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Quickie Face Lifts Gain in Popularity to Fight Aging
Barbed sutures, wrinkle fillers give patients more
innovative, non-surgical options, say plastic surgeons
Oct. 9, 2004 - Patients without time for a
facelift or intimidated by surgery are turning to more minimally
invasive options that produce effective results. Barbed sutures,
ultrasonic body contouring and soft tissue fillers were the choice in 7
million procedures last year, up 43 percent from the year before.
These emerging trends in the plastic surgery
industry, claiming to offer patients faster results without the downtime
of surgery, are on the program today at the American Society of Plastic
Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2004 conference in Philadelphia.
"Plastic surgery patients want shorter, minimally
invasive procedures that produce results and have limited downtime,"
said Leroy Young, MD, chair of the ASPS Committee on Emerging Trends.
"As plastic surgeons, we are always searching for cutting-edge
technology to meet the demand of our patients. Barbed sutures,
ultrasonic technology and wrinkle fillers fit the bill."
Barbed sutures are a bit like barbed wire that have
little cuts in the side of the suture, allowing the barb to catch when
it is passed through tissue. The catch allows the plastic surgeon to
pull on the suture once it is in place and tighten the tissue. This
surgical development is expected to increase the number of people having
facial rejuvenation, according to Dr. Young, because the sutures
themselves are minimally invasive, require almost no downtime and are
low risk.
Ultrasonic body contouring uses ultrasound to
disrupt, destroy and disperse targeted fat cells, giving patients the
benefits of liposuction without the pain and recovery time.
Last year, more than 7 million minimally invasive
procedures were performed, up 43 percent from the previous year. Almost
11 percent used a soft tissue filler to fight wrinkles, furrows and
folds. With the addition of Restylaneฎ, Hylaformฎ, and SculptraTM,
plastic surgeons expect patient demand for wrinkle fillers to skyrocket.
These trends, as well as other technologies, will
be discussed during the ASPS "Emerging Trends Hot Topics in Plastic
Surgery" program, 7:45 a.m. 12 p.m. today at the Pennsylvania
Convention Center in Philadelphia. Approximately 20 new technologies and
devices in plastic surgery will be presented.
Studies and courses on other emerging, minimally
invasive procedures are being presented at Plastic Surgery 2004,
including the FraxelTM SR Laser, ThermaCoolTM
System and mesotherapy (mesoplasty).
Fraxel SR Laser, the next generation in laser light
treatment which received FDA approval in July 2004, helps remove age
spots better than previous lasers as well as lessens wrinkles, according
to information presented at Plastic Surgery 2004. Unlike other lasers,
this laser uses light to heat and remove microscopic pinpoints of skin,
promoting a more effective result and faster recovery. This new laser
treatment may replace deep chemical peels and laser skin resurfacing,
which often leave the skin raw and take more than a week to heal.
ThermaCool offers patients facial rejuvenation
without invasive surgery. A non-laser, radiofrequency device that heats
the lower layers of the skin, ThermaCool may tighten the skin and
improve skin texture. In addition, it may dramatically improve the skin
of patients with acute cystic acne. According to a study presented at
Plastic Surgery 2004, patients who had ThermaCool saw a notable
difference after one treatment, experienced skin tightening and improved
skin texture.
Mesotherapy is a potential alternative for removing
localized fat without liposuction. The treatment, a combination of
chemical and herbal remedies injected directly into the body, allegedly
helps increase circulation to the targeted area, break down fat and
prevent fat from forming. According to a study presented at Plastic
Surgery 2004, patients who had mesotherapy lost 4.2 centimeters around
the waist and 2.5 centimeters around the thighs.
These minimally invasive options will be presented
during Plastic Surgery 2004 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in
Philadelphia:
ท "Advances in Cosmetic Laser Surgery," today,
noon.
ท "ThermaCool TC: For Skin Tightening, Active Acne
and Scars," Sunday, Oct. 10, 8:20 a.m.
ท "Mesoplasty: A New Approach to Non-surgical
Liposculpture," Sunday, Oct. 10, 7:50 a.m. "Patients should be aware of
their options and risks when undergoing any of these procedures. Some of
them haven't been studied enough in clinical trials to show their
efficacy and safety," said ASPS President Rod Rohrich, MD. "Ultimately,
the question remains who are good candidates for these procedures and
what are the long-term effects?"
###
For referrals to plastic surgeons certified by The
American Board of Plastic Surgery and to learn more about reconstructive
and cosmetic plastic surgery, call the ASPS at 888-4-PLASTIC
(888-475-2784) or visit
www.plasticsurgery.org.
ASPS is the largest organization of board-certified
plastic surgeons in the world and the foremost authority on cosmetic and
reconstructive plastic surgery. With nearly 5,000 members, more than any
other plastic surgery organization, ASPS is the definitive voice of the
plastic surgery specialty. Viewed throughout the world as the pinnacle
of information for new techniques, advances and plastic surgery trends,
the society represents 94 percent of all the board-certified plastic
surgeons in the U.S. Ninety-four percent of all ASPS members perform
cosmetic plastic surgery and 89 percent of all ASPS members perform
reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS, founded in 1931, represents
physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Many of the above subjects presented at Plastic
Surgery 2004 are procedures or technologies currently under
investigation and are presented for research and educational purposes.
Some need more scientific study to determine efficacy and success rate.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Plastic Surgery
Educational Foundation do not endorse the procedures or technologies
presented in the program and recommend that any reporting of the
presented information be done responsibly with full disclosure of their
unproven nature.
Note: Reporters can register to attend Plastic
Surgery 2004 and arrange interviews with presenters by logging on to
www.plasticsurgery.org/news_room/Annual-Meeting-Media-Information.cfm
or by contacting ASPS Public Relations at 847-228-9900 or in
Philadelphia, October 9-13 at 215-418-5310.
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