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January 14, 2007 News for 2007
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Upcoming Conferences:
Latest Advances in Cosmetic Procedures Workshop
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Marriott Newport Beach Hotel & Spa
Newport Beach, California
Learn how to make an informed decision on
which laser is best for your practice.
Attendees will be introduced to the Lumenis products in order to learn and evaluate current technology, including discussions of IPL Skin Treatments using Photorejuvenation and LightSheer Laser Hair Removal.
Meet Cheryl Whitman, CEO of Beautiful Forever Medical Spa Business Consulting at 12:00, noon as she speaks about Medical Spas and the Integration of Lasersto increase revenue and retention of patients.
*Please note: Cheryl Whitman is not a paid representative of Lumenis
Spa & Resort Expo & Conference (Reed Exhibitions)
March 4th & 5th 2007
Los Angeles Convention Center (West Hall)- Los Angeles, CA
At the Spa & Resort Expo and Medical Spa Expo you will find the complete world of products and services in the booming Spa and Medical Spa fields. It is the place where you can stay up to date on all the latest changes, newest products, improved techniques and services to offer your clients the best the industry has to offer.
This event is designed for all medical and spa professionals including dermatologists, plastic surgeons, chiropractors, dentists, massage therapists, nurses, acupuncturists, naturopaths, estheticians, and medical spa and spa owners and/or managers.
Don't miss Medical Spa expert, Cheryl Whitman, CEO of Beautiful Forever Medical Spa Business Consulting, on Sunday March 4th 9:45-10:45am, as she speaks on Instant Ways to Impact
Your Bottom Line. This seminar will teach the critical success factors for earning a greater return on your investment, along with demographics, market projections and an overview of the medical spa of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
If you would like to schedule an appointment to speak with Cheryl Whitman, while she is on the West Coast, please contact our corporate office at 201-541-5405 or info@medicalspaconsultant.com
Art Plus Science Equals Five Hot 2007 Medical Spa Trends
The science and art of looking good is spurring some important trends for 2007's beauty prescription. The innovations that will shape the Medical Spa Industry in the coming months may change your notion of success and better position you to take advantage of the abundant opportunities that wait.
Trend #1
Regulatory Intervention
Don't be caught off guard and don't stay focused on what you cannot change. Instead, for 2007 learn about the coming regulatory challenges that could create barriers to your continued success if you don't adequately prepare for them. Regulations vary from state to state. For example, a doctor generally has to oversee the procedures performed in a medical spa, but this does not mean that he or she is always on the premises. Where to start your preparation? Look at what is happening in the state of Florida where regulatory barriers have spearheaded the nation's concern and created laws to assuage legal and health-related problems. For national regulatory updates, a good website to check out is the International Medical Spa Association. Here you will find legislation updates at www.medicalspaassociation.org/index.asp?submenu=legislation
Trend #2
Medical Grade Cosmeceuticals
The quest for feeling and looking healthy has energized consumer interest in the hybrid approach to skin care. The perfect match of time-honored skin care regimes is now welcoming the myriad pharmaceutical "offspring" entrants to create a fabulous array of outcomes based products. Whether you call it "hope in a bottle," or "treatment in a bottle," more and more medical spa owners, physicians, and beauty business entrepreneurs, are creating their own private-label products. Many will seek professional guidance from medical spa development companies like New York-based Beautiful Forever. The recognized national leader in the medical spa development business, Beautiful Forever offers a host of tailored services to its clients, including concept to market assistance with private-label skin care products.
Medical spa owners and physicians that want to develop their own private-label products will continue to look to pharmaceutical companies and other biopharmaceutical companies to purchase highly touted ingredients like DNA repair, growth factors. They will also purchase cutting-edge product delivery systems - the new versions of liposome technology -to help the products' ingredients penetrate the skin's surface to deliver the "goods" to where the skin needs it most.
We will also see many of these products embrace the newly approved SPF ingredients by the middle of 2007. And, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continue to enforce its extended monograph for over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreen drugs indefinitely. In the coming year, watch for the FDA to "crackdown" on unfounded claims made by product manufacturers, for example, "waterproof" or "SPF 60." Designed to create more than just the appearance and feel of better skin, the new breed shining stars of medical grade cosmeceuticals come with a promise of treatment enhancing qualities to bring about short and long-term skin benefits. Look for companies that have been a mainstay in the industry as well as up and coming innovators destined to make an indelible mark on the changing, modern world of skin care products.
