“KibiKibi Body” Shatters Age-Old “No Pain, No Gain” Concept With Innovative Minimalist Approach to Fitness and Wellness

Greenwich-Based Facility Utilizes Acceleration Training™ Within Upscale, Holistic Atmosphere to Provide Better Health and Vitality in a Fraction of the Time Required by Conventional methods

Greenwich, CT – Greenwich based KibiKibi Body is breaking down the paradigms that have characterized fitness and wellness for decades. The facility, devoted exclusively to the varying applications and benefits of cutting-edge Acceleration Training™, is offering individuals a fitness solution that’s not only time-efficient, but also relaxing. The new facility combines Acceleration Training™ with an Eastern-influenced Zen-like environment to deliver a radically different, yet highly-effective approach to fitness and wellness where maximum benefits are attained in the least amount of time and effort possible.

On the heels of its mainstream acceptance throughout Europe and other international regions, Acceleration Training™ has emerged rapidly across the U.S. Top global celebrities including Hilary Swank, Elle McPherson, Claudia Schiffer, Sting and The Police, Clint Eastwood and many others, elite professional and college athletes, health clubs and wellness centers around the country are turning to this innovative fitness and wellness method for its wide array of benefits. Now consumers in the greater-Greenwich area have the ultimate environment to experience this innovative new method of fitness and wellness.

“The Japanese word ‘KibiKibi’ means lively, energetic and brisk, which is precisely how clients feel after each session,” says Sally Imbo, owner of KibiKibi Body. “We’re intelligently applying cutting-edge wellness technology to deliver greater results in much less time and with much less effort than more rigorous conventional training methods offer, and within a serene and organic environment that promotes better health and vitality.”

For years now, consumers have turned to health clubs to get in shape and separately turned to day spas for pampering and beautification. Today, KibiKibi Body has brought the fitness and spa worlds together, creating an all-inclusive fitness and wellness experience to promote better physical and mental health. Through Acceleration Training™, clients of KibiKibi Body will experience fitness benefits of increased strength, flexibility, bone density and expedited weight loss as well as classic “spa” benefits including detoxification, deeptissue massage, enhanced skin condition, reduced cellulite and stress, and pain reduction among other benefits.

KibiKibi Body will be based on session packages and walk-in clientele – no memberships required. Specialized in delivering total body workouts in just 20-minute sessions, KibiKibi Body guides clients through three progressive phases highlighted below: Acclimation Phase – Initial sessions provide first exposure to Acceleration Training™ and set up the foundation for safely adding exercises and increasing resistance settings.

Initial Assessment & Development Phase – Two-part phase including a comprehensive ultrasound fitness assessment and four one-on-one program development sessions. Client goals and baseline fitness levels are assessed to put instructor and client on the same page, while enforcing proper form and equipment use, effectively creating a partnership striving to accomplish agreed upon and targeted goals.

Group Sessions – Armed with a newly developed personalized training program, clients may schedule their group sessions at any time and will be working with between one and four clients in a semi-private exercise format with an instructor. Group training sessions are progressive to insure success and may be purchased individually, in packages of 10, or monthly.

The grand opening of KibiKibi Body occurs simultaneously to the Power Plate Institute in Chicago’s upscale Lincoln Park neighborhood – a facility also devoted exclusively to Acceleration Training™. In addition, Acceleration Training™ facilities have also surfaced in South Florida. The emergence of these facilities underscores the growing acceptance and legitimacy of this innovative method of fitness and wellness training.

Acceleration Training™ via Power Plate equipment® exploits the body’s innate reflexive response to disruptions in stability in order to stimulate a wide array of benefits including; but not limited to, increases in muscle strength, flexibility, hormonal release, lymphatic drainage, bone density and metabolic rates. Just as the leg kicks forward involuntarily when the doctor strikes the lower knee to test reflexes, the body’s muscles engage in an involuntary reflexive muscle contraction in response to the vibration stimulus from Acceleration Training™. With Acceleration Training™, muscles are forced to contract 25-50 times per second in response to mechanical vibrations delivered to the body from a central platform upon which static and dynamic exercises are performed. Because of this significant volume of muscular activity, training sessions are recommended to last no longer than 15 minutes, three days a week. This makes Acceleration Training™ arguably the most time-efficient fitness and wellness method available today.

