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Report shows 133% increase in body treatments in 2023

The inaugural Skintuition Report by BeautyHealth, who own Hydrafacial, has predicted that patients will seek efficacy through the medicalisation of beauty, with treatments backed by clinical studies seeing arise in interest.

The compilation of insights, trends and predictions based on clinical studies, data and performance from the company’s brands and network of professional skin health providers, has also revealed the trend will spread to how patients are influenced, showing they will turn to doctors and aestheticians to help shape their routines in 2024.

In terms of ingredients, the report predicts that tried-and-tested peptides will be a hero ingredient for 2024, with under-34-year-olds trying vitamin C as well. Personalisation is also predicted to be a key need for patients.

When it comes to patients’ habits, the group has seen an increase in demand across the board for body treatments, up 133%. Patients are now looking neck-down when it comes to skin health, opting for top-to-toe treatments, with the under- 25s focusing on the back and ‘booty’. Hydrafacial’s body treatments alone are surging, with a 52% increase in demand year on year.

Eyelid surgery demand increases by 74%

New research from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPs) has revealed that the number of those undergoing eyelid surgery has increased by 74% in the UK over the past year.

Experts are suggesting that the surgery, known as blepharoplasty, is the ‘new botox’ and will be the treatment of 2024, with Hairspray actress Amanda Bynes the latest of many celebs to undergo the treatment.

London-based blepharoplasty clinic, Karidis Clinic, has seen an increase of 122.08% in the number of enquiries for the surgery over the past three years.

“The effects of blepharoplasty surgery are permanent in that the skin that was removed does not return or grow back,” said Mr Alex Karidis, founder of the Karidis Clinic. “However, the ageing process does not stop with this or any other surgery; therefore patients are likely to age and develop laxity around the eyes in the years to come. In general, however, most people who have had previous blepharoplasty operations do not require similar surgery again for at least 10-12 years.”

Save Face calls for ban on liquid BBLs and breast augmentation procedures

Save Face, a government-approved register of medical aesthetic professionals, has called for an urgent ban on liquid BBLs and breast augmentation procedures, saying it is a crisis waiting to happen.

The company conducted research into the treatments after receiving an alarming amount of patient complaints relating to the procedures. The non-surgical treatments are being advertised as risk-free and cheaper, injecting large amounts of filler into the buttocks, hips, and breasts instead of going under the knife.

The study has revealed that 99% of over 2000 registered medical professionals do not perform nonsurgical BBL and breast augmentation procedures, as they deem them too dangerous. Despite this, they are being offered by laypeople, hairdressers, and beauticians who have no healthcare experience and are unable to manage potential complications.

Save Face says that these treatments are becoming increasingly popular and that the Government must act quickly to prevent fatalities.

In the past year, the body has been contacted by over 200 people who have had unwanted outcomes, adverse reactions, and complications, over 70% of which have required hospitalisation and 39% needing corrective surgery. All the complaints reported were regarding treatments carried out by non-medical practitioners.

To gather a wider evidence base of the issues relating to these treatments and better understand the range of practitioners offering them, Save Face surveyed their database of practitioners.

“I made an oath to ‘do no harm’. There is nothing about the way this treatment is currently offered that is either safe, moral, or ethical,” said Save Face registrant and plastic surgeon Dr Paul Baguley. “The only outcome from this procedure is an unquestioningly poor result which comes at great cost to the patient who is drawn in by false advertising into a shockingly dangerous environment with a very real potential of death from complications.”

Unlike facial fillers, where complications can be managed effectively by skilled injectors, these procedures often require hospital settings, intravenous drugs, and surgical intervention to rectify, causing a burden on the NHS.

Advanced Esthetics Solutions closes with immediate effect

Aesthetic device distributor Advanced Esthetics Solutions (AES) has announced its immediate closure.

A company statement on LinkedIn stated, “It is with a heavy heart and great sadness we announce the immediate closure of AES.”

AES cited the advanced health complications of managing director Douglas Sykes as the primary reason for the sudden shutdown.