Trend #3
Science of Technology
This year, look at the existing equipment you have come to love and rely on to reap the rewards of experience and continued innovation. Superior technology will continue to improve in scope and ability to provide additional procedures and services. One area of tremendous opportunity is the growth of laser and light-based devices, which will continue to play a major role in aesthetic enhancement services. Manufacturers will offer a wide range of products, along with extensive product support, including training and education to jumpstart the equipment's use.
One company that has made great strides in 2006 and continues to look towards growth in 2007 is Lumenis, the manufacturer of one of the latest entrant in the laser and light-based devices--The ActiveFX, used to treat fine lines, wrinkles, skin laxity, discoloration (e.g., freckles, "age spots," etc.), and other effects of aging and sun damage. Says Avner Raz, President and CEO of Lumenis, "Recent trends indicate younger and more active patients are increasingly seeking skin rejuvenation procedures to treat photoaging that is noticeable, though not yet severe. At the same time, they are averse to procedures that require multiple visits or a lengthy recovery. For these patients, efficacy and convenience are both important - they want clearly visible results quickly, but they don't want a lot of 'downtime' after the treatment."
New technological advancements will provide enhanced precision and ease to make some procedures better and perhaps more profitable, aiding a more positive return on investment. Be prepared to enhance your clients' overall well being through the most-advanced technology for non-surgical treatment therapies
Trend #4
"Spadominiums"
We watched our day-spas morph into medical spas. We watched the rise of freestanding medical spas and medical spa services added to hospitals, and hotels. Now we are primed for the launch of a new one-stop service offering, coined "The Spadominium." These fashionable buildings will feature residents-only spa services, complete with their own on site plastic surgeons, right next to the concierge, reports Vogue Magazine, January 2007. Medical spa services right where you live is the latest innovation to keep us living well and looking great.
Trend #5
The "One-stop" Niche Spa
Can you imagine a medical spa that offers everything under one roof? Look for the rise of medical spa, meets wellness, meets age management services -all under one roof! The notion of specialty medical spas or spas that focus on a niche or specialty services will blend to create a one-stop Mecca of service options.
Shoib Myint, MD, an ophthalmic and facial plastic surgeon based in Michigan, is planning to add a medical spa, CaraSpa, to their group practice. Says Dr. Myint, "We are beginning to recognize the synergies and additional income opportunities that the two entities and services --medical spa and cosmetic surgery-- represent, and would like to capitalize upon such opportunities." He adds, "The availability of a broader spectrum of surgical and non-invasive procedures will also increase the frequency of patient/client visits to the spa for more and more procedures, creating loyalty and a strong, sustainable practice base."
The very successful professional will start incorporating niche services into their practice and expand their offerings to make their practice a one-stop niche medical spa. Some of these will include weight management, nutrition, and fitness. They may also provide lifestyle-changing services, for example, services that include personal whole being assessment, lifestyle coaching, and obesity-specific services. Wellness medical spa service can include a number of options including massages, facials, scrubs, wraps, oils, herbs, and other therapies designed to reduce toxins, relieve stress, improve blood circulation, accelerate lymphatic drainage, provide nourishment to hair and the scalp, and help balance and ease the mind and body. Finally, look for the fusion of East meets West approaches to better mind, body, and spirit and plan now to incorporate the science of wellness, with the art of fitness, meditation, and other non-invasive techniques.
So, what are you waiting for? The trend for 2007 is clear. People want to feel better about themselves. They will increasingly seek a better outlook on life through the science and art of beauty enhancement services, procedures, and products. The mirror will become the gold-standard springboard for medical spa services' adoption - the quest for "Sleeping Beauty's" timeless beauty will continue to forge the desire for the very best, cutting-edge innovative aesthetic procedures, services, and products. Proactively embrace the 2007 trends to create the winning success for your business to gain both short and long-term success.
by Cheryl Whitman
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 FDA APPROVES WRINKLE FILLER; A RIVAL FROWNSThe Food and Drug Administration has approved an injectable wrinkle treatment called Radiesse that its maker boasts lasts longer than rival treatments in temporarily correcting smile lines. The agency's action has sparked competing claims over whether Radiesse (pronounced Ray-dee-ESS) will prove cheaper and better over time than established wrinkle fillers like Restylane.