KibiKibi Body
www.kibikibibody.com

Syneron Launches High Power VelaShape(TM) for Faster Cellulite Treatment and Circumferential Reduction

New VelaShape(TM) Receives FDA Clearance

Syneron(TM) Medical Ltd. (NASDAQ: ELOS), an innovator in the development, marketing and sales of elos(TM) combined-energy medical aesthetic devices, today introduces the VelaShape(TM). VelaShape is the newest addition to Syneron’s Vela(TM) platform of non-invasive devices for body treatment. The VelaShape device has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) pre-marketing clearance for the temporary reduction of the appearance of cellulite, as well as temporary reduction of thigh circumference.

The VelaShape addresses the needs of the rapidly growing body shaping and body contouring market by providing fast, visible results, in as few as four office visits. The higher power of the VelaShape enables much quicker results in both cellulite and circumferential reduction applications. With four treatments each spaced one week apart, patients will be able to see thinner thighs and improved skin texture within a 30-day period.

“With fewer treatments and faster results, my patients are delighted at the ability to achieve thinner thighs in 30 days,” stated Dr. Vince Afsahi, a Newport Beach, California dermatologist leading the VelaShape introduction in the US.

“In the VelaShape clinical trial conducted by our center, patients achieved visible reductions in the circumference of the treated areas as well as improvement in skin tone, texture and tightness after only four 15- to 30-minute treatments,” stated principal investigator Dr. Tess Mauricio of Scripps Ranch Dermatology and Cosmetic Center in San Diego. According to Plastic Surgeon Dr. Steve Mulholland
of SpaMedica® Infinite Vitality Clinics, “In my practice VelaShape is the perfect complement to any of my body sculpting procedures. For example, I use it effectively in smoothing and tightening treatment areas for patients post liposuction.”

“The VelaShape device will further cement Syneron’s leadership positioning in the body contouring market,” said Doron Gerstel, CEO of Syneron. “The development of this device was based on our physicians’ demands for body shaping devices. We are proud to offer the fastest and most effective non-surgical solutions for achieving cellulite improvement and circumferential reduction.”

About Syneron
Syneron Medical Ltd. (NASDAQ: ELOS) manufactures and distributes medical aesthetic devices that are powered by the proprietary, patented elos combined-energy technology of Bi-Polar Radio Frequency and Light. The Company’s innovative elos technology provides the foundation for highly effective, safe and cost-effective systems that enable physicians to provide advanced solutions for a broad range of medical-aesthetic applications including hair removal, wrinkle reduction, rejuvenating the skin’s appearance through the treatment of superficial benign vascular and pigmented lesions, and the treatment of acne, leg veins and cellulite. Founded in 2000, the corporate, R&D, and manufacturing headquarters for Syneron Medical Ltd. is located in Israel. Syneron has offices and distributors throughout the world, including North American Headquarters in Canada, North American Logistics Support Center in Irvine, CA, European Headquarters in Germany, and Asia-Pacific Headquarters in Hong Kong, which provide sales, service and support.

Syneron, the Syneron logo, elos, Vela, VelaSmooth, and VelaShape are trademarks of Syneron Medical Ltd. and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. elos (Electro-Optical Synergy) is a proprietary technology of Syneron Medical. All other names are the property of their respective owners.

Syneron Medical Ltd.
www.syneron.com

Study: Dark-Colored Fruits and Veggies Fight Cancer

The darker the berry, the sweeter the juice, so goes the saying.

But it turns out the darker berry or plum or grape, for that matter, the stronger the cancer-fighting properties.

Researchers conducting a recent study found that the compounds that give some fruits and vegetables their rich colors are powerful cancer deterrants.

Evidence from laboratory experiments on rats and on human colon cancer cells also suggests that anthocyanins, the compounds that give color to most red, purple and blue fruits and vegetables, also slow the growth of colon cancer cells.

