Arnold & Porter in Washington, DC, and was a prosecutor with the National Criminal Enforcement Section of the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Additionally, Joseph P. Cooper has been named executive vice president, corporate and product development. Cooper served as executive vice president, corporate development, since January 2001.

Obagi Initial Public Offering
Obagi Medical Products, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the aesthetic and therapeutic skin health markets, recently announced that it has filed a proposed initial public offering of shares of common stock with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. J.P. Morgan Securities, CIBC World Markets, Thomas Weisel Partners LLC and Robert W. Baird & Co. are underwriting the offering.

The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined.
 

Injectable Recommended for FDA Approval
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration General and Plastic Surgery Devices Advisory Panel recently recommended approval of Radiesse, an augmentation injectable manufactured by BioForm Medical, for use as a soft-tissue filler in areas like nasolabial folds and for use in restoring subcutaneous facial fat resulting from HIV therapy. The recommendation came with conditions in both indications following the review of data from a premarket approval application.

“We are pleased with the Panel’s decision to recommend the approval of Radiesse with conditions,” says Steven L. Basta, president and CEO of BioForm. “We now look forward to working with the FDA in the next stage of this process.”


Dietary Supplement Increases Skin Hydration, Elasticity
In a clinical study presented September 12 at the Beyond Beauty Paris Conference in Paris, France, Pierfrancesco Morganti, MD, provided compelling evidence that lutein, a dietary nutrient, provides specific skin benefits. These benefits include increasing hydration, elasticity and superficial lipids of the skin, while decreasing the oxidation of skin lipids.

Dr. Morganti, professor of applied cosmetic dermatology at the University of Naples, Italy, indicated that when taken daily as a 10 mg oral supplement, lutein and its associated molecule zeaxanthin increased skin hydration by 38%, elasticity by 8% and superficial lipids by 33% and decreased oxidation of lipids by 55%, as compared to a placebo.

“This research underscores the importance of thinking about skin health and beauty from the ‘inside out,’” says Bruce Katz, MD, director of the JUVA Skin and & Laser Center of New York and MedEsthetics Editorial Advisory Board member. “The benefits of taking lutein daily will be of great interest to people who are looking for new ways to improve the hydration and elasticity of their skin and help reduce the appearance of premature aging.”

Rejuvenation Device Receives CE Mark Approval
Cynosure recently announced that it has received CE mark approval for its Affirm system, a single-platform, multi-energy device for skin rejuvenation. This approval will allow for marketing Affirm throughout the European Union and many other countries worldwide.

Michael R. Davin, Cynosure chairman and CEO, says that the approval underscores the efficacy and success of the Affirm system. “Our proprietary disposable micro lens array, combined with the Affirm system workstation, offers providers the ability to treat patients rapidly, thereby increasing patient throughput,” he explains.

The Affirm system uses Combined Apex Pulse technology for reducing the appearance of wrinkles and scars by delivering light energy of varying intensity levels.

Esthetician Certification Receives Endorsement
The National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/ Distributors and Associations (NCEA) secured the use of the National Esthetician 2nd Tier test at the Annual Conference of the National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology, held August 26-28 in Portland, Maine. The test is intended for use in the NCEA Esthetician Certification program that will be launched in early 2007.

“The endorsement of the NCEA’s Esthetician Certification by the National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology gives esthetician licensing boards the opportunity to recognize the NCEA Certification in their own state,” explains Susanne S. Warfield, executive director. “The NCEA Certification is the first true certification for the skincare industry and will provide a tool for our state boards to help bolster NCEA’s efforts in raising the standards of estheticians in this country.”

“This is a step in the right direction as other countries want to be able to recognize estheticians trained in the United States,” says Larry Walthers, National Examination Committee chair, of the possibilities that certification will provide.


New Book and Course
A new book, Advanced Professional Skin Care–Medical Edition by Peter T. Pugliese, MD, helps estheticians transition into medical aesthetics. The experienced esthetician is provided with current skincare science to prepare for any and all industry developments. The reader is educated in chemistry, physiology and pathology of the skin complete with illustrations, sidebars, tables and graphs. In January 2007 Dr. Pugliese will also begin hosting a medical aesthetics course highlighting histology of the skin, cosmetic chemistry, pre- and postoperative care, advanced equipment use, IPL and more. Dr. Pugliese currently holds 10 patents, has delivered more than 125 presentations worldwide and has written four other books. For more information on the book or the course, please contact 800.630.4710.

Cynosure Opens Office in Osaka
Cynosure, developer and marketer of aesthetic laser treatment systems, recently announced the opening of its second sales and service office in Japan. The Osaka location complements Cynosure’s existing sales and distribution capabilities in Tokyo by expanding direct sales and customer support to practices looking to provide aesthetic treatments.

“The opening of our second office in Japan is an important international milestone for Cynosure, reflecting our continued expansion in the consumer-rich Asia-Pacific marketplace,” explains Michael R. Davin, chairman and CEO of Cynosure. “Our Osaka location expands Cynosure’s ability to provide aesthetic solutions to practitioners in key geographic areas, extending our reach and increasing their business opportunities.”

New and Improved Website
DermaSweep, a skincare provider based in Rocklin, California, recently announced the launch of its newly redesigned website, www.dermasweep.com.

New features of the redesigned website include:

• For professionals: access to product specifications, skin-specific treatment protocols and skin evaluation guides
• For consumers: a list of DermaSweep professionals, answers to microdermabrasion questions, DermaSweep results and safety protocol
• An online store
• News, announcements and articles

“These significant improvements in our website represent our ongoing commitment to bringing the best innovations in both products and service to the medical and spa i ndustries,” says Jackie Hart, founder and CEO of DermaSweep.

Allergan Launches New Dermal Filler
Botox manufacturer Allergan recently stated that it is launching new hyaluronic-acid-based wrinkle filler Juvederm to select physicians. The company will begin taking preorders for Juvederm Ultra and Juvederm Ultra Plus—for deeper folds and wrinkles—beginning November 1, when pricing for the injectable will be announced. Allergan will launch the product nationwide in January, 2007.

Events

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 28-29 The National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors & Associations (NCEA) Meeting, Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans, LA. Contact: Susanne S. Warfield, 201.670.4100; www.ncea.tv.

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.

February 1-4 Dermatology Nurses’ Association (DNA) 25th Annual Convention, Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Washington, DC. Contact: RoseMarie Sonni, 800.454.4362; www.dna.inurse.com.

February 2-6 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) 65th Annual Meeting, Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC. Contact: Robin Downey, 847.330.0230; www.aad.org.

February 4-7 5th Annual Society of Dermatology SkinCare Specialists (SDSS) Meeting, Washington, DC. Contact: SDSS, 201.670.4100; www.sdss.tv.

February 10-11 Cosmetic Surgery Expo, Broward County Convention Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Contact: Ken Field, 248.561.4079; www.cosmeticsurgeryexpos.com.

February 14 Patients Unlimited Marketing Consultants (PUMC) Jump Start Marketing Symposium, Miami, FL. Contact: Quintin L. Gunn, 323.756.8371; www.pumc.com.

February 15 Patients Unlimited Marketing Consultants (PUMC) Managers Academy, Miami, FL. Contact: Quintin L. Gunn, 323.756.8371; www.pumc.com.

February 18 Peel Boot Camp, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Phoenix, AZ. Contact: Mary Richey, 561.208.8566; www.medical-esthetics.com.