Out and about

AMWC 2024

Grimaldi Forum, Monte Carlo

With an average attendance of 17,000 professionals from 130 countries and over 1,000 international brands exhibiting (+350 stands), the Aesthetic and Anti-Ageing Medicine World Congress (AMWC) Monaco is one of the world’s largest exhibitions in the field of aesthetic and anti-ageing medicine. Editor Anna Dobbie was invited by Harpar Grace International to attend the 22nd annual congress, which serves as a platform for professionals in the industry to exchange knowledge, showcase innovations, and discuss advancements in various aspects of aesthetic and anti-ageing medicine.

Key topics included medical humanism, the importance of genetics and how prevention affects ageing. Catherine Decuyper, co-founder of the AMWC stated that evidence and engagement merge to make the congresses a platform for excellence in aesthetic medicine: “We aspire to catalyse technological advances in the service of science, knowledge, and ethics. Our ambition is to provide an environment in which practitioners can hone their skills, exchange innovative ideas, and contribute to the advancement of aesthetic medicine worldwide.”

As well as learning about cutting-edge protocols, including non-invasive treatments, injectables, laser therapies, and surgical techniques, there were presentations, scientific sessions and workshops covering topics including facial rejuvenation, body contouring, hair restoration, and skincare, as well as patient safety and ethical consideration.

AMWC Monaco also hosted a large exhibition area where companies showcased their products, technologies, and services, as well as providing the opportunity to network with healthcare professionals, researchers, industry representatives, and key opinion leaders from around the world.

In the evenings, there was also plenty to keep attendees entertained. Harpar Grace International invited a select group of VIPs to its luxurious villa for the launch of LED expert brand Déesse Pro’s professional-grade mask. A five-star chef catered to guests as they took in the opulent mountain-top views and learned about the EOS-X, which features the brand’s iconic hard-shell delivery system of high-concentration light-emitting diodes in a proximity design that is five times more efficient than non- contact ‘canopy’ methods.

After the final day of the conference, Harpar Grace International took some of their esteemed partners for a three-course meal at the iconic Buddha Bar, before partying the night away on the dance floor.

366 DAYS OF SPF PANEL DISCUSSION

34 Bloomsbury, London

As part of its 366 Days of SPF campaign, Yorkshire-based skin clinic and retailer Face the Future teamed up with Amy Callaghan, the Scottish MP behind the VAT Burn campaign that is petitioning for the UK Government to remove the VAT from all SPF products.

Editor Anna Dobbie was invited to a panel discussion hosted by Face the Future and chaired by beauty journalist Nadine Baggott, who was joined by Callaghan and other key voices in sun safety, including Julia Barcoe Thompson, director at Face the Future, Heliocare dermatologist Dr Emma Wedgeworth, melanoma awareness advocate Lisa Costello and British Skin Foundation dermatologist Dr Derrick Phillips.

As well as scrapping VAT, the experts on the panel insist that the Government needs to do more to encourage the public to protect their skin, citing Australia’s “Slip, Slap, Slop” campaign of the ’80s as a good example. The panel also discussed how beauty pros and dermatologists can help to spot melanoma. Read more on page 42.

CYNOSURE BREAKFAST

St Martins Lane Hotel, London

Dr Sindhu Siddiqi lead a press breakfast to discuss new research on how PicoSure Pro treats melasma and pigmentation.“Traditionally, skin of colour was more challenging to treat with lasers, as the excess melanin couldn’t be targeted effectively,” commented Dr Siddiqi. “Now there are more sophisticated treatments like PicoSure Pro, which can safely and effectively treat pigmentation in all skin types, including darker skins.”

LUTRONIC POWERED BY SERIDERM EDUCATIONAL EVENING

The Gherkin, London

Lutronic powered by Seriderm hosted a group of top aesthetic doctors on the top floor of The Gherkin in London for an educational evening about its products and treatments. The evening’s presentations were hosted by Alice Hart-Davis, editor of The Tweakments Guide, and heard from Dr Pablo Boixeda, Dr Nina Bal, Dr Arash Moradzadeh and Kevin Williams, who discussed all the devices within the Lutronic portfolio, including BabyFace, DermaV and Total Skin Solution. The Gherkin provided a glamorous backdrop, with views across London, and a dramatic glass ceiling framing the evening.

LYNTON ROADSHOW

Business Design Centre, Islington

This year, device brand Lynton launched the Lynton Roadshow, a series of in-person events travelling to cities across the UK and Ireland to deliver a day of education, networking and live demos for owners and operators looking to explore the latest advances in aesthetic technologies to take their clinics to the next level.

Contributing reporter Kezia went along to the London event, held at the Business Design Centre. In private rooms on the upper floors of the exhibition space, attendees were greeted by Lynton’s Hayley Jones and Jake Barlow. The room was full of young students, keen to boost their knowledge around laser and IPL treatments, as well as clinic owners and other professionals with an interest in the technology.

Highlights included Dr Uliana Gout’s talk discussing her love for combining peels and laser treatments, Jones’ in-depth but digestible explanation of all the different laser technologies and how they work and a live demonstration of Lynton’s new Dynamix device to treat thread veins on a model’s face.

ACE AND AESTHETICS AWARDS

Business Design Centre, Islington

The aesthetics exhibition and conference, held on 15-16 March saw many product launches, including Galderma’s Elastin, Cutera’s acne device AviClear and DermaFocus’s new polynucleotide-based product, NewGlyn. Popular sessions included Teoxane’s presentation showcasing naturalness reimagined with HA Biostacking, Croma’s PDO threads case studies and the power of combination treatments with Neauvia. After the second day of the conference, editor Anna Dobbie was invited to attend the Aesthetics Awards by Sofwave, who sponsored the Best Clinic South England category.