Fashion And Beauty

From frizzy perms to over-bleached waves, “bad hair days” could soon become a less frequent occurrence. Chemists report the first detailed microscopic analysis of what happens to individual hair fibers when they interact with each other, an advance in knowledge key to the development of improved shampoos, conditioners, and other products for repairing damaged hair, the researchers say. They presented the study at the American Chemical Society’s 236th National Meeting.

Embracing that adage, “Personal care begins with hair,” consumers now spend almost $60 billion annually on hair care products, one of the personal care industry’s largest market segments. Despite the increasing availability of new hair care products within the past century, many products are inadequate for tackling today’s rigorous hair treatments, the researchers say.

“Given all the new hair treatments out there, there’s a growing need to make hair feel more natural, especially for women,” says study co-author Eva Max, a doctoral student in chemistry at the University of Bayreuth in Germany. She notes, however, that researchers still are scrambling to put hair care on a firm scientific basis. The research involves “haptics,” the science of touch - how the subjective perception of touch connects to objective surface properties of hair and other materials

“For the first time, we present an experimental setup that allows measuring the subtle forces, both physical and chemical, that arise when single hairs slide past each other or are pressed against each other,” Max says. “The findings will help provide clearer strategies for optimizing hair care products.”

Max points out that conventional methods for testing the effectiveness of hair care products involve measuring the forces required to comb hair under standardized laboratory conditions. Test volunteers are also asked to assess hair feel, but this approach is largely subjective. A more scientific way to study hair conditioning is needed, the researchers say.

In the new study, the researchers invented a unique technology for analyzing hair that involves mounting individual hair fibers on a cantilever tip of an atomic force microscope and measuring their interactions as they touch each other. “The system will allow scientists to explore how different hair care products affect hair-to-hair interactions so that these products can be optimized in a more systematic fashion,” Max says.

The researchers used this new technique to analyze hair samples collected from volunteers. The samples, which were previously bleached, ranged from light blond to dark blonde in color.

The researchers found that hair feels rough and difficult to comb for two main reasons. On the one hand, mechanical damage to a hair’s surface, or cuticle, creates scaly projections that jut out at perpendicular angles to other hair fibers. When hair fibers slide past each other, these scales create more friction than smooth hairs, causing a rough feel and making hair more difficult to comb. To soften hair, conditioners must contain active agents to smooth-out these scales so that they produce less friction, the researchers say.

On the other hand, chemical changes occur when hair fibers interact. Negative charges build up on the surface of hair that causes repulsion between single hairs. This repulsion causes friction and makes hair rough and difficult to comb. To solve the problem, positively-charged polymers that neutralize the negatively charged surfaces are included in conditioner formula to provide a silky feel to hair.

But finding the right formula for repairing damaged hair is no easy task, notes Claudia Wood, Ph.D., a senior scientist at BASF in Bayreuth, Germany. In addition to hair interactions, many other external factors, such as humidity, water content of hair, and hair stickiness, all affect hair quality, Wood says.

The key to repairing these processes is to find the right ratio of beneficial components in a conditioner or shampoo that optimize hair feel, Max and colleagues say. This new method will allow developers of hair care products to achieve this goal more easily, giving consumers a more reliable product, the researchers say. Their study was funded by BASF Care Chemicals Division.
Charmayne Marsh
Michael Bernstein
American Chemical Society

Acne just seems to never go away for many adolescents. A new study published in the August issue of Archives of Dermatology reports results of a teen survey and finds that teens would pay about $275 to have never had acne. Researchers also found that adolescents said that they would be willing to pay more be free of acne than to have half of their acne cleared or to have clear skin with acne scars.

More formally known as acne vulgaris, the skin disorder impacts almost all adolescents and is often a factor that leads to anxiety, depression, embarrassment and social dysfunction. Cynthia L. Chen, M.D. (University of California, San Francisco) and colleagues write that, “Reducing the psychosocial impact of acne is considered one of the guiding principles for its clinical management and it is important to measure and evaluate this impact.”

Results from this study come from an analysis of 266 teen volunteers with acne from four public high schools in San Francisco. Chen and colleagues administered written surveys to the students that asked them to answer hypothetical questions such as how much of their lifetime they would forgo or how much money they would pay:

• To have never had acne,
• To be 100-percent acne-free from then on,
• To have 100-percent acne clearance but with visible scarring, or
• To have 50-percent acne clearance.