“These foods contain many compounds, and we’re just starting to figure out what they are and which ones provide the best health benefits,” said Monica Giusti, the lead author of the study and an assistant professor of food science at Ohio State University, in a news release.

The findings, which Giusti presented August 19 at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston, also bring scientists a step closer to figuring out what gives fruits and vegetables their cancer-fighting properties.

Giusti and her colleagues found that in some cases, slight alterations to the structure of anthocyanin molecules made these compounds more potent anti-cancer agents.

In their studies on human colon cancer cells grown in laboratory dishes, the researchers tested the anti-cancer effects of anthocyanin-rich extracts from a variety of fruits and vegetables. They retrieved these anthocyanins from grapes, radishes, purple corn, chokeberries, bilberries, purple carrots and elderberries.

The plants were chosen due to their extremely deep colors and high anthocyanin content.

The researchers found that the amount of anthocyanin extract needed to reduce cancer cell growth by 50 percent varied among the plants. Extract derived from purple corn was the most potent and used the least amount of extract (14 micrograms per milliliter of cell growth solution) to cut cell numbers in half.

Chokeberry and bilberry extracts were nearly as potent as purple corn. Radish extract was the least potent and it took nine times as much (131 milligrams per milliliter) of this compound to cut cell growth by 50 percent.

“All fruits and vegetables that are rich in anthocyanins have compounds that can slow down the growth of colon cancer cells, whether in experiments in laboratory dishes or inside the body,” Giusti said.

In additional laboratory studies, researchers found that anthocyanin pigments from radish and black carrots slowed the growth of cancer cells anywhere from 50 to 80 percent.

Pigments from purple corn and chokeberries not only completely stopped the growth of cancer cells, but also killed almost 20 percent of the cancer cells while having little effect on healthy cells.

Source: Fox News Online

What are Anthocyanins?

Anthocyanin-rich Fruit Product - XanGo - The Queen of Fruits

The Search for Healthier Drinks Turns Up Yerba Mate

CEDARHURST, NEW YORK - There’s a revolution taking place, and it’s changing the face of cold-beverage shelves across the nation. People are searching for a drink that’s more sophisticated than traditional sodas. Many are looking for something refreshing to drink that provides health benefits. In years past, finding a healthy and delicious bottled drink was no easy feat. Today, however, new options are appearing that are definitely something to get excited about.

“The beverage industry hasn’t done a great job, up to now, of providing the more health-conscious consumer with a great bottled drink,” explains Doni Freundlich, president of ABF Beverage, located in Cedarhurst, New York. “People are becoming more aware of their health, and we’ve created a drink that matches their lifestyle. Herbal Mist is unique in that it has a mainstream premium taste.”

ABF Beverage is the creator of Herbal Mist (http://drinkherbal.com), a popular new line of all-natural premium sweetened iced teas that are infused with healthful herbs. Herbal Mist, which features six flavors, is sweetened with natural cane sugar, as opposed to the unhealthy high-fructose corn syrup so many drinks rely upon today. High-fructose corn syrup, according to the Mayo Clinic, has been linked to such adverse health effects as diabetes and high cholesterol. Additionally, some experts believe that it has a lot to do with the current obesity epidemic.

Herbal Mist beverages are also infused with Yerba mate, a popular South American herb. According to the Yerba Mate Association of the Americas, it provides many health benefits, such as antioxidants, that aid in mental clarity, enhanced immune system functions, weight control and proper digestion.

“People want a great tasting healthy drink,” adds Freundlich. “From all the feedback we have been getting, it’s clear that we’ve succeeded in providing that.”

For information about ABF Beverage/Herbal Mist Tea visit the website at www.drinkherbal.com .

Medical-Esthetics Boot Camp™

Advanced Workshop with Live Demos
instructor: Michelle Palmer, PhD, ND, CMES

* October 14th- (Sunday) North Miami, FL

* November 3rd- Saturday - Phoenix AZ

* November 10th -Sat - Chicago, IL

$595.00 class fee includes: 230 pg home study manual Aesthetic Medical Specialist™/ MediEsthetics™ ($95.00 value), certificate of attendance in medical esthetics and CEU’s non-product promotion, accredited towards Specialist certification program. See website for full details (class size limited).

