Parinama-December 2023

Director's Message

Just as energy is the basis of life itself, and ideas the source of innovation, so is innovation the vital spark of all human change, improvement and progress.” - Theodore Levitt?

The year 2023 has been one of growth for the aesthetic healthcare industry. The main growth factors continued to make an impact on the industry.?

1) Increased customer awareness and impact of celebrities and social media influencers?

Celebrities and influencers are now driving the industry by sharing reviews and experiences of various aesthetic treatments. There has been an increasing focus on physical beauty, showcasing anti-ageing treatments and techniques. Of these, non-invasive treatments are seen gaining much acceptance and are considered part of routine beauty treatments. The stigma, criticism and societal pressure of speaking about treatments have lowered significantly.?

2) Advances in medical technology and procedures?

There is a significant advancement in technology in the aesthetic industry. There are non-invasive treatment options for various concerns that need surgical intervention. With this, more and more individuals are inclined to opt for treatments as the safety concerns have lowered. The aesthetic medical devices market and cosmeceutical market have also seen rapid growth in the last year.?

3) The zoom trend continues to hold its impact?

The hybrid work culture remains and the impact of the zoom effect continues with more people focussing on their appearance.?

4) Increased opportunities for training for aesthetic specializations?

There are various authorized online and offline training programs offered to graduates who are looking to get skilled in aesthetic treatments. With the increase in qualified talent pool, the industry will soon be able to meet high demands and provide quality service.?

The downside:

While the above factors have led to growth, the lack of stringent regulations to safeguard patient safety and treatment results are concerning. There are small-time salons that conduct various medical aesthetic procedures without the necessary emergency facility and treatment qualification of the professionals. This is a major risk for the industry and should be taken with high vigilance in the coming year. As aesthetic surgeons, I believe, we have a collective responsibility to increase customer awareness about safety and vouch for the need for strict regulations to curb malice.?

Procedure for the Month

Skin Booster Injections

These injections are a manual way of infusing gel-like hyaluronic acid (HA) under the skin. By doing so, the skin can overcome the dryness and increase its glow. Apart from this, these skin booster injectibles act on wrinkles, unwanted lines, acne, etc., and give a clear, soft, and plumpy feel to the skin. The HA that is being injected into the dermal cells is produced through a fermentation process. Companies have patented their unique process or the technology behind their production and extraction. The HA produced is medically tested to check for its purity, safety, and ability to induce collagen production.

The aestheticians use medically approved injections and needles to infuse this HA into the dermal cells beneath the skin. Before the procedure, the doctor may apply a numbing cream for about 20–40 minutes. Then, the procedure of injecting the HA is initiated, which may last up to half an hour. The patient may experience swelling after the procedure. However, it will fade away in one or two days.

The pros of this injectable treatment include increased skin radiance, firmness, moisture, bounciness, and the disappearance of pores, lines, folds, and scars. Another great advantage of this procedure is that it can be performed not only on facial skin but also on the neck, arms, and abdomen regions of the body.

The only drawback that lies behind this procedure is its longevity. Usually, these skin boosters can last for up to 6–12 months under the skin and perform their functions. After that, the skin may again get dry for some people, if not for all. In those situations, the patient has to undergo the same procedure to maintain the same glowing skin.

The cost of this treatment depends on the HA quantity (2, 4, or 6 ml) used during the procedure, the number of sessions, and the area covered. In general, the cost ranges between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 per ml of HA.?

Procedures in Demand

The reason why our skin is soft and hydrated is because of the action of? HA (hyaluronic acid). This is a naturally occurring substance under our skin that stimulates collagen production, alters elasticity, and improves the overall tone and texture of the skin. As a result, our skin glows, feels soft, and looks youthful. However, with aging, heredity, increased sun exposure, or lifestyle changes, we may experience a lack of HA. This removes the hydration and elasticity of the skin, making it dry and rough. This brings up the huge need for skin booster injections in this decade.?

Further, these injectibles are suitable for all age groups, including men and women. This factor has also contributed to the overall demand for this procedure. Here are two renowned brands of skin boosters in the aesthetic medical industry today: Profhilo? and Viscoderm?.?

Viscoderm?

