Aesthetically Speaking: Industry News May 2013

(IAPAM) has recently released its top aesthetic medicine trends for 2013, which it reports is being directed by the career needs of an 'ageing population'. As retirement thresholds move further into older age, many baby boomers understand that to stay competitive in the work place, anti-aging procedures may be the answer to keep themselves youthful and most importantly relevant.

It is believed that this has affected the trends in aesthetics that increasing in popularity for 2013 and further to this, here are the top most popular treatments as revealed by IAPAM:

1.            Stem cells for skin rejuvenation

2.            Advanced acne treatments

3.            BB Cream

4.            Dermal fillers

5.            Cellulite therapies

6.            Physician directed weight loss

7.            Alternative uses for botulism toxins 

8.            More affordable cosmetic lasers

To conclude, It has been reported that the market for anti-ageing treatments will continue to grow in 2013. However new, less expensive technologies are the next big thing, and the trend toward lower cost aesthetic treatment options appear to be key in 2013.

Botox Approved for Migraine

Although Botox, which is produced by Allergan Inc. has been approved as a treatment to prevent migraines, it seems that not everyone who suffers migraines can obtain this treatment. It is only available for those who are deemed 'severe' sufferers, meaning those who experience attacks lasting four or more hours at a time and at a frequency of 15 days a month, which equates to only around 10% of migraine patients.

Sales of Botox in the US, purely as a migraine treatment, are however forecast to reach over $1 billion during the next ten years. Says Anne-Elise Tobin, an analyst with Burlington, Massachusetts-based Decision Resourcesl “Botox demonstrates the market potential for a new emerging prophylaxis therapy”, Tobin estimates that the global market migraine treatments as a whole should increase by 87%.

Ageing: Do we Droop or Deflate? That is the Question!

There may be lots on information available regarding how to prevent and treat ageing, but not a lot on how our faces actually ages. However, the first comprehensive attempt to scientifically document facial ageing was presented last month at the AGM of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) in New York.

The study entitled the “Longitudinal Study of Facial Ageing” by Dr. Lambros of Newport Beach, CA will review the effects of weight gain on facial shape and also the 'age old problem' of neck ageing.  Most importantly however look at facial 'descent' and 'deflation' and how these two common factors relate to facial ageing.

It was typically thought that the face largely aged by descent (drooping) however, now we have products such as dermal fillers to plump the face, we now look at it as deflating. The aim is to now find out what really happens. Dr. Lambros began the study in 2005, using a 3D camera to monitor the ageing faces of plastic surgeons, however, don’t hold your breath, it has been revealed that this is a report that will take another 5 to 7 year to bring to conclusion!