The announcement expressed gratitude to the team, manufacturing partners, clients, and business associates, acknowledging their pivotal role in the company’s success.

“On behalf of the company, we thank the industry for some of the best years of our lives, delivering the latest in results-driven aesthetic treatments,” the statement said. AES entered the market with the fat-reduction device Lipofirm 13 years ago and grew over the past 13 years to represent numerous devices including Divine Pro, Geneo X and Reverso.

“We have had the privilege throughout our time to represent the most respected and innovative manufacturing partners, working work with inspirational, creative and dynamic individuals along the way,” the statement continued.

Commercial manager Laura Morgans confirmed the news to Aesthetic Medicine.

Posting from her own LinkedIn account, she added, “Due to the health conditions of my MD, Mr Douglas Sykes, the difficult decision was made to close our doors with immediate effect in the best interest of prolonging his lifespan.

“Naturally, while having suffered with challenging health conditions since 2018, he always was the ‘Iron Man’ continuing to supersede any expectation. Unfortunately, this could not last forever, and while I find myself in a challenging situation, the health of ‘Douggie boy’ ultimately is the priority.” AES thanked its team, manufacturing partners, clients, and business partners in the company statement, saying, “Without you, AES would not have achieved the success we have to date.”

90% of men Under 50 worried about cost-of-living stress ruining their looks

A new survey has revealed that nine out of 10 men are worried about the effect cost-of-living stress is having on their appearance. Perhaps surprisingly, the age most affected is men between 18 to 24 years old, with a staggering 40% worrying ‘a lot’ about it.

The research, conducted by independent survey company OnePoll on behalf of SafeAP, a downloadable app founded by two NHS doctors to help people find qualified cosmetic practitioners, surveyed 1,000 UK males aged 18-50, breaking the results down by age and region.

30% of men worried ‘a lot’ about the impact, with 41% of those surveyed at least ‘somewhat’ concerned; only 10% were ‘not at all’ worried. The top five concerns were weight/fitness (40%), skin quality (25%), and teeth appearance (23%), with eyebags (19%) and hair loss (19%) tied for fourth place – other areas included muscle tone and wrinkles. Even among the least worried age group (46-50), nearly one in five (19%) had substantial concerns.

A previous study by SafeAP showed that while more than half of women cite fear of complications as a factor preventing them from seeking procedures such as wrinkle-relaxing or filler injections and non-surgical liposuction, only just over a third of men (36%) claim having this concern. Only 27% feel put off by horror stories they might see in the media. This has prompted the team behind SafeAP to warn that men could be particularly vulnerable to predatory marketing tactics – especially as the same research showed that more than twice the number of men (21%) than women (9%) admit to having already had a negative experience with a cosmetic procedure.

AestheticSource appoints business development manager

Sarah Whitehead has joined leading medical and clinically proven skincare distributor AestheticSource to head up its new niche aesthetic medical brand division.

With a background in training and education, conducting webinars and implementing successful social media campaigns, Whitehead will be supporting clinics and individual practitioners across the UK and Ireland. She combines 23 years of experience as a qualified nurse with nineteen years of experience specialising in skincare, injectables, and medical devices.

Under the direction of the management team, Whitehead will be leading a new AestheticSource division with new and exciting brands sourced to address a range of patient needs.

“I am eagerly looking forward to diving in and making an impact from day one,” says Whitehead. “The niche and revolutionary brands I will be working with are incredibly exciting, and I can’t wait to introduce these amazing products to the aesthetic market. It is an honour to be part of the exceptional AestheticSource team, and I am ready to bring my passion and expertise to contribute to our collective success.”

Crown Aesthetics partners with GetHarley

Crown Aesthetics has announced a business relationship with GetHarley, aiming to revolutionise how individuals approach skincare.