BioForm Medical Inc., which is set to announce FDA clearance today, is predicting that Radiesse will ignite the wrinkle-filler market with mainstream Americans who can't afford Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp.'s Restylane, the dominant player. BioForm says that Radiesse lasts a year or more, twice as long as Restylane and Juvéderm, a third rival that will be arriving in cosmetic physicians' offices in January.
"Right now, [dermal] fillers are too expensive. Many people are thinking about these treatments, but aren't doing them. We will displace a lot of this market, but will grow it too," proclaims Steven Basta, BioForm chief executive officer. Radiesse will cost a patient roughly $850 a year versus $2,400 for comparable enhancement with Restylane, he estimates. His estimate, based on average retail prices and including the physician's fees, assumes it takes two $600 syringes of Restylane, twice a year, to achieve what one syringe of Radiesse can do for 12 months.
edicis disputes that analysis, largely because it says Restylane lasts "probably well over a year with the second and third injection." The duration of a product's wrinkle-smoothing effect largely determines annual treatment costs. Costs also vary based on each patient's own face and physicians' professional fees.
Fillers have become increasingly popular as an alternative to a face-lift, and consumer demand for them would explode if the prices dropped, analysts say. Cost has also discouraged the spread of "facial contouring," which requires several syringes of material.
While fillers are typically used sparingly to plump up wrinkly folds and creases in the lower face, larger quantities can restore volume to sunken cheeks. Many filler patients also use the muscle-relaxer Botox, typically around the eyes and forehead. Botox and Juvéderm are sold by Allergan Inc., Irvine, Calif. BioForm is a closely held company in San Mateo, Calif.
Radiesse has been sold in the U.S. since 2002 and was previously approved for certain facial reconstructive surgery procedures. Many aesthetic physicians have legally used it "off label" as a dermal filler, but the safety bar is higher for an elective procedure than for a medically necessary one.
Physicians can prescribe products for any use after the FDA has granted approval for one use. Mr. Basta says Radiesse shouldn't be used in the lips. It causes "lip nodules," but these are different from foreign body reactions, called granulomas, that need medical intervention, he says.
BioForm maintains that Radiesse is as safe as other approved fillers, including collagen, for other parts of the face. In the FDA study of 117 patients who received Radiesse on one side of the face and a collagen, Cosmoplast, on the other, there was no difference in adverse events, says Lawrence Bass, a New York plastic surgeon and the study's lead investigator. As is common with all fillers, he says, some patients had swelling, redness, bruising and tenderness at the injection site for a few days.
The FDA data didn't compare Radiesse to Restylane, which is hyaluronic acid. But BioForm says that a study by a German dermatologist, Marion Moers-Carpi, shows that Radiesse lasted significantly longer than Restylane and that it offered "better correction throughout the course of treatment." Experience shows that Radiesse lasts "on average 12 to 18 months," about twice as long as Restylane, Dr. Bass said. Medicis is quick to point out that the longer-lasting treatment could have some negative effects.
Physicians who have used Radiesse say it lasts longer than Restylane but is trickier to inject. "I've been using it more and more, but it takes more time to inject than Restylane or Juvéderm, so I charge more," says New York dermatologist Rhoda S. Narins. Kenneth Beer, a dermatologist in West Palm Beach, Fla., says he has used Radiesse for four or five years. "For the right person it's great -- for men more than women," he says.
The questions about Radiesse safety appear likely to continue, despite the FDA's nod. Arnold Klein, a prominent Beverly Hills dermatologist, says Radiesse is harmful and he won't use it. Dr. Klein says he has a laboratory report from the University of California at Los Angeles showing that one Radiesse patient developed a granuloma.
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 SOME OB-GYNS SWITCHING TO COSMETIC MEDICINE CLINICS
Some ob-gyns, as well as other physicians, recently have left their specialties to practice cosmetic medicine, including acne treatments and Botox injections, at medical spas, the New York Times reports.
According to the Times, the cosmetic medicine field is attractive to some ob-gyns and other physicians because it normally results in same-day payments because treatments are not covered by insurance, and it allows doctors to set their own hours and avoid emergency calls.
Robert Huckels -- vice president of marketing for MedSurge Advances, a Dallas-based company that provides cosmetic medicine training and equipment -- said, "It works well for emergency room doctors seeking less stress and for gynecologists who already have a ready-made female audience."
A survey published in the July issue of Modern Healthcare magazine says that obstetricians earn $219,000 to $302,000 annually. Huckels said physicians recently have increased their concern about income, especially as malpractice costs have risen, adding that the average medical spa brings in $40,000 per month, the Times reports.