The survey also included questions for parents regarding their acne history and severity. Since parents usually pay for children’s acne treatments, they were also asked about their willingness to pay.

With the teens’ responses to the time trade-off questions, the researchers calculated current acne state utility scores by dividing the participants’ reduced life expectancy in years without acne by his or her life expectancy in years with acne. The average utility score for a teen in his or her current acne state was 0.961. Scores improved to 0.978 for 100% clearance, 0.967 for 50% clearance, and 0.965 for 100% clearance but with scarring.

The median price that teens were willing to pay to have never had acne was $275. For 100% clearance of acne, they were willing to pay $100. The median price of 50% clearance would be $10, and of 100% clearance with scarring would be zero dollars. Parents had somewhat similar responses to the willingness-to-pay analysis, indicating a median of $250 for their child to never have had acne, $100 for 100%, $100 for 50%, and zero dollars for 100% clearance with scarring.

As expected, teens who believe their acne is more severe are willing to trade more time and money for acne clearance than those who rate their acne as less severe.

“Knowledge of these patient preferences may help dermatologists balance clinical trial results with patients’ expectations of therapy,” write the authors. “Randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trials have shown that three to four months of conventional acne therapy, including topical benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids and oral antibiotics, typically produces reductions in lesion counts in the 40 percent to 60 percent range.”

They add that, “It has also been suggested that the incidence of scarring from facial acne approaches 95 percent…Thus, adolescents’ marked preference for total clearance over partial (50 percent) clearance or clearance with scarring suggests that physicians must weigh high patient expectations against these clinical data regarding efficacy and risk of sequelae.”

In an accompanying editorial, written by Marta J. VanBeek, M.D., M.P.H. (University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics), “Dermatologists are keenly aware of the ways skin diseases may have a substantial impact on a patient’s overall quality of life. However, in an environment in which health expenditures are allocated by non-physicians, it is critical to demonstrate the burden of skin disease relative to non-dermatologic disease to funding sources, government agencies and the lay public.”

“In terms of social value, preference-weighted questionnaires are instrumental in evaluating the extent to which increased health care expenditures lead to patient benefits because they incorporate a summary description of health status, social values and life expectancy,” concludes Dr. VanBeek. “Fundamentally, utilities measure true patient preferences, uninhibited by physician assumptions. Such measurement refocuses physicians on the primary goal of our profession: improving the care of our patients.”

A Community-Based Study of Acne-Related Health Preferences in Adolescents
Cynthia L. Chen, MD; Miriam Kuppermann, PhD, MPH; Aaron B. Caughey, MD, MPP, MPH; Lee T. Zane, MD, MAS
Archives of Dermatology (2008). 144[8]: pp. 988-994.
Click Here to View Abstract

In what is believed to be the first time in the United States, a nerve transfer was performed on a paraplegic to relieve life-threatening pressure ulcers - a common side effect associated with wheelchair-bound patients. The surgery took place on November 11, 2008, at Monmouth County Medical Center, and was performed by a team of medical professionals led by Dr. Andrew Elkwood, M.D. of the Plastic Surgery Center in Shrewsbury, NJ.

Yesterday’s surgery was performed on a 65-year old Monmouth County man, who was left paraplegic after being caught in a gunshot crossfire several years ago. As part of the procedure, Dr. Elkwood and his team surgically removed nerves from the patient’s paralyzed legs to his chest and successfully relieved the acute pain caused by the pressure ulcers. Ultimately, the surgery is intended to stimulate sensation in the patient’s posterior.

Dr. Elkwood commented, “Our goal was to first fix the immediate problem, the pressure sores, and then attempt to fix the cause. We are extremely pleased with the initial results of the procedure and are therefore encouraged by the long-term potential for the surgery. Specifically, if this proves successful, it can be life-altering for tens of thousands of wheelchair-bound patients whose lives are subjugated by acute pressure ulcers and sores.”

Images available upon request.

