It is almost 2 weeks since our annual conference "Cosmetex"in Cairns.
http://www.professionalbeauty.com.au/2012/05/04/article/Cosmetex-2012-Kicks-Off/POBKUHOCNQ.html
http://www.professionalbeauty.com.au/2012/05/08/article/Impressive-Attendance-at-Cosmetex-2012/SPOZSNKYFX.html
It was great to experience the warmth of topical Queensland and the camaraderie of our colleagues.
At last I have found time to report on the conference for this blog. The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and its associate organisation the Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia are to be congratulated for another huge and successful cosmetic medicine and surgery event that is without parallel in Australia. The inexorable drift towards minimally invasive therapies over traditional surgery continues with externally delivered, non-invasive fat reduction ultrasonic and freezing treatments emerging as alternatives to internal cannula liposculpture techniques.
However equipment remains very expensive and outcomes still rather modest at this stage.
A new potentially long acting soft tissue filler from Holland was launched http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bRsYaK46GY&feature=related that is claimed lasts up to 4 years in the most durable its formulations. This is a significant advance and may now set the pace for filler innovation and development. We look forward to see how this integrates into injection filler strategies.
Otherwise the conference seemed to reflect that experienced Australian cosmetic practitioners remain at the top of their game and equal in knowledge, ability and skills to colleagues anywhere in the world.
This bodes well for our patients who can access the best and appropriate therapies right here in Australia without compromising quality of care as can be the case in overseas vacation treatments.
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Friday, 27 April 2012
The Failed Aesthetic Of Tear Trough Injection Treatment
Injection of commercial fillers into tear troughs has been one of the most unfortunate trends in recent cosmetic medical practice. The treatment often delivers an incomplete or failed aesthetic result and is frequently associated with long term swelling , lumpiness, bruising and a bluish skin discolouration known as Tyndall effect.
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Physical_Properties_of_Matter/Solutions/John_Tyndall
This filler treatment fails on the basis of a misappreciation of the ageing anatomy in this facial region that has been educationally promulgated by most of the filler companies via their medical advisers. This has resulted in an entire battalion of misguided injectors (including myself initially) out there causing grief to patients with poor aesthetic outcomes.
http://www.realself.com/review/australia-juvederm-juverderm-eye-bags-tear http://www.realself.com/review/Restylane-Vey-Unhappy
http://www.realself.com/question/restylane-deep-tissue-bruising-tear-trough
http://www.plasticsurgerypractice.com/issues/articles/2009-09_03.asp
The anatomy of tear trough (nasojugal groove) ageing need to be understood. It is is a normal anatomical depression that runs from the inner aspect of the eye (near the nose) diagonally outwards down the cheek. The tear trough deepens with ageing due to the cheek (malar) fat pad below reducing in volume and also sagging downwards (ptosis). Another fat pad located under the circular muscles around the eye (oribularis oculi) called SOOF also reduces and sags with ageing.
Essentially the popular rationale that promotes treating the tear trough by injecting fillers under the orbicularis muscle may somewhat augment the diminished the targeted SOOF fat pad. However such an approach is usually aesthetically insufficient as it is the whole cheek (malar) complex that requires augmentation by much more volumising and durable fillers. The outcome in the hands of skilled injectors results in a projected and somewhat elevated the cheek that is in aesthetic harmony with the eye (orbital) complex above it.
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Physical_Properties_of_Matter/Solutions/John_Tyndall
This filler treatment fails on the basis of a misappreciation of the ageing anatomy in this facial region that has been educationally promulgated by most of the filler companies via their medical advisers. This has resulted in an entire battalion of misguided injectors (including myself initially) out there causing grief to patients with poor aesthetic outcomes.
http://www.realself.com/review/australia-juvederm-juverderm-eye-bags-tear http://www.realself.com/review/Restylane-Vey-Unhappy
http://www.realself.com/question/restylane-deep-tissue-bruising-tear-trough
http://www.plasticsurgerypractice.com/issues/articles/2009-09_03.asp
The anatomy of tear trough (nasojugal groove) ageing need to be understood. It is is a normal anatomical depression that runs from the inner aspect of the eye (near the nose) diagonally outwards down the cheek. The tear trough deepens with ageing due to the cheek (malar) fat pad below reducing in volume and also sagging downwards (ptosis). Another fat pad located under the circular muscles around the eye (oribularis oculi) called SOOF also reduces and sags with ageing.
Monday, 2 April 2012
Cosmetex Meeting Cairns 2012
The annual scientific meeting of the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery (ACCS) and Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia (CPSA) will take place in May at the convention centre Cairns Queensland. http://www.cosmetex.org/cairns2012/program.php
This meeting is always a very informative event with many invited international speakers and also our own Australian contingent. Interestingly invasive surgical procedures remain a small component of the programing reflecting the preeminence of non-invasive treatments in aesthetic medical practice.
With 2 lecture session and 3 workshop sessions all running concurrently, the meeting can be quite challenging for the attendant. There are always some great technical tips to be gained from such meetings although generally it becomes apparent that one or two speakers emerge as standout educators.
However historically some speakers can incline to spruik or overly promote methods with outcomes that appear to fall well short of the hype. One is left to sort the wheat from the chaff in these presentations.
Hopefully after this meeting I will be in a position to report on some interesting developments.
This meeting is always a very informative event with many invited international speakers and also our own Australian contingent. Interestingly invasive surgical procedures remain a small component of the programing reflecting the preeminence of non-invasive treatments in aesthetic medical practice.
With 2 lecture session and 3 workshop sessions all running concurrently, the meeting can be quite challenging for the attendant. There are always some great technical tips to be gained from such meetings although generally it becomes apparent that one or two speakers emerge as standout educators.
