by Stefani Kim

At the Premier Global Hot Topics Session held at the 2018 Aesthetic Meeting, panelists discussed breakthroughs in minimally invasive surgery and non-surgical skin tightening.

Dr Christopher Godek discussed Xact Facelifting, a new medical device to secure tissue in a precise and minimally invasive way that will be commercially available in the fourth quarter of 2018. According to Godek, the device is less invasive than a traditional facelift, and can be performed with two small incisions. Results include midface lifting and neck contouring with long-term results, and may also be used for face and neck rejuvenation.

Another new device discussed by Dr Larry Berkowitz was Recros Medical’s Rotational Fractional Resection, developed by Dr Edward Knowlton, the inventor of Thermage and Viveve. The device makes tiny excisions with rotating dermal punch scalpets—1.5 mm in diameter—that can remove up to 25% of skin per treatment. According to Berkowitz, the device is said to leave no visible scarring and can be used to treat areas of the body near the bra strap or inner thighs or can be used for tattoo removal and scar revision.

Dr Jason Pozner talked about both the Cytrellis Fractional Coring Skin Tightening Technology and FaceTite, two new treatments that focus on wrinkle improvement and skin tautening. The Cytrellis technology utilizes a fractional laser with a 22-gauge needle, making micro-excisions that promote skin tightening and wrinkle improvement with minimal downtime.

“This is a potentially disruptive technology that could replace facelifts, down the road,” Pozner says.

With FaceTite, a minimally invasive contouring treatment for the face and body, the device is powered by RFAL (Radio-Frequency Assisted Lipolysis) and has internal and external temperature control, and is intended for a younger, pre-facelift client. The procedure can be done by sedating patients with nitrous oxide or local anesthesia, and is said to have fewer complications than a facelift.

Stefani Kim is a contributing writer to Plastic Surgery Practice.