Cosmetic medicine "is another part of women's health that we can contribute to without managed care telling us that they are going to pay us $90 per visit, regardless of what gets done during the visit," Oyenike Kilanko -- an ob-gyn who in January opened a Dermacare Laser and Skin Care Clinic franchise in New York City with another ob-gyn -- said.
Some doctors have criticized the practice, saying cosmetic treatments cannot be safely preformed by physicians without special training in dermatology or plastic surgery, according to the Times.
Some doctors from other fields entering cosmetic medicine say the cosmetic procedures are less complicated than caesarean sections or other procedures.
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Do you think that HDTV will draw more actors to obtain cosmetic enhancements? Has your practice already experienced this trend? Let us know, and we'll use your responses in an upcoming article in a leading industry publication.
In Raw World of Sex Movies, High Definition Could Be a View Too Real
The XXX industry has gotten too graphic, even for its own tastes.
Pornography has long helped drive the adoption of new technology, from the printing press to the videocassette. Now pornographic movie studios are staying ahead of the curve by releasing high-definition DVDs.
They have discovered that the technology is sometimes not so sexy. The high-definition format is accentuating imperfections in the actors -- from a little extra cellulite on a leg to wrinkles around the eyes.
Hollywood is dealing with similar problems, but they are more pronounced for pornographers, who rely on close-ups and who, because of their quick adoption of the new format, are facing the issue more immediately than mainstream entertainment companies.
Producers are taking steps to hide the imperfections. Some shots are lit differently, while some actors simply are not shot at certain angles, or are getting cosmetic surgery, or seeking expert grooming.
The technology's advocates counter that high definition, by making things clearer and crisper, lets viewers feel as close to the action as possible.
The studios said their experience using the technology gives them an advantage in understanding how to cope with the mixed blessing of hypercrisp images. Their techniques include using postproduction tools that let them digitally soften the actors' skin tone.
"It takes away the blemishes and the pits and harshness and makes it look like they have baby skin," said the director known as Joone, who made "Pirates," one of the industry's top-selling videos. It will be available this month in high-definition.
Joone does not use a last name, but he does use a number of techniques to keep his films blemish-free. They include giving out lifestyle tips.
"I tell the girls to work out more, cut down on the carbs, hit the treadmill," he said.
Within the industry, the issue seems to have created a difference in perspective that cuts roughly along gender lines. Some male actors have begun using makeup to mitigate wrinkles or facial flaws, but generally they, and the male directors, are less worried about high-definition's glare and more enamored of the technology.
"Men are all about outdoing each other, being up with the times, being cool, having the latest technology," she said. "They're willing to sacrifice our vanity and imperfections to beat each other" to high-definition, she said.
Other female actors say they generally like working with high-definition -- except for the cosmetic-surgery part.
Jesse Jane, one of the industry's biggest stars, plans to go under the knife next month to deal with one side effect of high-definition. The images are so clear that Ms. Jane's breast implants, from an operation six years ago, can be seen bulging oddly on screen.
"I'm having my breasts redone because of HD," she said.
The stretch marks on Ms. Jane from seven years ago when she gave birth to her son are also more apparent. But she deals with those blemishes in a simpler way: by liberal use of tanning spray.
Still, Ms. Jane likes the technology, as does her close friend Kirsten Price, 25, who appeared in "Manhunters" and "Just Like That."
"HD is great because people want to see how people really look," Ms. Price said. "People just want to see what's real."
Ms. Price is allowing them to do so, mostly. She had laser treatments to diminish tiny purple veins on her thighs that weren't visible to viewers before.
"You can see things you cannot see with the naked eye. You see skin blemishes; you see cottage cheese," said Robbie D. "But some cellulite is not necessarily a bad thing. It's kind of sexy."
The technology makes the experience more intimate, he said. "People look to adult movies for personal contact, and yet they're still not getting it. HD lets them see a little bit more of the girl."
That's not necessarily good, said Savanna Samson, an actress who last December directed her first movie, "Any Way You Want Me." During a scene in which she played a desperate housewife, she ran into a problem: the high-definition camera revealed she had a tiny ill-placed pimple.
"We kept stopping and trying to hide it. We put on makeup and powder, but there was no way," Ms. Samson said. Finally, they tried another approach: "We just changed positions," she said.