About Dr. Elkwood

Dr. Andrew Elkwood, M.D., is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who practices at The Plastic Surgery Center in Shrewsbury, NJ. He performs unique operations involving nerve transplantation and complex reconstruction. Dr. Elkwood is a pioneer in sural nerve grafting procedures, where he transfers nerves from one part of a patient’s body to another to treat life-altering injuries. He also uses this procedure to eliminate common side effects caused by prostate cancer removal, such as impotence and incontinence. Dr. Elkwood serves as the Chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ, and is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery in General Surgery and Plastic Surgery. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgery (FACS) and a Fellow of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Plastic Surgery Center

An editorial published in this week’s Lancet is highly optimistic regarding President-elect Obama’s ability to influence real change in health care policy - one of the United States’ most divisive political issues.

“Health system strengthening must be a top priority for the new administration if 46 million uninsured US residents are to have access to health care,” say the writers of the editorial. “Obama’s plans to offer a range of payment choices, his commitment to ensure that all children have health insurance, and the requirement that insurance companies cover pre-existing conditions are positive steps towards an inclusive health system. In addition, Medicaid and Medicare must be rebuilt, reinforced, and fully supported.”

They add that, “It was encouraging to hear UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown say at last week’s international conference on the Social Determinants of Health in London that Barack Obama is committed to tackling domestic and global inequality.”

According to the editorial, Obama’s plan for global health must consider climate change, two ongoing wars, and trade relations. The writers propose six steps with which Obama can effect meaningful change:

1. “Health equity and human security should be a stated objective of foreign policy.”
2. “The DHHS Director of Global Health Affairs, Bill Steiger - who has badly hurt America’s reputation in global health - should be replaced with a more experienced and appropriate politician.”
3. “Mark Dybul, the head of PEPFAR - the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, undoubtedly the biggest triumph of the Bush administration despite its controversies - will likely be swiftly replaced. Strong leadership from a respected international expert, such as Jim Kim, could help to negate PEPFAR’s dogmatic and damaging policies - for example, its preference for abstinence-until-marriage programmes.”
4. “Just as George W Bush reinstated the global gag rule - a law that forces recipients of federal funding to agree that they will not perform or promote abortion as a method of family planning - in his first day in office, Obama could reverse this decision as soon as he is inaugurated and so improve women’s access to sexual and reproductive health in a single stroke.”
5. “A public commitment to agree to spend the internationally agreed target of 0.7% of gross national income on aid by 2015 would set a good example to the international community.”
6. “As a signal that the USA is committed to human rights, Obama could bring the USA in line with most other UN member states by ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.”

The writers also hope that Obama will not be as antagonistic towards the UN system as the Bush administration was.

“The choice of the next UN Ambassador is pivotal to improving these relationships, in health as well as in other domains,” concludes the editorial. “An increase in support - including financial support - for WHO would be a sign that the USA wishes to re-engage with the global health community. President-elect Obama is a reminder about what is great about the USA and that, indeed, ‘change can happen’. The fruits of that change will be judged by tangible improvements to the welfare and health of Americans - and those affected by American foreign policy.”

Obama and health: change can happen
The Lancet (2008). 372[9651]: p. 1708.
Click Here to View Journal Website

Identifying malnutrition before surgery in massive weight loss patients seeking body contouring will significantly decrease surgical complications, accelerate wound healing, improve scar quality and boost patient energy levels, according to a study in the December issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery(R), the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Optimizing nutrition with the addition of supplements, such as powder drinks and multi-vitamin tablets formulated for massive weight loss patients, is vital to successful body contouring surgery, the study reveals.

“Body contouring procedures for massive weight loss patients are major operations with large incisions in many areas that demand a lot of the body during the healing process,” said ASPS Member Surgeon and study co-author Dennis Hurwitz, MD. “By carefully monitoring nutritional deficiencies preoperatively and supplementing the patient with the necessary nutrients, minerals and vitamins, I have seen a significant decrease in complications and improved postoperative healing. In my practice, I won’t do body contouring procedures on this patient population without a preoperative regimen of nutritional supplements.”

The study was performed in two parts; First, medical literature regarding nutrition’s effect on healing from the 1940s to the present was reviewed. The authors then compared healing and wound problems in 75 of their massive weight loss body contouring patients from 2001 to 2005 who did not receive supplementation, with 37 patients from 2006 to present, who participated in a uniquely designed nutritional supplement program prior to surgery. The study also noted the role of each nutrient in wound healing and immune response.