Medical Esthetics Int’l.
561.208.8566
www.Medical-Esthetics.com

BIOFORM LICENSES U.S. RIGHTS TO LEADING EUROPEAN VARICOSE VEIN TREATMENT

San Mateo, CA – BioForm Medical, Inc., a privately-held medical aesthetics company, today announced that it has entered into an exclusive licensing and distribution agreement in the United States with Chemische Fabrik KREUSSLER & Co. GmbH (Kreussler) for the development and commercialization of Aethoxysklerol®, the current leading sclerotherapy treatment in Europe for varicose veins. Aethoxysklerol is currently under clinical evaluation in a Phase III multi-center study for use in treating spider and reticular veins. This trial is designed to support U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval requirements and is being conducted pursuant to a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) with the FDA. Enrollment in this trial has been completed and BioForm and Kreussler intend to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA in 2008, if the study is successful.

“In my practice, there are a large number of potential patients with spider or reticular veins that have chosen not to seek treatment due to the significant discomfort of many current treatment options,” said Gary D. Monheit, M.D., a dermatologic surgeon at Total Skin & Beauty Dermatology Center, P.C., Birmingham, AL. “Based on the large body of clinical evidence abroad and in peer-reviewed publications, Aethoxyskerol may address these limitations, if approved by the FDA.”

“I believe this product, once approved, may offer patients and physicians a less painful treatment option for spider and reticular veins,” stated Neil S. Sadick, M.D., a dermatologist at Sadick Dermatology, in New York. “My colleagues abroad have shared their considerable positive experiences with Aethoxysklerol and we are looking forward to the potential introduction of this product to our patients in the United States.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Kreussler will be responsible for conducting the clinical trial and regulatory filings for approval of Aethoxyskerol by the FDA, and, assuming approval is received, will exclusively manufacture the product for BioForm following approval. BioForm will be the exclusive distributor of the product in the United States, responsible for all sales, marketing, and clinical training.

About Injection Sclerotherapy
Injection sclerotherapy is one of the primary methods for treating varicose veins, particularly for visible small to medium varicose veins, often known as spider and reticular veins, in the legs. In a sclerotherapy treatment, a therapeutic agent is injected into the vein to cause destruction of the vein, improving the overall aesthetic appearance. These veins are often red or blue, are close to the surface of the skin and they can look like tree branches or spider webs with their short jagged lines, and are typically found on the legs. Patients will typically undergo two to four minimally invasive in-office procedures without anesthesia lasting less than an hour.

According to the American College of Phlebology, up to 50% of women over the age of 18 may be affected by varicose veins. Current treatment options for varicose veins include various lasers, surgery, and sclerotherapy with hypertonic saline or other drugs. The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported that approximately 559,000 sclerotherapy procedures and about 158,000 laser vein removal procedures were performed in 2006. Some of the current laser treatments and sclerotherapy products in the U.S. may be associated with significant discomfort, which may discourage patients from seeking treatment. Currently, many women who are affected by this condition do not seek treatment, but many more might choose to seek treatment if a less painful alternative were available. The rate of treatment in Europe, where Aethoxysklerol is the leading sclerotherapy agent, is substantially higher than in the United States.

About Aethoxysklerol
Aethoxysklerol is an injectable sclerosing solution which was developed by Kreussler in the early 1960’s and has been used safely and effectively as the leading sclerotherapy injectable agent outside of the United States for over 40 years. It is approved broadly outside of the United States in various concentrations for visible small to medium varicose veins, such as spider and reticular veins, and for larger varicose veins. During the last two decades, Aethoxysklerol has been used in over 35-40 million patients, with several million patients undergoing treatment with this therapy each year. BioForm believes the key advantages of Aethoxysklerol are the fact that its active ingredient has anesthetic properties and its low incidence of adverse events, such as necrosis and hyperpigmentation.