GetHarley offers a telehealth platform connecting individuals to experienced clinicians for a personalised discovery of products and treatments, stocking the brands skincare specialists believe in. Biojuve skin biome care is now available for clinicians to add to their digital shelf, enabling even more personalised options for patients, who can only access the product line via professionals. “I am thrilled to witness the convergence of Crown Aesthetics, Biojuve, and GetHarley,” said Andy Moulton, vice president of international sales for Crown Aesthetics. “This epitomises our commitment to redefining the skin biome care category in the UK and Ireland and unlocking new realms of accessibility and personalisation in the global aesthetics market. Together, we embark on a journey to empower individuals with innovative solutions, seamlessly blending cutting-edge technology with premium skin biome care experiences.”

Emma Bracey-Wright, head of communications for GetHarley, said, “GetHarley is excited to work with Biojuve, a unique product line promoting a healthy microbiome that entered the UK market this year. Many of our GetHarley Clinicians are keen to have their patients use the Biojuve products for improved skin health, and we look forward to seeing their results.”

Scottish medical college launches surgical hub with NHS Highland

A leading medical college has joined forces with NHS Highland (NHSH) to establish a new Surgical Education Research and Innovation Lab (SERI Lab), marking a significant leap forward in surgical education and innovation research.

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and NHSH have formed a five-year partnership to co-host the virtual SERI Lab, which is set to become an internationally renowned hub for surgical education research and innovation.

Set to launch in early 2024, the lab will be used for healthcare professionals to share and develop new ideas and methods to help surgeons learn and practice.

Professor Rowan Parks, president of RCSEd, said it will allow surgical professionals to research advancements in surgical training technology such as robotics, artificial intelligence and virtual reality, all of which will help to shape the next 30 years of surgical practice: “The establishment of the SERI Lab is a pivotal moment for surgical education and research, and this new, dynamic hub is set to have far-reaching impact—locally, nationally, and globally.”

NHS waiting lists dramatically reduce for mental health patients

Digital therapy platform HelloSelf has announced its initiative to expand support to the UK by facilitating faster access to high-quality, safe and effective psychological therapy for patients within the NHS network.

With the demand for mental health support becoming more critical and waiting lists expanding, HelloSelf is collaborating with the NHS to enhance the overall patient experience by providing assessments within 24 hours and ensuring a therapist sees them within two weeks.

HelloSelf connects patients with a team of expert psychologists and cognitive behavioural therapists through a secure video platform, where they can access 1:1 therapy sessions and personalised ‘SelfPlans’. With 24/7 access to AI-backed health tools and activities recommended by their therapist, patients can build on their progress between and after sessions.

Evolus to expand portfolio to include HA dermal fillers

Evolus has announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with Symatese to be the exclusive distributor of four unique dermal fillers in the United Kingdom and Europe.

The product line is in late-stage development with anticipated regulatory clearances in the second half of 2024 and commercialisation under the brand name Estyme fillers (pronounced “esteem”) in 2025.

It is the second agreement made with Symatese this year – with the first obtaining exclusive distribution rights to the same product line in the US, where it will be commercialised under the brand name Evolysse in 2025. As a result of the geographic expansion of the filler line, the company has doubled its total addressable international market (outside the US).

Strong evidence demonstrates safety and efficacy of hyaluronic acid filler

New evidence-based surveillance findings confirm that MaiLi hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers offer safe, natural-looking results with minimal adverse events (AE).

The research, undertaken between February 2021 and April 2023, found that there was just one AE in every 3,698 syringes – an overall adverse incidence of 0.027%. Post-market surveillance for MaiLi found:

• No product defects were responsible for any AE reported to Sinclair

• No treatment was discontinued as a result of a product-related issue following an AE report

• One case of vascular compromise was reported, with the root cause confirmed as user error

• No events were assessed as reportable to the competent authorities.

MaiLi’s OxiFree technology preserves the long molecule HA chains. The highly efficient crosslinking of HA with low BDDE (1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether) creates a supple, spring-like gel offering volume and suppleness alongside projection, meaning less product is needed for more natural outcomes. It also delivers long-lasting effects of up to 12 months, including in the lips.

