AAD 2018: The Latest in Dermatology

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What new findings about fillers were presented at AAD 2018?

First we have new indications. Now we can use a small gel particle h a with a cannula that’s FDA approved, and probably this year or next we’ll have approval to use n h a with a cannula in the mid cheek. So that’s exciting, and the use cannulas is really increasing. The other thing we’re seeing is some studies that are underway right now of new products with a Vycross Technology, one for chin augmentation and one for tear troughs, and that will be very important to study and understand the use of those products in those areas. We have another one coming out for the lips that’s undergoing clinical trials, and we’ll probably see that towards the end of this year or next.

What new trends in fillers are you seeing?

The hands is another area for fillers, of course. And we’ve had the approval of calcium hydroxyapaptite in the back of the hands. But there are some new studies that show a 12 month duration, and that if we use a little bit of kenalog with it, there’ll be less swelling. We’re expecting to see a study or an indication with h a in the back of the hands. In fact, there’s an article in this year’s Derm Surgery showing a small gel particle h a in the back of the hands for skin texturizing, and we should be seeing one for volumizing the hands as well. So the use of fillers in different areas is really expanding.

What new devices have you seen regarding nonsurgical facelifts?

Another exciting device that I hope will help us reach the holy grail of getting a facelift without surgery, is a device that removes skin. This is like a needling device that cores out small columns of skin, 1.5 millimeters or less, and that will actually shrink the skin surface without scarring. Now a recent article in Laser Search Medicine showed that if you make those types of columns, holes, with either microneedling or an erbium laser, it won’t shrink the skin as well unless you quickly wrap it with an elastic wrap. You have to close the holes immediately. That’s why we don’t see as much shrinkage with ablative fractional lasers as we thought, because the holes slowly kind of granulate in. But if you remove them and close them quickly, this seems to shrink the skin better.

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