Aesthetics

Johnson & Johnson is phasing out certain controversial preservatives and other materials from its products. The move is in response to consumers’ concerns.

Expert offers talking points for when patients ask about preservatives in skincare and haircare products.

The depth of color is created by the amount of DHA applied and the amount of protein present in the skin. In areas where the stratum corneum is thicker, such as the palms, soles, elbows, and knees, the brown color appears darker.

Patients will bring to me on a weekly basis tubes of slimming cream for evaluation. The question from the concerned consumer is always the same. Is it wise use of my money to purchase this product again and what exactly does a slimming cream do? The honest truth is that I am not sure what benefit a slimming cream delivers.

Fillers injected to enhance beauty have an ugly side effect, which is tricky - at best - to prevent and treat, according to a study published recently.

Laser and light device treatments are infiltrating cosmetic and medical dermatology, causing many in the specialty to consider starting or growing laser practices. While the decision to go into the laser side of dermatology works out well for many, it can be a costly mistake for those who don’t do their homework, experts warn.

Injectable fillers are used in a variety of ways to improve the appearance of the aging face. However, because not all fillers are alike, it is important for dermatologic surgeons to understand the features and benefits of each product in order to optimize its clinical use, says W. Philip Werschler, M.D.

Hawaii has passed legislation that prohibits minors under the age of 18 from indoor tanning, according to a news release. The bill is effective immediately.

Aesthetic practices must consider the importance of developing a strong brand image, according to Cheryl Bissera, consultant and co-author of “The Patient-Centered Payoff”. She spoke to attendees Friday at the 2014 Vegas Cosmetic Surgery meeting, emphasizing the importance of communicating luxury and all of the elements that go into your brand identity.

Loss of volume is a significant cause of the appearance of facial aging, Jill Hessler, M.D., Palo Alto, Calif., said during her presentation at Vegas Cosmetic Surgery 2014. The resulting pseudoptosis can often be fixed using fillers to replace lost fat pad volume and restore natural contours to bony areas.

“Can we improve acne with Ultherapy?” It’s a question Michael Gold, M.D., Nashville, Tenn., asked during his presentation, “Micro-focused Ultrasound and RF for Skin Tightening: New Clinical Concepts,” at Vegas Cosmetic Surgery 2014 recently.

Fat is a valuable tool in the plastic surgeon’s armamentarium. However, use it cautiously, says Val Lambros, M.D., Newport Beach, Calif. Take the time to build experience and get comfortable with fat behavior and the various complications that potentially come with this natural filler.

Is it ethical to name or trademark a surgical procedure? It depends, of course, but an expert explains that it's less about the trademark and more about placing value on the surgeon-patient bond.

Creating your own in-house training can benefit your staff and your practice in many ways, according to Jody Comstock, M.D., an aesthetic dermatologist in private practice in Tucson, Ariz. She walked attendees of the 2014 Vegas Cosmetic Surgery conference through the development of her staff bootcamp.

A relatable, helpful and professional front desk staff is one key to practice success, according to Laurie Mercier, a practice consultant with Allergan Practice Consulting who spoke at the 2014 Vegas Cosmetic Surgery meeting recently.

“I spend a lot of time trying to convince patients not to inject their lips,” said Heidi Waldorf, M.D., New York, during her presentation “KISSES - 6 Tips for Lips,” in the minimally invasive/noninvasive session at Vegas Cosmetic Surgery 2014 recently. “If they really want to do their lips, I tell them we must do the face, or they will look like a skinny, ugly duck,” she said.

When it comes to the aging nose, it’s been widely assumed that as we age, the tip of the nose begins to droop and may need a “lift.” Could it be an optical illusion?

The best way to create a youthful upper eyelid is by understanding it, Nancy Swartz, M.D., told the audience during her presentation, “Understanding and creating the youthful upper eyelid,” at Vegas Cosmetic Surgery 2014.

Improving the contour of the aging neck requires more than a skillful technique, said Fred Fedok, M.D., F.A.C.S., of the McCollough Plastic Surgery Clinic, Gulf Shores, Ala., and Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pa., during his presentation, “Unraveling the mystery of the aging upper neck,” at Vegas Cosmetic Surgery 2014. The neck, he argued, has an aesthetic all its own.

Whether your practice is purely aesthetic or a mix of medical and aesthetic, you’re operating a business, and it serves you to understand key business principles to stay successful, say panelists at the VCS 2014 meeting.

Perceived beauty goes beyond numeric values and divine proportions. In fact, beauty in the beholder’s eyes is a collage of geographic, ethnic and demographic influences, according to research published in the March issue of Journal of Craniofacial Surgery.

I have not found any product for eye puffiness in the cosmetic marketplace that work, but there are several categories of products available.

In part 2 of our series on brand identity, Melanie Palm, M.D., elicits the help of expert colleagues that have been successful in developing their own practice brand identities. Dr. Palm poses and responds to questions along with Dr. Tina Alster, Dr. Fredric Brandt, and Dr. Tom Rohrer.

For all our society’s emphasis on physical beauty, nothing is sexier than self-esteem. This was the theme of “Subliminally Exposed,” a performance given by Steven Dayan, M.D., and Valerie Monroe, beauty director of "O, The Oprah Magazine," at Cosmetic Surgery Forum.

With “discount” injectable treatments here to stay, experts say, dermatologists must court sophisticated consumers willing to pay for the quality and expertise that only dermatologists and other core aesthetic specialists offer.

Self-tanning creams are safe, but perhaps an explanation is in order. There have been a very few reported cases of allergic contact dermatitis to self-tanning creams.

Your brand identity is a communication to the world at large of who you are – as a physician, practice, product, and business. If done successfully, the creation of a strong brand identity resonates through all aspects of the practice – the website, logo, clinic space, staff, physician, and any of the associated ventures. Here, Tracy Drumm, Vice President of IF Marketing, offers tips relating to brand identity.

What emotions do these two little words evoke: “public speaking”? Perhaps fear, anxiety, discomfort or agitation? If you are among the greater than 90 percent of Americans that have an aversion to public speaking, the idea of being in the spotlight is enough to make your palms perspire and your heart leap from your chest.

Cellulite creams are the perfect cosmetic because of a wide potential audience and the large body service area that must be covered with cream required frequent purchase. This explains the competitive marketplace, but determining efficacy is another story.

Microsponges are very small sponges that can be loaded with substances for delivery to the skin. The most interesting use of microsponges in OTC (over-the-counter) drug dermatologics is in dandruff shampoos.