At the first in-person American Society for Dermatologic Surgery meeting in three years, board-certified dermatologists convened in Denver to discuss the latest treatments, technologies and solutions that are making waves in the industry. Nanuet, NY dermatologist Heidi Waldorf, MD said the meeting was a great reminder that the best thing someone can do for their skin is see a board-certified dermatologist. “You must see a doctor who is trained in evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of skin. Even if what you’re looking for is cosmetic,” she said. Here, top dermatologic surgeons share the biggest aesthetic advances that were all the buzz at this year’s meeting.
1. Treating Life-Changing Skin Concerns
Centreville, VA dermatologist Abrehem Kazemi, MD says one of the the most effective treatments he’s seen this year is with the vitiligo drug Opzelura. “I have a few patients with vitiligo. It’s a condition where the skin loses its pigment cells. It’s a genetic disorder that is passed on from generation to generation. With this medication I’ve been able to re-pigment a whole family, a mother and her two sons, in about a month. They are extremely happy with the result.”
Rhinophyma is an inflammatory skin disorder that causes the nose to enlarge and become red, bumpy, and bulbous. Miami dermatologist Alyx Rosen Aigen, MD shares that people who suffer with this unsightly condition don’t have to live hiding under a mask anymore. “It’s caused by severe rosacea, which can trigger constant inflammation of sebaceous glands and flare ups, and can cause more bumps to form. The way we treat it is with lasers and electrocautery. I was excited to see it discussed at the meeting. It’s not the traditional cosmetic treatment, but it’s still aesthetic and you’re changing someone’s life. That’s a great feeling.”
2. Exosome Therapy
Monroe, LA and Southlake, TX dermatologist Janine Hopkins, MD was at the conference presenting on the CuraCator device for PRP and says she’s excited about exosomes and stem cells. “There’s a company called Regen Lab that has a wonderful topical product that really enhances wound-healing,” she says. “It’s also really great for anti-aging. I’ve presented on the CuraCator at the innovators forum, which is used to apply these products hands- and needle-free.”
3. Longer-Lasting Neurotoxin
Seattle dermatologist Heather D. Rogers, MD says the newly FDA-approved DAXXIFY neurotoxin is on the tip of everyone’s tongue. West Palm Beach, FL dermatologist Supriya Tomar, MD agrees and said patients are excited for the launch. “People want to try something that’s going to last longer. It will be nice to be able to schedule your filler and neurotoxin injections twice-a-year,” explains Dr. Tomar.
Spokane, WA dermatologist Wm. Philip Werschler, MD says DAXXIFY will generate some noise in the market, but he’s not sure if everyone is ready to change their routines quite yet. “I think it’s a good product and we will have to see where it’s priced. Patients will have to pay more for those extra four to six weeks of efficacy.”
4. Cellulite Advances
“There’s a lot of innovation in this field right now,” shares San Antonio dermatologist Vivian Bucay, MD. “For example, there’s acoustic wave therapy with the Resonic treatment. There is another interesting device from Revelle Aesthetics called Avéli. It’s subcision, which means you release the fibrous tissue under the skin using a small, hook-shaped device through a tiny incision, kind of like Cellfina, but different. All the new devices are targeting those fibrous bands that tug on the skin in order to get a nice smooth surface.”
5. First-of-its-Kind Solutions
New York dermatologist Doris Day, MD says one of the biggest takeaways were new solutions for anti-aging. “There is a company that created a skin-care product that actually contains live microbes,” she says. “The most common bacteria in your skin is a type of c. acnes called c.acnes defendants. With this product, BioJuve, you smear these bacteria all over your skin to help rejuvenate your skin. Microrobiome care is going to be the wave of the future. It’s so much more than skin care and that’s really exciting.”
Also noteworthy for healthier skin is AviClear, the first FDA-approved laser to treat acne. “I had the opportunity to study AviClear, which is the 1726 nanometer laser,” says New York dermatologist Dr. Karan Lal. “We’ve learned that this technology is really exciting because it’s colorblind and safe for all skin types, which is really important because a lot of the other acne lasers that we use off-label may not be suitable for skin of color.”
6. Skin-Tightening Innovations
Montclair, NJ, dermatologist Jeanine Downie, MD says the biggest anti-aging buzz was surrounding novel skin-tightening and reshaping modalities. “One of them, EmFace, I talked about yesterday at my presentation called the ‘Battle of the Tightening Titans.’ My discussion was about EmFace versus the Zafffiro laser from Neauvia versus shockwave therapy. I talked about the lifting and what they do in terms of decreasing fine lines and wrinkles and smoothing out the skin. It’s all so very interesting.”
Micro-coring with ellacor caught the attention of Delray Beach, FL dermatologist Dr. Janet Allenby. “It seems very promising for patients who aren’t ready for a facelift, but want some real tightening in the lower face,” she notes. The FDA-cleared treatment uses micro-coring technology to reduce up to 8 percent of the surface area of the skin, thereby causing it to tighten and reduce wrinkles and laxity in the mid to lower face.
Denver dermatologist Joel L. Cohen, MD participated in a live demonstration to show how Morpheus8 RF microneedling can also be used on the body, not just the face, to tighten lax skin and target fat in areas you wouldn’t normally think of. “The top of the knee is really been an undertreated area,” he explains. “It’s called Morpheus8 because it goes down to seven millimeters, but the zone of where it affects really that field of effect is another millimeter.” Los Angeles dermatologist Dr. Jacquiline Habashy also likes Morpheus8 for contouring and treating excess fat under the chin. “I’ve seen a patient get a result that rivaled liposuction with just one treatment,” she says. “Her jawline and profile was sculpted, elegant and refined.”