About BioForm Medical, Inc.
BioForm Medical, Inc. is a privately-held medical aesthetics company headquartered in San Mateo, California. BioForm is dedicated to bringing doctors and their patients safe and effective products for use in the dermatology, plastic surgery and ENT markets. BioForm’s products include Radiesse®, a long-lasting filler for use in facial aesthetics and vocal fold insufficiency, and Coaptite® for treating female stress urinary incontinence which is marketed through a partnership with Boston Scientific Corporation. BioForm has licensed U.S. marketing rights to Aethoxysklerol®, the worldwide leading sclerotherapy agent, which is currently being evaluated in a Phase III clinical trial. BioForm has also licensed BioGlue, a new surgical adhesive product for plastic surgery applications, which is being developed in a partnership with CryoLife, Inc. BioForm’s website address is www.bioformmedical.com

About Kreussler
Kreussler is an independent family-owned pharmaceutical and chemical company founded in 1912 by Christian Kreussler and situated in Wiesbaden, Germany. With 180 employees from 11 nations, its “Kreussler Pharma Division” develops, manufactures and markets worldwide drugs, cosmetics and devices especially for mouth and throat diseases, pain and sports diseases and vein therapy. In the field of phlebology Kreussler Pharma has developed “Aethoxysklerol™”, a range of sclerosing agents marketed in more than 50 countries for ambulatory, non-surgical injection treatment of varicose veins of different diameters, haemorrhoids and oesophageal varices, without additional local anaesthetics. In this sector Kreussler Pharma is seen to be the world market leader. This reputation is supported by an important clinical research program. Furthermore, the “Kreussler Textile Chemistry Division” focuses on the development, production and international marketing of special products in the field of professional laundry and textile care.

BioForm Medical
www.BioFormMedical.com

VANIQA Gets to the Root of Facial Hair

What causes facial hair?

According to Dr. Valerie Callender, founder of the Callender Skin and Laser Center in suburban Washington, DC, board member of the Women’s Dermatologic Society, and the Skin of Color Society where she is a founding member and Treasurer as well as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Howard University, “Many of my patients experience unwanted facial hair (UFH) as part of the natural aging process. Every woman has a normal amount of male hormones (called “androgens”) in her body. As women age, the female hormones lessen and the normal androgens become unmasked, which may cause an increase in hair growth on the chin, upper cheeks or neck area.”

Though heredity, ethnicity or age causes most UFH, some facial hair growth can be linked to underlying medical condition that can cause an increase in androgen production. One cause of excess androgens is obesity—fat retains androgen, so the more overweight a person is, the more androgen is kept in the body, potentially causing some male-patterned hair growth (62% of women in the US are overweight and 33% of women are obese—CDC). Other medical causes for excessive hair growth can be polycystic ovary syndrome or hormonal fluctuations due to pregnancy or menopause.

How VANIQA® Works
VANIQA is the first and only product approved by the FDA to reduce the growth of unwanted facial hair. VANIQA penetrates the hair follicle and blocks an enzyme (ornithine decaboxylase—stimulated by the presence of testosterone) critical to the hair formation process resulting in a reduction of hair growth.

VANIQA is the ultimate companion to every hair removal method including waxing, laser, bleach and everything in between. Over time you may be removing hair less often, and many women see significant results within just 8 weeks.

Directions
Use VANIQA® after cleansing and before applying moisturizer, sunscreen or cosmetics. Apply a thin layer of VANIQA on the affected area twice a day, until it’s absorbed into skin.

Important Information
The most frequent side effects associated with VANIQA were mild and skin related.

Callender Skin & Laser Center

VAST 1 MILLION SQ. FT. MARKETPLACE FOR MEDICAL DEVICES PLANNED FOR HEART OF NEW YORK CITY

Space In Custom-Designed Tower Will Be Offered To Device Makers Worldwide

NEW YORK – An ambitious project aimed at making New York City the prime center of commerce and innovation for the $260 billion global market for medical devices and diagnostics received a major boost today, as the World Product Centre LLC announced an agreement under which it will begin to offer medical device makers worldwide licensing and lease agreements in a new, million-square-foot permanent exhibition and conference complex to be located in midtown New York City.

