Mala McAlpin What will consumers be looking for this year when it comes to non-surgical procedures?
The demand for non-invasive treatments has been steadily climbing over the past couple of years, and according to the Cosmetic Physicians College of Australasia (CPCA), they will only continue to increase in popularity in 2020. Considering the epidemic of overly-busy schedules leading to a desire for little-to-no downtime, this isn’t particularly surprising.
As the demand for non-invasive treatments increases, so does the myriad of options that become available. Dr Naomi McCullum, CPCA Board Member and Director at the renowned Manse Clinic, has revealed her predictions for the top non-surgical aesthetic treatment trends of 2020:
Volumisers or biostimulators
Volumisers (also called biostimulators) work under the same principle as dermal fillers in that they are injections into the dermis. However, volumisers work by restoring lost volume to the face, countering the “hollow look” that comes with ageing. They differ from dermal fillers in that they stimulate the patient’s skin to produce more of its own collagen and elastin over a period of weeks or months, gradually restoring more youthful-looking and smoother facial contours with longer-lasting results. Typically, biostimulators are used where substantial volume has been lost such as the cheeks or temples, as well as acne scars, hands, and prominent nasolabial fold.
Patients like the results of volumisers because it fills what needs to be filled, but also stimulates their own collagen. Biostimulator treatment is the biggest advance we have had in neck treatments for many years, and patients are loving the results of a smoother, tighter-looking and less crepey-skinned neck.
Facial sculpting with injectables
Correcting irregularities with dermal fillers, allowing patients to alter their appearance without surgery, is continuing to grow. For example, the non-surgical rhinoplasty including bridge augmentation, correction of a hump on the dorsum of the nose, making the nose rounder if the bridge is squarish or beaky in shape, and rounding and shaping of the nasal tip; is just one example of popular facial sculpting choices using filler. Aside from the non-surgical ‘nose job’, fillers are also being used more frequently to define facial contours like jawline, cheek and chin to achieve balance and harmony among other facial features.
Body shaping devices to tone muscle
While there are many diverse technologies on the market addressing concerns such as cellulite, skin tightening and fat reduction, the latest booming treatment harnesses electromagnetism or FMS (functional magnetic stimulation) to stimulate muscle contractions to strengthen and tone abs, arms and buttocks. With a continuing quest for ‘quick fixes’, body contouring systems such as the EmSculpt, TeslaFormer and StimSure will be the body contouring technology trend of 2020.
Hair transplants for thinning hair
While hair transplants are typically associated with men suffering from male-pattern hair loss, the number of women now undergoing the procedure is on the rise. The most common type of hair loss among women is female androgenetic alopecia (female pattern baldness).
Many women are turning to hair transplantation to solve their hair loss problem. Modern hair transplantation involves the transfer of tiny grafts containing one to three hairs (follicular unit grafts) from the healthy lower scalp to the balding area. As these hairs are coded to be ‘non-balding’, they survive in the bald areas and continue to grow healthy hairs. The use of natural hair groupings ensures that a properly designed and executed hair transplant is undetectable.
Bespoke skincare
The rise of results driven skincare has also given rise to the demand for a customised approach. When we’re talking skincare and ageing, patients know there is no single, simple solution to all issues which is why they are demanding made-to-measure efficacy to target and address individual issues, including skin type, tone, unique concerns and of course, ageing. This means a surge in popularity for brands including SkinCeuticals and their new CUSTOM D.O.S.E., and UNIVERSKIN; a French brand that relies on an in-depth consultation after which the patients leave with their own, mixed-on-the-spot cosmetic formula(s).
Ultrasound technology
Ultrasound imaging to guide facial injectables, which facilitates safer injecting, is an area to watch. With smaller, portable ultrasound devices, this developing technology partnering may well be the future when it comes to identifying structures beneath the skin prior to dermal fillers, and to visualise outcomes of procedures including fat-reduction technologies such as fat freezing and radio frequency devices.
