Are U.S. dermatologists missing out on fillers available outside the country?

It’s no secret - the number of fillers available in the United States doesn’t quite measure up to the products being marketed in other countries. Accessible or not, it’s important for U.S. physicians to keep an eye on what is out of their reach, according to Patrick Trevidic, M.D., in Paris, and Vince Bertucci, M.D., in Toronto.

Drs. Trevidic and Bertucci will be talking about fillers available outside the United States during separate presentations at the June 2014 Vegas Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetic Dermatology meeting.

“By becoming familiar with these products, physicians will become more familiar with emerging trends and will be able to better treat their patients if the products become available in the U.S.,” Dr. Bertucci says.

Patients frequently have done research about products available outside the U.S., so it is important for physicians to be able to answer questions and speak about the products, he adds.

“With the rise of healthcare tourism, it is not uncommon for Americans to travel to other countries to be treated with some of these other products,” Dr. Bertucci says. “It is important that dermatologists understand these products and how they may interact with treatments available in the U.S.”

There are definite advantages to having a wider selection of products to choose from, Drs. Bertucci and Trevidic agree.

“In Europe, hyaluronic acid (HA) has the leadership when it comes to fillers choice (it represents more than 90 percent of the market - the main reason being there is an antidote (hyaluronidase),” Dr. Trevidic says.

Having a variety of products available allows physicians to go from more fluid to more cohesive fillers, he adds.

“With these, it means we can each time select the adequate HA for each individual patient,” Dr. Trevidic says. “Among the ranges, you can also find a HA with a very high cohesivity that can be used for body volume restoration.”

New products available outside the United States tend to fill unmet needs in the soft tissue filler marketplace, Dr. Bertucci says.

“Aesthetic dermatologists will be able to deliver even better results to their patients with the added versatility that new products provide,” he says. “For example, there are products now available that have been specifically formulated for lip enhancement. It is important that dermatologists understand these products and how they may interact with treatments available in the U.S.”

Dr. Trevidic’s presentation, “Fillers available in Europe: Our preference,” will cover:

• How anatomy is the key for fillers injection - not only the “classical” anatomy but also the dynamic and 3-D anatomy;

• Knowledge and understanding of the aging process allow physicians to improve their injections;

• The increasing safety and reliability of products;

• How adverse events are related to a lack of education.

Dr. Bertucci’s presentation, “Coming to America: New injectables available in Canada,” will discuss:

• Products now available in other countries often making their way to the U.S. market, expanding the tools available to aesthetic dermatologists. Ultimately, these products often serve to enhance patient outcomes.

• How the increase in “designer” fillers with specific rheologic characteristics are being created to address previously unmet needs, allowing customized treatment plans that better suit the unique aesthetic needs of individual patients.

• Products specifically formulated for lip enhancement and how they will change the way lips are treated and will allow treatment of issues that are difficult to address with fillers currently available in the U.S.

• With the promise of improved outcomes, dermatologists are starting to see the addition of supplements such as antioxidants, minerals and vitamins to soft tissue fillers. A critical discussion of some of these products will be provided.

At VCS 2014, Dr. Trevidic will also be giving presentations on:

• “Reshaping the lower face with botulinum toxin and HA”

• “Aging hands and décolleté: why are these areas often ignored in our practices?”

• “Anatomy and lip enhancement”

Dr. Bertucci will also present on, “The perfect lip: Advanced injection techniques.”

SPECIAL DISCOUNT OFFER:

Receive a 10 percent discount on your meeting registration when you register through the mail or phone using our promo code: DERM2014. This promo code will not work on online registrations. For more information, visit the VCS registration page.

Did you miss last year’s meeting? Get caught up on what happened by reading our VCS 2013 coverage and watching videos from our panel discussion about fillers and neurotoxins.