Last week in New York, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) held its annual Aesthetic Meeting where board-certified plastic surgeons and board-certified dermatologists from around the world spent more than five days discussing new trends, out-of-the-box techniques and future technologies and treatments that have yet to become mainstream.
Driving home the point that dermatologists and plastic surgeons often work together on a united front, one almost-all-day comprehensive session (The Reality of Non-Surgical Face & Neck Rejuvenation with Devices and Injectables: How Close Are We to Achieving a Surgical Outcome?) focused primarily on minimally invasive procedures and technologies for facial and neck rejuvenation. As Chicago plastic surgeon Julius Few, MD explains, “The collaboration between dermatologists and plastic surgeons benefits every consumer of cosmetic medicine because no longer do we have two very significant groups trying to compete. Now, there is an understanding that dermatologists and plastic surgeons can look at the same issue from different perspectives for a synergistic approach.”
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Comprising a panel of board-certified dermatologists and plastic surgeons—ASAPS invited Spokane, WA dermatologist Phillip Werschler, MD and New York dermatologist David Goldberg, MD to serve as “guest dermatologists”—doctors discussed how to achieve a natural, rejuvenated look using energy-based devices and injectables. Combination therapy with skin care products, energy-based procedures, neuromodulators, fillers and absorbable thread sutures were also on the agenda, which was chaired by New York plastic surgeon Z. Paul Lorenc, MD and featured panelists including Montclair, New Jersey plastic surgeon Barry DiBernardo, MD, Dr. Few, and Dallas plastic surgeon Jeffrey Kenkel, MD. “ASAPS 2018 provided an ideal opportunity for cosmetic dermatologists to provide their vast experience and knowledge to the plastic surgery community in panel sessions and live, hands-on treatments in all aspects of noninvasive aesthetic treatments,” says Dr. Goldberg.
Dr. Werschler, one of the presenting dermatologists at the session who demonstrated the proper way to use lasers, energy-based devices, injectables and fillers to several hundred plastic surgeon colleagues, says, “I am both honored and proud to represent the skills, expertise and knowledge that dermatologists have in aesthetic procedures. We were thrilled to share this with the attendees.”