World Product Centre LLC today announced that it has signed a letter of intent with Gary Barnett’s Extell Development Company to occupy a specially designed building that Extell will construct to WPC’s specifications at 11th Avenue and West 34th Street. If all goes as planned, construction for the building will commence at the beginning of 2009 and be completed by 2012, WPC said.

The World Product Centre is designed from the ground up to reflect the real-world needs of today’s doctors, hospital administrators and purchasing agents in sourcing, selecting and integrating the latest advances in medical technology into their patient care facilities—bringing together under one roof the world’s leading manufacturers of sophisticated and innovative medical devices, diagnostics, equipment and supporting systems.

The letter of intent is a key component of the project because it allows WPC to begin signing lease/licensing agreements with medical device manufacturers around the world to establish their presence in the unique facility, where the healthcare community will for the first time be able to see, test and determine the interoperability of a complete range of medical equipment, across all specialties, in one place, at any time. All these activities, learning opportunities and business transactions will be facilitated by cutting edge computer technology designed by Hewlett Packard, making the entire experience user-friendly and seamless.

“This is a major step forward for the World Product Center as the players in the medical equipment industry now know exactly where our facility will be and can sign on to be a part of this exciting new concept,” said Israel Green, the entrepreneur behind the visionary project and chairman and president of WPC. “This is a tremendous opportunity for manufacturers to reach their prime target audience exactly when they are the most receptive and focused on sourcing and learning, all in a customized environment that is specifically designed for demonstration and education.”

WPC will rise on a prime site in west midtown as a major presence in an area that is experiencing a huge redevelopment boom from Eighth Avenue to the Hudson River. Across the street from the soon-to-be expanded Javits Convention Center and adjacent to a planned subway station, the site is located on the corner of 11th Avenue and 34th Street and is best known as the former home of the Copacabana nightclub.

“Extell is excited to join the WPC team to develop the building that will house this very important and visionary concept,” said Gary Barnett, chief executive officer of Extell. “It fits in very well with the innovative, exciting dynamic that is occurring in west midtown and will be a welcome addition to a neighborhood that is on its way to becoming one of the most active and robust commercial centers in the city. With this location and the planned amenities, the building can truly serve as a beacon for the healthcare industry and be a key element in fulfilling WPC’s mission.”

WPC will have a major economic impact. It will bring tens of thousands of doctors, hospital administrators and purchasers annually to New York City to learn about, interact with and buy the world’s most sophisticated medical equipment. Annually, the general public, broader healthcare community and the medical industry bring approximately 3 million visitors to New York City, which will enhance and support visitors to the World Product Centre. In addition to medical device makers and ancillary support providers who will mount as many as 2000 permanent displays and demonstrations of their equipment, the visitors will be attracted by numerous educational and scientific meetings, as well as ongoing initiatives aimed at improving connectivity within the health care system and better disseminating medical technology around the world.

Today’s announcement is the latest in a series of milestones that have moved the project forward over the past few years as Mr. Green has tirelessly promoted the concept and enlisted the support of a number of key participants. Medical associations and foundations representing some of the most device-driven specialties have expressed support for WPC and its mission.

“We have had extensive conversations with many doctors and hospitals and they love the idea of improving the process by which they equip their facilities,” said Mr. Green. “Their support will drive this new business model and make it successful.”

World Product Centre
1850 50th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11204

CONTACT: Rubenstein Associates, Inc.
Public Relations
Contact: Steve Solomon (212) 843-8042
Cristina Allen (212) 843-8050

Aesthetic Trends & Technologies’ 2006 Laser & Light Technology Choice Awards™

2006 Award Recipients Now Available!

Aesthetic Trends & Technologies is pleased to announce the Laser & Light Technology Choice Awards Recipients for 2006.

The ATnT Laser & Light Technology Choice Awards were developed to recognize cosmetic devices that are outstanding in their treatment categories. The awards concept, categories, and accompanying comments were developed and written by David M. Cauger, President of Boston Aesthetics, LLC and Contributing Editor in cooperation with Aesthetic Trends & Technologies.