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January 14, 2007 News for 2007
|
Upcoming Conferences:
Latest Advances in Cosmetic Procedures Workshop
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Marriott Newport Beach Hotel & Spa
Newport Beach, California
Learn how to make an informed decision on
which laser is best for your practice.
Attendees will be introduced to the Lumenis products in order to learn and evaluate current technology, including discussions of IPL Skin Treatments using Photorejuvenation and LightSheer Laser Hair Removal.
Meet Cheryl Whitman, CEO of Beautiful Forever Medical Spa Business Consulting at 12:00, noon as she speaks about Medical Spas and the Integration of Lasersto increase revenue and retention of patients.
*Please note: Cheryl Whitman is not a paid representative of Lumenis
Spa & Resort Expo & Conference (Reed Exhibitions)
March 4th & 5th 2007
Los Angeles Convention Center (West Hall)- Los Angeles, CA
At the Spa & Resort Expo and Medical Spa Expo you will find the complete world of products and services in the booming Spa and Medical Spa fields. It is the place where you can stay up to date on all the latest changes, newest products, improved techniques and services to offer your clients the best the industry has to offer.
This event is designed for all medical and spa professionals including dermatologists, plastic surgeons, chiropractors, dentists, massage therapists, nurses, acupuncturists, naturopaths, estheticians, and medical spa and spa owners and/or managers.
Don't miss Medical Spa expert, Cheryl Whitman, CEO of Beautiful Forever Medical Spa Business Consulting, on Sunday March 4th 9:45-10:45am, as she speaks on Instant Ways to Impact
Your Bottom Line. This seminar will teach the critical success factors for earning a greater return on your investment, along with demographics, market projections and an overview of the medical spa of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
If you would like to schedule an appointment to speak with Cheryl Whitman, while she is on the West Coast, please contact our corporate office at 201-541-5405 or info@medicalspaconsultant.com
Art Plus Science Equals Five Hot 2007 Medical Spa Trends
The science and art of looking good is spurring some important trends for 2007's beauty prescription. The innovations that will shape the Medical Spa Industry in the coming months may change your notion of success and better position you to take advantage of the abundant opportunities that wait.
Trend #1
Regulatory Intervention
Don't be caught off guard and don't stay focused on what you cannot change. Instead, for 2007 learn about the coming regulatory challenges that could create barriers to your continued success if you don't adequately prepare for them. Regulations vary from state to state. For example, a doctor generally has to oversee the procedures performed in a medical spa, but this does not mean that he or she is always on the premises. Where to start your preparation? Look at what is happening in the state of Florida where regulatory barriers have spearheaded the nation's concern and created laws to assuage legal and health-related problems. For national regulatory updates, a good website to check out is the International Medical Spa Association. Here you will find legislation updates at www.medicalspaassociation.org/index.asp?submenu=legislation
Trend #2
Medical Grade Cosmeceuticals
The quest for feeling and looking healthy has energized consumer interest in the hybrid approach to skin care. The perfect match of time-honored skin care regimes is now welcoming the myriad pharmaceutical "offspring" entrants to create a fabulous array of outcomes based products. Whether you call it "hope in a bottle," or "treatment in a bottle," more and more medical spa owners, physicians, and beauty business entrepreneurs, are creating their own private-label products. Many will seek professional guidance from medical spa development companies like New York-based Beautiful Forever. The recognized national leader in the medical spa development business, Beautiful Forever offers a host of tailored services to its clients, including concept to market assistance with private-label skin care products.
Medical spa owners and physicians that want to develop their own private-label products will continue to look to pharmaceutical companies and other biopharmaceutical companies to purchase highly touted ingredients like DNA repair, growth factors. They will also purchase cutting-edge product delivery systems - the new versions of liposome technology -to help the products' ingredients penetrate the skin's surface to deliver the "goods" to where the skin needs it most.
We will also see many of these products embrace the newly approved SPF ingredients by the middle of 2007. And, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continue to enforce its extended monograph for over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreen drugs indefinitely. In the coming year, watch for the FDA to "crackdown" on unfounded claims made by product manufacturers, for example, "waterproof" or "SPF 60." Designed to create more than just the appearance and feel of better skin, the new breed shining stars of medical grade cosmeceuticals come with a promise of treatment enhancing qualities to bring about short and long-term skin benefits. Look for companies that have been a mainstay in the industry as well as up and coming innovators destined to make an indelible mark on the changing, modern world of skin care products.
