Date: 04/02/2015

Author: Elsa Kruger (Longevity LIVE)

The anti-aging industry is a dynamic and innovative one. Although the silver bullet of eternally youthful looks has not yet been discovered, the industry is certainly doing its best to unearth it.

We asked our aesthetic experts to share their top trends and predictions for 2015.

BRANISLAV SUCANSKY, BTL AESTHETICS

According to a study published by sciencedaily.com, the next decade of growth in cosmetic surgery will continue to be driven by the growth of non-surgical procedures. It is estimated that only 12% of the procedures done by plastic surgeons will be invasive. In 2005, 34% of procedures performed by ASPS member surgeons were surgical and 66% were nonsurgical. In 2005, for non-ASPS members, 9,5% of their procedures were surgical, while 90,5% were non-surgical. For ASPS members, 12% of the procedures they perform will be surgical and 88% will be non-surgical in 2015. For non ASPS physicians, surgical procedures will make up only 3% of their total procedures, while 97% will be non-surgical in 2015, the study forecasts.

DR NATASHA CHAPMAN, LASERDERM MEDICAL AESTHETIC CENTRE, SANDTON

­ The Ulthera non-surgical facelift is becoming more and more popular as people become aware of its availability. The current trend to look good for your age, while also maintaining a natural appearance, has resulted in Ulthera skin-tightening procedures becoming one of our most requested treatments. I predict that non-surgical face-tightening treatments are going to grow in popularity as people shun surgery and opt for more natural, yet effective treatments. Within a few years, almost everyone will regularly have these treatments to tighten jowls and necks, and annual "top-up" treatments will become the norm, with fewer patients opting for surgical facelifts. The more I work with this treatment, the more excited I get. It uses focused ultrasound pulses to tighten existing collagen and stimulates the formation of new collagen. ­The natural-looking, tightening effect occurs gradually over a few months, and makes you look refreshed and more youthful. Celebrities such as Madonna, Courtney Cox, Elizabeth Hasselbeck and Vanessa Williams admit to having had the treatment and are loving the results, which is also driving the demand.

DR GABRIEL DOUCAS, PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGEON, AND OWNER OF PURE AESTHETICS, LINKSFIELD CLINIC

Intravenous therapy, with the use of vitamins and trace minerals (glutathione and vitamin C). Gone are the days of treating only externally – now we look to treat from the inside as well. We would like to positively affect intrinsic aging, which, at this point, seems to be elusive. Intrinsic aging is our normal aging process that is influenced by internal body factors. ­These differ from person to person, but what we do know is that the skin is the last organ to receive nutrients ingested via foods and/or supplements. ­The vital organs will always take the majority of these nutrients, and some will be lost in the digestive process, so it is understandable that by administering them intravenously, they become more readily available to the body and, in turn, the skin, thus having a positive effect on the intrinsic aging process. This will change the current face of aesthetic medicine, as it will provide another dynamic to the way in which we look at, and treat, the aging process.

DR ALEK NIKOLIC AESTHETIC MEDICAL PRACTITIONER, CAPE TOWN

­The most exciting trend, in my mind, is the true non-surgical lift. This can be achieved today in the majority of patients by combining both dermal fillers and resorbable threads (a world first). Dermal fillers: Known as the Bolus Lift Technique, it has been shown that by injecting small boluses of dermal filler at specific points in the face, we can maximise the degree of lift of facial structures, including the jowl and neck. Resorbable threads: By combining the above dermal filler technique with a new innovation in thread lifts, the resorbable thread (up to now they have been permanent, with results lasting three to five years), you can achieve dramatic results and lifting effects of the jowl, neck, nasolabial fold, and even the eyebrows. The threads are introduced through the skin once the area has been anaesthetised with a micro needle, and passed gently through the fatty layer. Once the physician is happy with the threads' direction and lift, the end is passed through the skin once more and simply snipped, allowing the remaining thread to carry on supporting the treated area(s). ­The threads consist of bidirectional cones that hold up the treated areas. The treatment will take between 30 and 45 minutes and is performed with no surgical incisions. It provides an immediate result that improves over four to six weeks. Stimulation of your own collagen will also take place during the duration of the thread, which is around 18 months, providing a regenerative effect. The above procedure will change the current face of aesthetic medicine, as we can, for the first time, offer an in-room treatment with dramatic lifting capability of facial structures and the neck. Patients can expect minimal to mild discomfort, swelling and potential bruising, which does subside. It is best not to book this procedure just before a big function or meeting.