Awards System
Our new format provides a system where each product that received a minimum amount of votes is placed in nomination. In addition, the Awards Committee may vote to include nominees in any category based upon superior specifications. In this manner, smaller companies that have produced outstanding technology may also be recognized.

For each category a maximum of 5 products are allowed. The nominees are then voted upon by Awards Committee. Products not cleared by the FDA in 2006 are not qualified with the exception of the category: Most Promising New Aesthetic Technology.

Some categories have been changed or have been added due to technological changes in the industry. The objective of these awards is to both recognize excellence as well as to provide an avenue of understanding of what devices are available and suggested by your peers.

Awards Criteria

1 Efficacy
Includes substantial, scientific clinical evidence, and technical specifications.

2 Training
Includes clinical, technical, and marketing.

3 Cost
Incorporates average selling price, value of average warranty provided, weighted average of disposables, and average repair costs not under warranty.

4 Support
Includes clinical, technical, and marketing.

5 Reliability
Includes annual average service incidences, average required troubleshooting, and average downtime of unit.

6 Patient Comfort
Pain Score Range: 1 = Painless 10 = Severe

7 Ease of Use
Includes user interface, ergonomics, portablitiy, and weighted average treatment(s) speed.

8 Warranty
Includes coverage, length of time, and value.

View Award Recipients NOW!

Detailed Commentary
Details and comments will be published in the upcoming September ~ October issue of Aesthetic Trends.

Ask about the 2007 Choice Awards scheduled for April 2008 during the ASLMS annual meeting in Kissimmee, Florida at the Gaylord Palms Resort.

We strive to bring information to the Aesthetic Medical community and to promote Business Excellence among the manufacturers in our industry.

Cindy Vandruff
CEO / Editor in Chief

David M. Cauger
Choice Awards Director

Aesthetic Trends & Technologies
the leading physician journal for aesthetics and wellness

Note: Aesthetic Trends & Technologies, Boston Aesthetics, LLC, and David Cauger are not responsible for the outcome of any individual or entity, whether positive or negative, if they choose to purchase one of the lasers receiving these awards.

Amigos de Salud Headed by Nick and Terri Morrison to Provide Medical/Surgical Care to Underprivileged in Ecuador

Humanitarian effort will aid 2,500 children and adults who do not have access to needed care

SCOTTSDALE & TEMPE, Ariz. – Under the direction of Amigos de Salud Co-founders Nick Morrison, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.C.Ph., and his wife Terri Morrison, R.N., a team of more than 40 volunteer physicians, nurses, other clinicians and support staff will travel to Guayaquil, Ecuador August 10 to16, 2007. During this weeklong trip, the team will screen, evaluate and treat approximately 2,500 children and adults. The non-profit Amigos de Salud is dedicated to providing medical and surgical care and supplies to those with limited resources in South America.

“This is grass-roots medical care,” explains Dr. Morrison, a world-renowned expert in the effective treatment of vein disorders, and co-founder of the Morrison Vein Institute in Scottsdale and Tempe, Arizona, and the Morrison Training Institute. “It is a remarkable experience for all concerned and embodies a unique one-on-one impact that is difficult to describe,” continues Dr. Morrison. “As medical professionals, we can give back in time and talent to individuals who desperately need our care.”

This is the Morrison’s 16th trip to Ecuador and they have made similar trips to Peru, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. This humanitarian effort comprises a multi-specialty medical team of physicians specializing in general surgery, pediatrics, orthopedics, vein disease, gynecology, family practice, anesthesiology and colorectal surgery as well as an audiologist and nurses with experience in numerous fields. Because this is a general medical trip, the team will treat a broad range of ailments including hernias, hysterectomies, varicose veins, parasites and worms, diabetes, heart disease, fractures that haven’t healed properly, and uterine/ovarian fibroids.

CompuDiagnostics, an ultrasound imaging company that provides the most advanced equipment in the industry, is also donating time and equipment for this year’s mission, and is expected to conduct a wide range of ultrasound diagnoses and ultrasound-guided treatments.