Trend #3
Science of Technology
This year, look at the existing equipment you have come to love and rely on to reap the rewards of experience and continued innovation. Superior technology will continue to improve in scope and ability to provide additional procedures and services. One area of tremendous opportunity is the growth of laser and light-based devices, which will continue to play a major role in aesthetic enhancement services. Manufacturers will offer a wide range of products, along with extensive product support, including training and education to jumpstart the equipment's use.
One company that has made great strides in 2006 and continues to look towards growth in 2007 is Lumenis, the manufacturer of one of the latest entrant in the laser and light-based devices--The ActiveFX, used to treat fine lines, wrinkles, skin laxity, discoloration (e.g., freckles, "age spots," etc.), and other effects of aging and sun damage. Says Avner Raz, President and CEO of Lumenis, "Recent trends indicate younger and more active patients are increasingly seeking skin rejuvenation procedures to treat photoaging that is noticeable, though not yet severe. At the same time, they are averse to procedures that require multiple visits or a lengthy recovery. For these patients, efficacy and convenience are both important - they want clearly visible results quickly, but they don't want a lot of 'downtime' after the treatment."
New technological advancements will provide enhanced precision and ease to make some procedures better and perhaps more profitable, aiding a more positive return on investment. Be prepared to enhance your clients' overall well being through the most-advanced technology for non-surgical treatment therapies
Trend #4
"Spadominiums"
We watched our day-spas morph into medical spas. We watched the rise of freestanding medical spas and medical spa services added to hospitals, and hotels. Now we are primed for the launch of a new one-stop service offering, coined "The Spadominium." These fashionable buildings will feature residents-only spa services, complete with their own on site plastic surgeons, right next to the concierge, reports Vogue Magazine, January 2007. Medical spa services right where you live is the latest innovation to keep us living well and looking great.
Trend #5
The "One-stop" Niche Spa
Can you imagine a medical spa that offers everything under one roof? Look for the rise of medical spa, meets wellness, meets age management services -all under one roof! The notion of specialty medical spas or spas that focus on a niche or specialty services will blend to create a one-stop Mecca of service options.
Shoib Myint, MD, an ophthalmic and facial plastic surgeon based in Michigan, is planning to add a medical spa, CaraSpa, to their group practice. Says Dr. Myint, "We are beginning to recognize the synergies and additional income opportunities that the two entities and services --medical spa and cosmetic surgery-- represent, and would like to capitalize upon such opportunities." He adds, "The availability of a broader spectrum of surgical and non-invasive procedures will also increase the frequency of patient/client visits to the spa for more and more procedures, creating loyalty and a strong, sustainable practice base."
The very successful professional will start incorporating niche services into their practice and expand their offerings to make their practice a one-stop niche medical spa. Some of these will include weight management, nutrition, and fitness. They may also provide lifestyle-changing services, for example, services that include personal whole being assessment, lifestyle coaching, and obesity-specific services. Wellness medical spa service can include a number of options including massages, facials, scrubs, wraps, oils, herbs, and other therapies designed to reduce toxins, relieve stress, improve blood circulation, accelerate lymphatic drainage, provide nourishment to hair and the scalp, and help balance and ease the mind and body. Finally, look for the fusion of East meets West approaches to better mind, body, and spirit and plan now to incorporate the science of wellness, with the art of fitness, meditation, and other non-invasive techniques.
So, what are you waiting for? The trend for 2007 is clear. People want to feel better about themselves. They will increasingly seek a better outlook on life through the science and art of beauty enhancement services, procedures, and products. The mirror will become the gold-standard springboard for medical spa services' adoption - the quest for "Sleeping Beauty's" timeless beauty will continue to forge the desire for the very best, cutting-edge innovative aesthetic procedures, services, and products. Proactively embrace the 2007 trends to create the winning success for your business to gain both short and long-term success.
by Cheryl Whitman
|
FDA APPROVES WRINKLE FILLER; A RIVAL FROWNS
The Food and Drug Administration has approved an injectable wrinkle treatment called Radiesse that its maker boasts lasts longer than rival treatments in temporarily correcting smile lines. The agency's action has sparked competing claims over whether Radiesse (pronounced Ray-dee-ESS) will prove cheaper and better over time than established wrinkle fillers like Restylane.
