The Aesthetic Society Meeting is an important event for plastic surgeons as it provides a platform for them to learn about the latest innovations, techniques, and advancements in aesthetic surgery. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) is a leading organization dedicated to the advancement of cosmetic surgery. This year’s meeting brought together the best plastic surgeons from around the world to share their knowledge and expertise. Attendees participated in lectures, workshops, and live demonstrations to learn about the latest advancements and upcoming trends in aesthetic medicine. NewBeauty was there to discover all the cutting-edge innovations that top doctors couldn’t stop talking about.
“Super Neck” Techniques
Necks were the talk of the show, with several surgical and nonsurgical approaches taking center stage. Houston plastic surgeon Henry Mentz, MD presented on his his “Super Neck” refinement approach. To improve neck youth and contour he integrates a dissolvable mesh in his necklifts. It is the same mesh used as an internal bra in breast lifts. “This method is achieved with less risk than traditional deep neck contouring which may require removal of muscles and glands,” he explains. “The dissolvable soft mesh helps to lift the deep structures of the neck, the mesh then dissolves in a few months and leaves a thin layer of collagen for longer-lasting support and thus more durable necklift results.”
For patients wanting profile definition and a more streamlined jawline without the full surgery, Beverly Hills, CA plastic surgeon Greg Mueller, MD developed MyEllevate. Considered minimally invasive, MyEllevate is one part necklift, one part structural support and one part skin tightening. Performed in an office setting under twilight sedation, it lifts and tightens saggy tissue around the jawline without skin excision. “Rather than cutting skin, we use a light-guided system to guide sutures through the correct direction and depth,” he says. “We then precisely position the underlying tissue and muscles in the upper neck with a suture thread which results in a more sculpted jawline.”
High-Tech Breast Implants
Campbell, CA plastic surgeon Kamakshi R. Zeidler, MD shared that the biggest breast buzz at this year’s show was the promise of a new breast implant. The Motiva implant, which is available abroad, will be here before we know it. “The Motiva implant is currently being studied in an ongoing U.S. clinical trial,” says Dr. Zeidler. “It’s not FDA-approved and is not commercially available in the United States yet, but the clinical data we’ve seen so far have been promising in regards to capsular contraction.” Dr. Zeidler adds that microchip technology allows patients to store info on size, serial number, volume, manufacturing date, and silicone levels.
Minimally-Invasive Tightening
A few FDA-cleared modalities for the face and neck are also being used off-label on the body. Ellacor, the minimally invasive method for treating sagging skin, uses hollow needles to remove micro-cores of skin from the mid and lower face. During the Global Hot Topics session, Dr. Mentz presented on the device’s off-label capabilities and showed how the device, which removes up to 8 percent of skin in the treated area, can be used to tighten skin on the arms and legs as well.
Although FDA-cleared for the neck, Louisville, KY plastic surgeon M. Bradley Calobrace, MD says he’s been using the minimally invasive skin tightening treatment Renuvion off label on the body for tightening and contouring. Inserted into the skin, it delivers a combination of radio-frequency energy and helium to the deep layers of tissue. Dr. Calobrace explains that the device uses helium then radio frequency energy to create a cold plasma cloud. “This causes the tissue to contract and trigger the body’s healing process. This generates new collagen and results in tighter skin.” When combined with liposuction, Renuvion helps to firm and tighten the body during healing.
La Jolla, CA plastic surgeon Robert Singer, MD notes that for all of these treatments we will still need to see long term results for efficacy.
The ChatGPT of Lipo
Both Pittsburgh, PA plastic surgeon Jeffrey Antimarino, MD and Grand Rapids, MI plastic surgeon Bradley Bengtson, MD said that the new Lipo AI device is the future of liposculpture. Lipo AI works by incorporating a predictive algorithm that adjusts with changes in temperature and energy. The liposuction cannula is able to interpret the surgeon’s movements to deliver the proper amount of energy to the tissue and adjust those levels in real-time. “It’ll take away a little more fat and the heat of the laser will shrink down the skin,” says Dr. Antimarino. “Lipo AI is a good option for patients who may not want the scars associated with a brachioplasty or a thigh lift, but wants skin retraction along with fat reduction.”
Vaginal Microneedling
Microneedling has been used on the face and body for years to induce collagen formation in the skin. Tiny, sterile needles create microinjuries to the tissue, and the body responds by producing more collagen and elastin. Duxbury, MA plastic surgeon Christine Hamori, MD says the future of noninvasive vaginal rejuvenation is Morpheus8 V, which uses the same principles and technology to address age-related changes in the vagina and vulva. The tightening action strengthens the vaginal wall, which lifts the bladder and urethra, resulting in improvement of urinary incontinence. “It also can rejuvenate the labia minora and majora for aesthetic enhancement,” she says.
A Needle-Free Sweat Patch
Hot off the news of its recent FDA-clearance, the Brella SweatControl Patch made its debut at this year’s show. The in-office 3-minute treatment uses a patented “targeted alkali thermolysis” (TAT) technology to reduce excessive underarm sweating. The sodium sheet targets sweat glands to slow sweat production and stop excessive sweating for three to four months.
