Spotlight on the emerging trends
The IMCAS, Paris congress was held at the end of January and brought together 20,000 participants from across the globe, a number that is increasing year after year, highlighting the interest shown in this highly dynamic business sector.
With its 370 exhibitors, 344 hours of conferences, 2,000 presentations by more than 1,000 speakers and 140 countries represented, this edition gave us the chance to look at the procedures available in aesthetic surgery, medicine and dermatology, both now and in the future. Séverine Dubarry Bardon explained, “Before talking numbers, I’d like to highlight the quality of the content, the speakers and the satisfaction of the laboratories present. The market will be driven by 7% growth over the next 5 years, and France is reacting well, which is very encouraging!”
This event also shone the spotlight on future procedures and technologies with a lot of attention paid to the use of artificial intelligence in diagnosis, exosomes and even regenerative medicine, not forgetting the key topics in surgery and dermatology, such as the new regulations and the responsible and ethical approaches and CSR strategies of the sector’s stakeholders.
SPOTLIGHT ON the key trends.
Dr Hugues Cartier: “I would say lasers, since Rox Anderson was present, who is one of the creators of most of the lasers from the last 30 years, but also the current research into longevity, anti-aging, onco-dermatology, dermoscopy and very high frequency imagery.”
Dr Sébastien Garson: “In surgery, current topics such as using stem cells in fat transfers, rhinoplasty and lifts could be a challenge for our professions: how can we reconcile global coherence with personalised guidance, namely the need to implement the pre-established protocols wanted by the health authorities while being faced with the need to personalise those same treatments. There is still plenty of scope for the medicine of tomorrow.”
Prof Todd Schlesinger: “Exosomes have become essential in our work, but today they are still considered cosmetic products due to the regulatory barriers in place. In the future, they may well revolutionise regenerative medicine by speeding up wound healing, promoting the proliferation of the fibroblasts or stimulating the hair follicles. Beyond the field of aesthetics, we could use exosomes to bio transport medicines, opening the door to better-performing systemic therapies and targeted treatments.”
Dr Sheher Bano: “The GLP-1 medicines initially used to treat type 2 diabetes have made huge progress worldwide due to their efficacy on obesity. Indeed, their effects on weight loss are quick and they can even have cardiovascular benefits. But they affect the fat in the subcutaneous tissues of the face and buttocks and give what we now call an ‘Ozempic’ face, named after a medicine containing GLP-1. These effects must be considered as part of a global approach for the body, using aesthetic medicine procedures to guide the patient.”
Dr Carlos Wambier: “Biohacking is an innovative approach that slows down aging by combining medical techniques with lifestyle changes. The reduction of the DNA’s methylation, a process that reduces the production of the proteins essential for cell regeneration, illustrates the potential of this approach. Metformin and rapamycin open up new horizons to prolong life span. The research into biotherapies, which initially target TNF-alpha and interleukine-23, allows us a glimpse at solutions that will reverse the epigenetic effects of aging. Finally, autophagy, a natural mechanism by which the body eliminates its damaged cells, also plays a central role in biohacking. It’s fascinating!”
These are just a few of the topics addressed during the different sessions, but let us not forget to highlight the importance of the networking done outside of the sessions, at the trade fair, where the sector’s leading companies were able to present new products, concepts and demonstrations led by experts. It was also an opportunity to get in contact with colleagues, scientists and managers, and interact with opinion leaders and set up collaborations that might lead to new advances in each respective field. These informal discussions enhance the “cross-pollination” of ideas.