However historically some speakers can incline to spruik or overly promote methods with outcomes that appear to fall well short of the hype. One is left to sort the wheat from the chaff in these presentations.
Hopefully after this meeting I will be in a position to report on some interesting developments.
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Filler Fever
I had the pleasure of attending 2 cosmetic medicine presentations this week featuring excellent practitioners reviewing and demonstrating filler and muscle relaxation techniques for facial rejuvenation. It remains apparent that much can be achieved with injectables to naturally improve faces naturally.
Choice of fillers can be determined by several factors, the most important being matching appropriate filler to the facial region targeted. Equally important is a keen appreciation of beauty principles that allow practitioners to inject in an aesthetically pleasing dynamic that can also prove cost effective.
My talented and charming Paddington cosmetic practitioner colleague, Dr. Naomi McCullum has written informatively on the highlights of one of these meetings. I am linking to her always compelling blog on the subject as follows:
www.drnaomi.com.au/blog/
Thank you Dr. Naomi!!
Choice of fillers can be determined by several factors, the most important being matching appropriate filler to the facial region targeted. Equally important is a keen appreciation of beauty principles that allow practitioners to inject in an aesthetically pleasing dynamic that can also prove cost effective.
My talented and charming Paddington cosmetic practitioner colleague, Dr. Naomi McCullum has written informatively on the highlights of one of these meetings. I am linking to her always compelling blog on the subject as follows:
www.drnaomi.com.au/blog/
Thank you Dr. Naomi!!
Sunday, 26 February 2012
"Jowl Trowel" Treatment of Adjacent Tissues to Correct Jowls
One of the most challenging problems in aesthetic surgery has been how to treat the development of lower face jowls. There has been no successful localised surgery invented to directly address this issue. Face lifting attempts to pull the jowl outwards towards the lower ear but this does result in a rather stretched and anatomically incorrect appearance.
It should be appreciated that in the lower third of the face there is a volumetric loss of bone, muscle, fat and skin. This creates the so called pre-jowl sulcus which may by subtraction represent the impression of a neighbouring and detested jowl as seen in this ageing rock icon.
However are we seeing true jowls or just deficient tissues adjacent to the jowl? Certainly it is logical to re-volumise this area with biological fillers-what I have termed "jowl trowelling".
Below is a commercial photo of successful treatment with a filler of the pre-jowl sulcus-jowl gone!
It should be appreciated that in the lower third of the face there is a volumetric loss of bone, muscle, fat and skin. This creates the so called pre-jowl sulcus which may by subtraction represent the impression of a neighbouring and detested jowl as seen in this ageing rock icon.
However are we seeing true jowls or just deficient tissues adjacent to the jowl? Certainly it is logical to re-volumise this area with biological fillers-what I have termed "jowl trowelling".
Below is a commercial photo of successful treatment with a filler of the pre-jowl sulcus-jowl gone!
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Generous Warm Lips
The lower third of the face is defined as the area immediately below the nose to the base of the chin.
In this region treating the lips in a manner that restores youthful definition and volume is the key target that can provide standout results.
The loss of volume and contour with lip ageing can impart an impression of unintended meanness or anger.
However restoration of lip volume and contour can reverse this tendency to convey a sense of warmth and generosity.
The reality is that we all tend to form an impression of people at least initially on their appearance and feminine attractiveness is founded on curvaceous form.
Last week I was watching the immortal movie classic "Casablanca" on TV and was once again moved by the captivating beauty of the female lead Ingrid Bergman.
Her beauty was characterised by an elegant screen persona complemented by her arresting femininity. Bergman was able to portray both strength and vulnerability into her character .
She had a striking face with a beautiful lip contour that added to the impression of a natural personal warmth. Her lips were well proportioned, curvaceous and balanced--- an aesthetic we try to emulate in clinical practice.
http://www.liveinternet.ru/users/4223781/post173721321/In this region treating the lips in a manner that restores youthful definition and volume is the key target that can provide standout results.
The loss of volume and contour with lip ageing can impart an impression of unintended meanness or anger.
However restoration of lip volume and contour can reverse this tendency to convey a sense of warmth and generosity.
The reality is that we all tend to form an impression of people at least initially on their appearance and feminine attractiveness is founded on curvaceous form.
Last week I was watching the immortal movie classic "Casablanca" on TV and was once again moved by the captivating beauty of the female lead Ingrid Bergman.
Her beauty was characterised by an elegant screen persona complemented by her arresting femininity. Bergman was able to portray both strength and vulnerability into her character .
She had a striking face with a beautiful lip contour that added to the impression of a natural personal warmth. Her lips were well proportioned, curvaceous and balanced--- an aesthetic we try to emulate in clinical practice.
Monday, 30 January 2012
A Revolution in Aesthetic Design. Beauty may well be "in the eye of the Beholder" but does the "Beholder" understand why?
"Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder" but does the "Beholder" understand why?
It is argued that beauty is an entirely personal or emotional interpretation.
Indeed all of us inherently recognise facial beauty.
However is is not generally appreciated that this recognition is founded on laws of nature related to mathematical dimensions and ratios known as "PHI".
There are certain characteristics in nature that are universally acknowledged to be aesthetically beautiful. This includes the face and is applicable across all ethnic boundaries. In fact such boundaries simply do not exist in this concept of beauty.
"Phi" is the basis for the "Golden Ratio" and in facial aesthetics it is truly an intriguing concept.
http://www.goldennumber.net/neophite.htm
Managing facial aesthetics in a way comply with these mathematical laws of nature enables contemporary cosmetic practitioners to beautify the face in a manner that is far more effective than simply filling wrinkles or stretching a face surgically with face-lifting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL0wpOXX5-k
The "PHI" concept is a wonderful tool that illustrates to patients how treatments (while individualised and adjusted) can conform to this universal beautification principle.
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