BioForm Medical Inc., which is set to announce FDA clearance today, is predicting that Radiesse will ignite the wrinkle-filler market with mainstream Americans who can't afford Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp.'s Restylane, the dominant player. BioForm says that Radiesse lasts a year or more, twice as long as Restylane and Juvéderm, a third rival that will be arriving in cosmetic physicians' offices in January.
"Right now, [dermal] fillers are too expensive. Many people are thinking about these treatments, but aren't doing them. We will displace a lot of this market, but will grow it too," proclaims Steven Basta, BioForm chief executive officer. Radiesse will cost a patient roughly $850 a year versus $2,400 for comparable enhancement with Restylane, he estimates. His estimate, based on average retail prices and including the physician's fees, assumes it takes two $600 syringes of Restylane, twice a year, to achieve what one syringe of Radiesse can do for 12 months.
edicis disputes that analysis, largely because it says Restylane lasts "probably well over a year with the second and third injection." The duration of a product's wrinkle-smoothing effect largely determines annual treatment costs. Costs also vary based on each patient's own face and physicians' professional fees.
Fillers have become increasingly popular as an alternative to a face-lift, and consumer demand for them would explode if the prices dropped, analysts say. Cost has also discouraged the spread of "facial contouring," which requires several syringes of material.
While fillers are typically used sparingly to plump up wrinkly folds and creases in the lower face, larger quantities can restore volume to sunken cheeks. Many filler patients also use the muscle-relaxer Botox, typically around the eyes and forehead. Botox and Juvéderm are sold by Allergan Inc., Irvine, Calif. BioForm is a closely held company in San Mateo, Calif.
Radiesse has been sold in the U.S. since 2002 and was previously approved for certain facial reconstructive surgery procedures. Many aesthetic physicians have legally used it "off label" as a dermal filler, but the safety bar is higher for an elective procedure than for a medically necessary one.
Physicians can prescribe products for any use after the FDA has granted approval for one use. Mr. Basta says Radiesse shouldn't be used in the lips. It causes "lip nodules," but these are different from foreign body reactions, called granulomas, that need medical intervention, he says.
BioForm maintains that Radiesse is as safe as other approved fillers, including collagen, for other parts of the face. In the FDA study of 117 patients who received Radiesse on one side of the face and a collagen, Cosmoplast, on the other, there was no difference in adverse events, says Lawrence Bass, a New York plastic surgeon and the study's lead investigator. As is common with all fillers, he says, some patients had swelling, redness, bruising and tenderness at the injection site for a few days.
The FDA data didn't compare Radiesse to Restylane, which is hyaluronic acid. But BioForm says that a study by a German dermatologist, Marion Moers-Carpi, shows that Radiesse lasted significantly longer than Restylane and that it offered "better correction throughout the course of treatment." Experience shows that Radiesse lasts "on average 12 to 18 months," about twice as long as Restylane, Dr. Bass said. Medicis is quick to point out that the longer-lasting treatment could have some negative effects.
Physicians who have used Radiesse say it lasts longer than Restylane but is trickier to inject. "I've been using it more and more, but it takes more time to inject than Restylane or Juvéderm, so I charge more," says New York dermatologist Rhoda S. Narins. Kenneth Beer, a dermatologist in West Palm Beach, Fla., says he has used Radiesse for four or five years. "For the right person it's great -- for men more than women," he says.
The questions about Radiesse safety appear likely to continue, despite the FDA's nod. Arnold Klein, a prominent Beverly Hills dermatologist, says Radiesse is harmful and he won't use it. Dr. Klein says he has a laboratory report from the University of California at Los Angeles showing that one Radiesse patient developed a granuloma.
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SOME OB-GYNS SWITCHING TO COSMETIC MEDICINE CLINICS
Some ob-gyns, as well as other physicians, recently have left their specialties to practice cosmetic medicine, including acne treatments and Botox injections, at medical spas, the New York Times reports.
According to the Times, the cosmetic medicine field is attractive to some ob-gyns and other physicians because it normally results in same-day payments because treatments are not covered by insurance, and it allows doctors to set their own hours and avoid emergency calls.
Robert Huckels -- vice president of marketing for MedSurge Advances, a Dallas-based company that provides cosmetic medicine training and equipment -- said, "It works well for emergency room doctors seeking less stress and for gynecologists who already have a ready-made female audience."
A survey published in the July issue of Modern Healthcare magazine says that obstetricians earn $219,000 to $302,000 annually. Huckels said physicians recently have increased their concern about income, especially as malpractice costs have risen, adding that the average medical spa brings in $40,000 per month, the Times reports.
