ISSUE: May/June 2007
Anti-aging & Wellness
Small Solutions or Big Problems for Skin?
It has been called a boon to medical science and a bane to consumer safety. It is nanotechnology, which involves the development and application of particles manipulated into a smaller scale than that of human cells. Because of their miniscule size, nanoparticles exhibit different chemical structure and behavior than their larger scale counterparts. Proponents of these nanoparticles praise their ability to penetrate the skin faster and deeper than larger molecules, while consumer watchdogs and some scientific circles are concerned that these nanoparticles may go too deep, passing into the bloodstream and causing internal damage.
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Dermatology
ArteFill
The Permanent Dermal Filler Takes Hold
Facial wrinkles are a result of the natural aging process. Over time, the skin loses its ability to repair itself as the underlying elastin and collagen fibers break down. Heredity, UV exposure and repetitive facial movement can all contribute to the development of facial wrinkles and folds. In November 2006, The Food and Drug Administration cleared ArteFill®, the first and only permanent dermal filler on the market today for the correction of nasolabial folds commonly known as smile lines. ArteFill, a product of Artes Medical, has been gaining a considerable amount of praise and popularity throughout the medical community. ArteFill is a dual-acting non-resorbable injectable filler which consists of a proprietary combination of 20% ArteFill Precision-Filtered Micropheres suspended in a carrier gel containing 80% ArteFill Purified Bovine Collagen with 0.3 percent lidocaine. The unique microspheres are made of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), the same material which has been used in dozens of medical implants for craniofacial and orthopedic surgery for over 50 years.
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Laser & Light Technology
ASLMS Laser 2007, Illuminates The New Technology Frontier
Promising a meeting as big as Texas, the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) drew a record number of attendees from around the globe for its 27th Annual Meeting in Grapevine, Texas, on April 11-15, 2007. Close to 2,500 people from academia, clinical practice, research laboratories, and industry attended the multidisciplinary conference to learn about the latest advances, newest applications, and best practices in lasers, light sources, and related energy devices in medicine and surgery.
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Legal Case of the Month
Professional Liability Insurance
In the last issue, I addressed the consequences of providers who practiced outside the scope of their licensure and the risk they faced with their professional liability insurance. An entire course could be devoted to the subject, but several of the pertinent issues are discussed here.
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Medical Spas
Bali Spas, A Return to Time Honored Traditions
The magic of Bali was first introduced to Western society in the 1948 musical classic, South Pacific. This remote Indonesian island in Southeast Asia served as the picturesque setting for a fictitious World War II romance. What many may be surprised to learn is that Bali is much more than a tiny tropical haven for romance. It has also earned the reputation as the spa capital of Asia, and for good reason.
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Plastic Surgery
Eyelash Transplant Surgery
Humans have been enhancing their “soul frames” for thousands of years. From the ancient Egyptians’ use of kohl (a dark natural pigment still used today), to the first modern mascara introduced by T. Williams in 1913 for Mabelline, eyelash enhancement has always had the same goal: to make those baby blues “pop.” Most recently, eyelash extensions have become as popular as hair extensions.
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Practice Management
The Consultation, Key to the Success of a Cosmetic Practice
The consultation is the most important part of a productive cosmetic practice and is the chief responsibility of the staff of the practice. Fifty-five to 65% of every telephone call should result in a booked consultation. Unfortunately, most staff has not been trained in the steps of selling and, in fact, has often not even accepted that the consultation is the “selling process.”
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