By Z. Paul Lorenc, MD, FACS


The upcoming American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) Aesthetic Meeting will be held in Vancouver, BC at the Vancouver Convention Centre, May 3-8, 2012. On Friday, May 4, beginning at 7:30 am, a comprehensive course divided into two sessions and designed for core aesthetic physicians, nurses, and aestheticians will feature nonsurgical innovations that are vital to the success of today’s aesthetic practice. As we know, minimally invasive nonsurgical procedures have become a mainstay in most aesthetic plastic surgery practices, largely driven by consumer demand.


The morning session, chaired by Michael Kulick, MD, will be held from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm; “The Power of Cosmetic Medicine: Optimizing Results with Light and Energy-Based Technologies.” The faculty will present a review and update on the growing array of light and energy-based procedures. Updates on new technology and clinical data will be presented, and there will be a panel discussion on complications and controversies in areas including ablative and nonablative skin improvement, acne (acute postop and scarring), IPL, skin contour related to fat, and vascular correction.


I will be chairing the afternoon session of the Cosmetic Medicine Course; “The Power of Cosmetic Medicine: High Impact Results with Injectable Agents for Facial Rejuvenation.” The faculty for this session has been selected as some of the leaders in their respective specialties and shall include Steven Fagien, MD, Julius Few, MD, Miles Graivier, MD, Jeffrey M. Kenkel, MD, Haideh Hirmand, MD, Jonathan Sykes, MD, and additional experts in dermal fillers and neurotoxins.


The faculty will present a review and update on the growing number of injectable products currently available for facial enhancement in the United States, with an eye toward new products that are under clinical investigation for the near future. A comprehensive panel discussion shall be featured on conducting an effective aesthetic evaluation, including how to choose the most appropriate product(s) for each individual patient; “Aesthetic Analysis: The Cornerstone for Achieving Optimal Patient Outcomes.”


We have added a new feature this year to include small group rotations to allow participants a chance for more in-depth interaction with faculty as they observe live patient injections. During the live injection sessions, the faculty will explain the specific characteristics of each product and the appropriate depth of injection and specific injection techniques to ensure optimal outcomes. The entire faculty will emphasize patient safety and effective techniques to help avoid and manage complications with dermal fillers and neurotoxins.


 Participants shall learn how to critically assess the range of FDA-cleared injectable products for facial enhancement, volumizing and rejuvenation, and to decide how best to incorporate these into their own practice. In addition, the currently available neurotoxin agents will be reviewed and compared in detail. The faculty will also discuss their experience with using injection-assisted devices, soft needles, and cannulas for dermal fillers, platelet-rich plasma, and fat.


Lastly, there will be a panel discussion on the diagnosis and treatment of biofilm granulomas as well as nodules. Special attention will also be devoted to innovative techniques used to achieve maximum volume enhancement.


At the Cosmetic Medicine full-day program this year, we will attempt to bring a new level of science to offset the marketing claims for these popular treatments.


To register for these special sessions, visit: http://www.surgery.org/microsite/meeting2012/program-coursesbyday-fri.php.

 

Z. Paul Lorenc, MD, FACS, is a board-certified plastic surgeon in private practice in New York City. Learn more about his practice by visiting his Web site at www.lorenc.com.