Cosmetic medicine "is another part of women's health that we can contribute to without managed care telling us that they are going to pay us $90 per visit, regardless of what gets done during the visit," Oyenike Kilanko -- an ob-gyn who in January opened a Dermacare Laser and Skin Care Clinic franchise in New York City with another ob-gyn -- said.
Some doctors have criticized the practice, saying cosmetic treatments cannot be safely preformed by physicians without special training in dermatology or plastic surgery, according to the Times.
Some doctors from other fields entering cosmetic medicine say the cosmetic procedures are less complicated than caesarean sections or other procedures.
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Do you think that HDTV will draw more actors to obtain cosmetic enhancements? Has your practice already experienced this trend? Let us know, and we'll use your responses in an upcoming article in a leading industry publication.
In Raw World of Sex Movies, High Definition Could Be a View Too Real
The XXX industry has gotten too graphic, even for its own tastes.
Pornography has long helped drive the adoption of new technology, from the printing press to the videocassette. Now pornographic movie studios are staying ahead of the curve by releasing high-definition DVDs.
They have discovered that the technology is sometimes not so sexy. The high-definition format is accentuating imperfections in the actors -- from a little extra cellulite on a leg to wrinkles around the eyes.
Hollywood is dealing with similar problems, but they are more pronounced for pornographers, who rely on close-ups and who, because of their quick adoption of the new format, are facing the issue more immediately than mainstream entertainment companies.
Producers are taking steps to hide the imperfections. Some shots are lit differently, while some actors simply are not shot at certain angles, or are getting cosmetic surgery, or seeking expert grooming.
The technology's advocates counter that high definition, by making things clearer and crisper, lets viewers feel as close to the action as possible.
The studios said their experience using the technology gives them an advantage in understanding how to cope with the mixed blessing of hypercrisp images. Their techniques include using postproduction tools that let them digitally soften the actors' skin tone.
"It takes away the blemishes and the pits and harshness and makes it look like they have baby skin," said the director known as Joone, who made "Pirates," one of the industry's top-selling videos. It will be available this month in high-definition.
Joone does not use a last name, but he does use a number of techniques to keep his films blemish-free. They include giving out lifestyle tips.
"I tell the girls to work out more, cut down on the carbs, hit the treadmill," he said.
Within the industry, the issue seems to have created a difference in perspective that cuts roughly along gender lines. Some male actors have begun using makeup to mitigate wrinkles or facial flaws, but generally they, and the male directors, are less worried about high-definition's glare and more enamored of the technology.
"Men are all about outdoing each other, being up with the times, being cool, having the latest technology," she said. "They're willing to sacrifice our vanity and imperfections to beat each other" to high-definition, she said.
Other female actors say they generally like working with high-definition -- except for the cosmetic-surgery part.
Jesse Jane, one of the industry's biggest stars, plans to go under the knife next month to deal with one side effect of high-definition. The images are so clear that Ms. Jane's breast implants, from an operation six years ago, can be seen bulging oddly on screen.
"I'm having my breasts redone because of HD," she said.
The stretch marks on Ms. Jane from seven years ago when she gave birth to her son are also more apparent. But she deals with those blemishes in a simpler way: by liberal use of tanning spray.
Still, Ms. Jane likes the technology, as does her close friend Kirsten Price, 25, who appeared in "Manhunters" and "Just Like That."
"HD is great because people want to see how people really look," Ms. Price said. "People just want to see what's real."
Ms. Price is allowing them to do so, mostly. She had laser treatments to diminish tiny purple veins on her thighs that weren't visible to viewers before.
"You can see things you cannot see with the naked eye. You see skin blemishes; you see cottage cheese," said Robbie D. "But some cellulite is not necessarily a bad thing. It's kind of sexy."
The technology makes the experience more intimate, he said. "People look to adult movies for personal contact, and yet they're still not getting it. HD lets them see a little bit more of the girl."
That's not necessarily good, said Savanna Samson, an actress who last December directed her first movie, "Any Way You Want Me." During a scene in which she played a desperate housewife, she ran into a problem: the high-definition camera revealed she had a tiny ill-placed pimple.
"We kept stopping and trying to hide it. We put on makeup and powder, but there was no way," Ms. Samson said. Finally, they tried another approach: "We just changed positions," she said.
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