DR MAUREEN ALLEM, AESTHETIC DOCTOR, SKIN, BODY & HEALTH RENEWAL

Skin tightening with the Exilis Elite machine is my most exciting innovation. Exilis is the only monopolar RF (radiofrequency) system to incorporate ultrasonic energy in one hand piece. It causes both shrinking of loose tissue immediately, and long term collagen production that lifts and tightens loose skin over time. It is very useful in many areas such as jowls, neck, eyebrows, and especially the abdomen. The FDA-approved Exilis is the most promising of the new RF devices and gives the best tightening results after five or six sessions. It uses the same technology as Thermage, but also includes ultrasound technology to maximise the treatment results.

DR SLY NEDIC, AESTHETIC PRACTITIONER, 8TH SENSE

The time is past when we simply use injectable fillers to fill up the lines, folds and wrinkles. We have moved from one-dimensional thinking into 3D, where re-contouring and re-volumising the face become a standard of delivering natural results. Now we understand what Renaissance masters understood: that there is a mathematical basis to beauty. Consistency in cross-cultural perception of beauty in facial features, and principles of the golden ratio of the beautiful face, have changed aesthetic physicians' way of thinking. With a liquid facelift, done non-surgically with fillers and neuromodulators (aka Botulinum Toxin), we can deliver youthful looks, while simultaneously doing beautification.

DR ANUSHKA REDDY, AESTHETIC MEDICAL PRACTITIONER, MEDI-SCULPT

Non-sagging skin eliminates many anti-aging concerns and should be the base of all treatments. There are many advancements that could well change the face of aesthetic medicine in the coming year, from Botulinum Toxin techniques to improved semi-invasive thread lifts. ­The area I am most excited about, however, is skin re-inflation. Non-surgical techniques with third-generation fillers containing calcium hydroxylapatite offer minimal discomfort, no social downtime, and lifted and volumised skin. Say good-bye to jowls non-surgically! There are also oral tablets containing phytofluenes for lightening and brightening the skin. ­They generate superb results. ­These products can, for some patients, eliminate the need for laser or other more aggressive treatments.

DR NERINA WILKINSON, PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGEON, AND MEMBER OF THE ALLERGAN MEDICAL AESTHETICS ACADEMY

I believe the most revolutionary trend for 2015 is the 4-dimensional facelift. The modern shift in facial aesthetics is to approach surgical rejuvenation of the face by replacing volume and contouring the face to regain a natural, more youthful and beautiful appearance. I have, therefore, moved beyond a traditional 3D facelift to a 4D approach, involving the continued treatment of facelift patients with injectable filler materials such as the Juvederm® range, for years after their surgical procedures. This "four-dimensional" method achieves consistent, natural-appearing results that can be maintained successfully and dynamically over time. This is achieved by highlighting the cheekbones and redefining the jawline, softening the hollows under the eyes and lifting the brows naturally by volumising the forehead, and opening the eyes without changing their shape, which was often a consequence with previous surgical procedures.

DR MARK OPPERMAN, MANOR MEDICAL AESTHETIC CLINIC, MORNINGSIDE MANOR, SANDTON

I am excited about the phenomenal potential of skin needling. By gently needling the skin superficially at home, with a roller with micro-needles between .25mm and.30mm, you will stimulate the growth factors of the skin and see a tremendous difference in the condition and rejuvenation of the skin. Combine needling with good skincare products containing active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and Vit B5 (eg Solal La Bombe, DermaQuest B5, SkinCeuticals B5), and you will see improved skin texture, fewer fine lines and wrinkles, firming and lifting of the skin, shrinking of enlarged pores, as well as improvement in pigmentation. ­The beauty of this treatment is that it is affordable and available to everyone, no matter where you live.

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