The MaiLi range comes in four efficacies: Precise to treat fine lines; Define for deep wrinkles or lip structuring; Volume for facial volumising; Extreme to sculpt and shape the face.

One in five Brits suffer from chronic inflammation

FutureYou Cambridge has conducted a study to better understand the British public’s lifestyles and the connection to chronic inflammation.

81% of Brits admitted to having an unhealthy lifestyle, with nearly half (45%) saying they don’t sleep well, 43% saying they feel constantly stressed, and a third (35%) admit they don’t exercise much – all proven contributors to inflammation.

The study also revealed that one in five (18%) people in Britain suffer from chronic inflammation, with three in five being aware that chronic inflammation in the body can lead to other, much more serious health conditions. Despite this knowledge, 72% do nothing to avoid developing inflammation.

When it comes to the type of symptoms sufferers live with, the most common are fatigue, joint pain, and lower back pain.

In the UK, on average, 61% of us consume ice cream, biscuits, and sweets regularly, while 53% eat crisps and packet noodles. 40% rely on ready meals, 27% have regular takeaways and 38% drink fizzy drinks. However, people do appreciate that maintaining a healthy diet is the best way to reduce inflammation (63%), followed by regular physical exercise (57%) and getting enough high-quality sleep (34%).

NEWS IN BRIEF

Aesthetic Response launches new front-of-house training course
Aesthetic Response is introducing a new initiative, an online aesthetic receptionist call and enquiry handling training course called ‘Building on success: progressive training for aesthetic frontline excellence’.“With the ever-increasing challenges I so frequently hear of, both from the clinics we support and other business owners I speak with, in terms of both recruitment and staff retention, I believe it’s critical to invest in key staff, developing their skills to support them in their roles,” said Gilly Dickons, managing director of Aesthetic Response.

Dr Joshua Van der Aa opens new clinic in Genk, Belgium
Dr Joshua Van der Aa has opened an aesthetics clinic in Genk, Belgium. Dr Van der Aa , who also owns a clinic in his birthplace of Antwerp, was featured in the popular Belgian TV show, ‘The Sky is the Limit’, which followed him in his ventures as an entrepreneur and skyrocketed his fame in the country.

Cutera Inc announces limited commercial release of AviClear in UK and Ireland
AviClear, the first FDA-cleared laser for long-term treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris, is receiving limited commercial release in the UK and Ireland. “We are excited to be offering this ground-breaking AviClear treatment to physicians and patients in the UK & Ireland”, said Sam Keene, regional leader for the UK and Ireland at Cutera. “Based on feedback from our early adopters, we are confident that patient demand and clinic installations will continue to grow over the next few months and that the affordability, efficacy, and durability of AviClear will establish it as the gold standard of care for acne sufferers.” 

Partnership opportunity for OFQUAL regulated qualifications and industry suppliers: Skin Philosophy Training
Skin Philosophy Training, a leading institution in aesthetics education, is extending an exclusive partnership opportunity to industry suppliers. This collaborative endeavour seeks to provide OFQUAL-regulated qualifications as part of bundled offerings alongside equipment and advanced skin treatment sales. The goal is to support clinics and professionals in streamlining their purchasing process by offering certified OFQUAL training in tandem with manufacturers’ training.

BCAM announces residential educational weekend
The British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) has announced a new event for its members this year. The Educational Residential Weekend will take place in the spring at Carden Park in Cheshire. Members will get to visit four workshops on injectables, skin, leadership, and marketing. Dr Shotter said, “Our members have been asking for a smaller educational style event, and this is a perfect way to enjoy intimate style workshops creating the perfect educational setting where our members can gain knowledge to enhance their career and to continue their learning journey with CPD”.

Amedica announces partnership with Acquisition Aesthetics Training Academy
Amedica has teamed up with Acquisition Aesthetic Training Academy to supply polynucleotide-specific training courses for delegates in 2024, prioritising understanding the science behind Ameela polynucleotides, learning multiple treatment techniques, treatment safety and how to achieve the best possible results.