NEWS — OCTOBER 2005
AESTHETICS / MEDICAL SPA
Cosmetic Hand Surgery
As noted in the October 17th, 2005 issue of Newsweek, hand surgery is the latest trend among women in the baby boom generation. Dermatologists report significant increases in demand during the past two years. Statistics apparently haven't been tracked yet by organizations such as the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS; www.surgery.org).
A 2003 article posted on the ASAPS site provides an overview of techniques that help hands look younger:
•Chemical Peels
• Creams and Lotions
• Filler Injections
• Intense Pulsed Light
• Microdermabrasion
• Sclerotherapy (vein surgery)
New Partnership Combines Bariatric & Cosmetic Surgery Services
Gastric bypass surgery may be the gold standard for massive weight loss, but the results often leave patients with excess skin and tissue. Contouring cosmetic procedures can help. A new partnership has been formed between two Fort Lauderdale companies, The South Florida Center for Cosmetic Surgery and U.S. Bariatric, to create a "one-stop shop" for both types of surgery. Educational materials are provided online to prospective patients, and special pricing is available to those who combine surgeries for a "total makeover". The South Florida Center for Cosmetic Surgery also provides dentistry, medical spa, and nutrition counseling services.
Keloid & Wound Healing Research
As reported online this month by The Seattle Times, keloids can create difficulties for the estimated 6.0 million Americans who have them. Massive scarring can be debilitating or disfiguring. Characterized by excessive tissue growth, keloids develop outside the original boundary of an injury, unlike normal scars. There may be a genetic component, since the condition is more prevalent among African Americans, Asians, and Latinos.
Treatment in the early stages of keloid formation is recommended. Complete removal is not always possible with currently available forms of corticosteroid, laser, and radiation treatments. Liquid nitrogen and surgery do not usually provide satisfactory results. Wound healing research is identifying alternatives, such as Botox and topically applied creams.
New Cellulite Treatment
As a boutique medical spa, Medical Aesthetics (Hoboken NJ) specializes in anti-aging and preventive medicine. The corporate mission to provide patients with treatments that use the best available technologies, and Medical Aesthetics now offers VelaSmooth, a medical device that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as non-surgical treatment for the appearance of cellulite. Characterized by bulging, pitting, and rippling of the skin, cellulite occurs in most women who are over 18 years of age. As an alternative to surgery, VelaSmooth combines light and pressure in a regularly scheduled treatment course that minimizes downtime for patients.
Co-ownership Makes Laser Treatment Profitable
As reported recently in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Aeterna Medical Spa offers a financially rewarding partnership for the 50+ physician co-owners of Aeterna St. Louis. An early goal is to provide investors with a 10% return in the second year of operation. Combined medical and spa services appeals to the target group, women between 35 and 64 years of age. Treatments range from laser procedures to VelaSmooth. Retail skin care products include Aeterna and physician formulated brands. If successful, the Aeterna St. Louis model may be used to expand into nearby markets in Kansas City, Memphis, and Nashville.
