Do you need the picosecond laser at your practice?

When the picosecond laser was first released, it had a prohibitive price of over 300 million KRW (approximately USD 250,000). However, the price has dropped to the level of nanosecond lasers. And when the prices are similar, there is no reason not to have it at your practice.

 

Energy-based treatments for anti-aging

The leading trend these days is non-invasive, anti-aging or rejuvenating treatments. Thermage, an RF device with excellent tightening effect, Thermi RF, and Viveve, etc. are particularly popular. However, invasive methods are more effective in patients with excess facial fat. Frequent invasive procedures lead to severed collagen fibers, which makes the skin less elastic Therefore, RF lasers such as Sculpsure, and Trusculpt used in lipolysis are also used in tightening procedures. In this light, I think Trusculpt will be a good alternative to invasive fat removal. Enerjet which is performed over the scalp brings an effective facelift without visible sequelae. Non-invasive or minimally invasive procedures will continue to be at the center of anti-aging and rejuvenation.  

 

What are your thoughts on ultrasound devices?

LDM mainly improves circulation and I often use it in melasma, erythema, and acne as well as for transdermal drug delivery. LDM increases the infiltration of the subsequent application of topical agents. It is beneficial in melasma not because it removes pigments but brightens the overall skin tone by improving circulation. It is very useful in many treatments.

 

[Advertisement] PICOCARE - Manufacturer: WONTECH(www.wtlaser.com)

 

Do you have a new treatment for acne?

My first choice of treatment for acne has been medication. However, more doctors are now combining laser with medication. I prefer lasers that inhibit sebum production, reduce bacterial infection and inflammation. Combining laser and medication more effectively fights off acne-causing bacteria, and improves the skin tone and texture compared to medication alone. Moreover, acne recurs more easily with medication but energy-based treatments such as AGNES destroys sebaceous glands and has a much lower rate of recurrence. Vbeam is also commonly used in acne as it effectively removes post-inflammatory redness that tends to develop after acne treatment. Instead of using scaling, laser followed by skin care can improve fine wrinkles and pores. In other words, you can kill two birds with laser; acne and rejuvenation.

 

Can you tell us about the latest additions to your armamentarium?

I have recently purchased Sculpsure, Thermi RF, LDM MED, and Sylfirm. A lot of the new devices I have added recently are for fat removal because I see a lot of growth potential in the obesity market. In Korea, severe obesity is relatively rare and liposuction is often not necessary. Patients who cannot afford surgery or are frustrated with exercise-resistant fat are highly satisfied with energy-based fat removal. As the dispensable income increases, various needs develop and I expect this market to keep growing.

 

What are some of the leading trends in aesthetic medicine in 2017?

Combining various therapies together continue to be very popular. However, combining energy based treatments increase exposure to high energy levels and can lead to complications such as scars. Combining different modalities without sufficient theoretical knowledge can lead to disastrous outcomes. I combine anti-aging with lifting and pigment removal with tattoo procedures.

New devices using plasma have become available. Aggressive treatment using these devices can lead to PIH and there are limitations related to the medium. I hope the theoretical benefits of this new modality can be seen in practice as well.

 

Article/In-hong Yoo, Yoon-ae Shin    Photography/Sang-hee Won, Young-gil Kim