The audiologist will screen about 250 children for hearing disorders. To fulfill the anticipated need, the team has already purchased 50 hearing aids for this trip, but the group is still seeking hearing aid donations, particularly behind-the-ear models – any donation is welcome.

Terri Morrison, an experienced nurse who helped found the Morrison Vein Institute, adds, “It is an amazing experience to witness a child hearing sounds for the first time. A hearing aid donation can bring a new quality of life to an underprivileged child. What a remarkable gift that is!”

Anyone interested in making a tax-deductible donation of cash, supplies and/or equipment for this or future trips can contact Amigos de Salud, c/o Nick & Terri Morrison, 6698 Rockford Drive, Tempe, Ariz. 85283. Amigos de Salud is a non-profit organization founded by the Morrisons more than 16 years ago. Because all the team members are volunteers who pay their own way, there are no administrative costs for these humanitarian missions − 100 percent of all donations go directly to providing care. Amigos de Salud’s tax identification number is 205423802.

Each year, the humanitarian medical effort attracts thousands of patients. The Ecuadorian Ministries of Health, Defense, and Social Welfare declare the visit as jornadas de salud, “Days of Health.” Children and adults in need will converge in Guayaquil, a large coastal city in Ecuador, for assessment and treatment offered by the medical team at a local military hospital.

“People sometimes travel for days to get treatment, often refusing to eat when they arrive because they’ve heard you have to fast before surgery, and they don’t want to risk their chances of being eligible,” comments Children’s Dental Village Owner Joyce Anne Ware Longfellow, a non-clinician volunteer who is handling most of the arrangements for this year’s trip. A former Arizona State University professor of women’s studies, Longfellow is making her fourth trip with Amigos de Salud. “I know that we answer a critical medical need in Ecuador, and I always return a better, more enriched person. But we all learn a great deal from the people there, too and we always receive an incredibly warm welcome.”

According to Terri Morrison, all volunteers not only donate their time and skill, they also pay for their own airfare, trip expenses and some equipment. The team will ship 120 trunks of medications, medical equipment and supplies, which the Ecuadorian army transports and guards. Care is provided at an army hospital. Sutures, operating room equipment, an anesthesia machine, gloves, gowns, drapes, antibiotics, dressings, IVs, etc. are all purchased, donated and corporate-sponsored under the auspices of Amigos de Salud. At the end of the trip, any unused supplies are donated to local medical facilities.

“This is the type of care that gets to the heart of why most nurses and physicians initially chose their professions,” states Mrs. Morrison emphatically. “In Ecuador, we just take care of patients…no paperwork, just one-one-one care.”

Because of the multi-specialty nature of this trip, Dr. Morrison will diagnose and treat vein disease, as well as perform general surgery. However, the next humanitarian medical mission sponsored by Amigos de Salud, scheduled for January 2008, will focus solely on vein disease and care. In-country arrangements for these humanitarian trips are made through Zorayda Figueroa, director, Fundacion El Cielo para los Ninos (Heaven for the Children of Ecuador Foundation).

For more information about Amigos de Salud, contact Holly Rinaldi at the Morrison Vein Institute, 480.860.6455, hrinaldi@morrisonveininstitute.com.

About Morrison Vein Institute
The Morrison Vein Institute, with offices in Scottsdale and Tempe, Ariz., treats vein disorders ranging from tiny spider veins to large varicosities with ulcerations. Patients are safely cared for in one of the Institute’s offices, eliminating the hassle and higher price of treatment at hospitals or surgical centers. Under the unmatched expertise and experience of founder Nick Morrison, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.C.Ph., Charles Rogers, M.D., and James McEown, M.D., and an R.N. team specializing in phlebology, the Institute offers the most up-to-date treatments, including VNUS Closure and Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT), two FDA-approved procedures that efficiently close varicose veins and ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy. The Morrison Training Institute attracts physicians, nurses and ultrasound technicians from throughout the United States to learn Dr. Morrison’s techniques. Dr. Morrison is currently president-elect of the American College of Phlebology.

Morrison Vein Institute
480.860.6455

www.MorrisionVeinInstitute.com