Viscodermal hydro-booster is another great moisturizing treatment for the skin. This dermal filler and booster encompasses three different concentrations of the ultra-pure form of HA. This injectable increases firmness and improves the tone and radiance of the skin.?

A low concentration of Viscoderm is suitable for delicate skin types. The medium concentration is suitable for face and neck moisturizing. The highest concentration is suitable for thick skin types and those with high wrinkles on the skin.???

Profhilo?

Lately, this skin booster injectible has obtained the “Injectible Product of the Year 2022” and ”Product Innovation of the Year 2022”. This injectable has the highest concentration of ultra-pure HA on the market and helps treat skin laxity problems by adding natural moisture to the dermal cells. Notably, the product is backed by a patented technology.??

The slow release of HA in this injectible is a special function of the product. It helps slowly stimulate four different types of collagen and elastin that are responsible for skin lifting or tightening. Hence, this injectable is both a skin booster and a skin tightening agent.?

Product Reviews

Emugrow Mc

This oil mainly contains emu oil, caffeine, zinc oxide, clove oil, melatonin, etc. These ingredients exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and moisturizing properties. Also, they help in cell proliferation, which catalyzes quick recovery from hair damage and enhances hair growth.?

This oil is perfect after hair transplantation therapy to reduce pain or swelling around the treated areas. Thus, it is considered a perfect scalp emollient and hair fall reducer.???

• Dosage: As prescribed by your doctor or plastic surgeon. Usually, doctors recommend usage about 4–5 times a week.
• Precaution: Keep out of reach of children. Store it in a cool, dry place.
• Instructions for use: Strictly apply only to the scalp region.

BD Promax

It is a hair serum usually recommended for hair loss and rejuvenation. The main ingredients in this serum are procapil, castor oil, vitamin B3, biotin, cressatine, glycerine, and caffeine. These ingredients act directly on hair roots, increase strength, impart nourishment, and reduce hair fall.?

Additionally, this serum increases blood circulation, improves the keratin structure of the hair in the long run, and brings more shine to the hair.??

• Dosage: Apply once every day until the hair fall stops.
• Precaution: Do not expose the eye regions to the serum, as it may irritate.
• Instructions for use: Apply to the regions where there is severe hair fall and massage gently for a couple of minutes.

Industry News

Skin quality injectables: The proud newcomers in the aesthetic industry

Previously, dermatologists and aesthetic surgeons were worried that various treatments and solutions were available to address skin laxity problems, volume loss, lines, pigmentation, etc., but not alter the skin tone, texture, and hydration levels. Today, this is not the case. Aesthetic innovation levels have reached greater heights than we dreamed of. Yes, the industry has gifted us with an extremely amazing treatment called "skin booster injectibles”.??

Skin booster injectibles are microdroplets of pure hyaluronic acid. These are thin gel-like substances that help in solving skin dehydration, dryness, folds, etc. In fact, we have different injectables that differ in hyaluronic acid concentration and match particular skin types.?

Experts are delighted that these injectibles result in an almost instant bounce, perfect contours, a soft tone, and an increased glow to the skin. However, the visible results are apparent only a couple of days after the successful completion of all injectible sessions.

Another aspect that dermatologists and aestheticians are glad about is that this is suitable for all age groups. For youngsters, this treatment gives more radiance to the skin, making it look glassy and plumpy. For older people, this solves their problem of dry skin and wrinkles. Apart from this, both men and women can opt for this injectable, as it increases collagen production and repairs all sorts of skin problems, including sun damage and a lack of moisture, texture, and firmness. Overall, these skin boosters improve skin quality, integrity, and luminosity. Hence the name "skin-quality injectables.”

The industry veterans are also able to feel the differences between these injectables and fillers. While the former acts on and modifies the dermal cells, the latter only fills the volume underneath. Also, the former is a thin gel that is minimally cross-linked and, hence, easy to inject. Whereas the latter is not thin.?

In addition, aesthetic specialists have already compared this with other equivalent treatment options like microneedling (which only induces collagen), skin stamping (which increases the pore size), facials (which are short-term and only work on outer layers), etc. But only skin booster injectables improve skin hydration!??