The study found that complications and wound problems occurred in 66 percent of the 75 patients who did not receive supplementation before 2006. In the 37 patients on the nutritional supplement regimen after 2006, major complication rates were reduced to 19 percent. The study found specifically that improving nutritional deficiencies in massive weight loss patients improved the healing process, wound tension, and scar quality, in addition to increasing patients’ energy levels.

Because of reduced calorie intake for massive weight loss patients, they are highly susceptible to malnutrition, the study observed. At one year after bariatric surgery, most patients’ food intake remains at about 1,000 calories per day, not even close to meeting standard recommendations regarding calories and protein intake. The study also noted the role various nutrients play in wound healing: Protein, vitamins A, B complex, C, arginine, glutamine, iron, zinc and selenium promote wound healing, collagen production and immune response; Vitamin B complex has also been associated with reducing the risk of deep vein thrombosis.

According to the ASPS, nearly 67,000 body contouring procedures after massive weight loss were performed in 2007.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. Representing more than 6,700 physician members, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

American Society of Plastic Surgeons
http://www.plasticsurgery.org

Advances in breast surgery have this year hit an all time high, with the introduction of Macrolane to the UK and with the growing popularity of Transaxillary Incision. Both procedures equal great results without unsightly scars.

SurgiCare, a leading UK cosmetic surgery provider, is always looking for the next advancement in cosmetic procedures in order to offer patients different options to match different required results. Surgicare works with a portfolio of surgeons, such as Egon Eder, who specialise in pioneering new procedures.

The non surgical arena is Surgicare’s fastest growing offering, as well as sustained rapid growth in Breast Augmentations, and it is a natural step to offer Macrolane to its ever evolving portfolio.

Egon Eder explains the benefits: “Macrolane is perfect for women who want to enhance the natural shape of their breasts. Perhaps they have lost volume after child birth or weight loss or they want to correct uneven breast size. Macrolane involves an injectable treatment, similar to a dermal filler and is carried out under a local anaesthetic. One of the main advantages of using Macrolane for breast enhancement is seeing the results instantly as well as the treatment leaving no scarring. Obviously each patient is different and the average result will last between 12-18 months. I would advise that patients have a yearly top-up to maintain optimum results.

Egon Eder is also a specialist in Transaxillary Incision (transax or armpit incision). This type of incision is used in the placement of implants for breast augmentations. To avoid scarring, an incision is made in the natural folds of the armpit tissue then a channel is created up to the breast. The implant is then inserted and moved through the channel and positioned and centered behind the nipple. Egon Eder said: “The biggest advantage with the Transaxillary Incision is that the scar is not on the breast.”

Mark Bury, chief executive of Surgicare says: “We are constantly looking to evolve our surgical and non-surgical offering and this year seems to be the year breast surgery has taken yet another step. With the help of our surgeons like Egon Eder, we will be able to offer new techniques across our entire cosmetic portfolio.”

For more information or to arrange a consultation with SurgiCare call 0800 62 22 22 or visit http://www.surgicare.co.uk

With news that the Government will not deregulate Class 3B and 4 Lasers and Intense Pulse Light Sources (IPL) on 1 October 2008 as planned*, Jenny Driscoll, Health Campaigner, Which? says:

“We’re delighted the Government has listened to consumers and industry, deciding not to deregulate cosmetic laser treatments in October**. Thousands more people would have been needlessly harmed or scarred if the proposals had gone ahead***, and it is encouraging to see that the consultation process has been effective.

“Now the Government must take the time to have a serious, in-depth look at this rapidly expanding industry. Current and future regulations must not only be effective and robust, but policed efficiently in clinics across the country, making sure consumers are protected. Laser treatments should change lives for the better, not the worse.”

* Private and Voluntary Healthcare, Care Standards Act 2000, Regulations and National Minimum Standards, Consultation Document

** The Government published its consultation paper on Private and Voluntary Health Care: Care Standards Act 2000′ in March 2008 which included partial deregulation of lasers and intense pulsed light sources - Class 3B or Class 4 laser products and intense pulsed light (IPL).

***The Government stated that cosmetic laser deregulation could cost the NHS an extra £1.8 million a year as well as doubling the rate of ‘adverse incidents’ such as people getting burns. (Source: Department of Health (March 2008) Private and Voluntary Healthcare: Care Standards Act 2000, [Appendix A: Deregulation of lasers and lights - possible effect on number of adverse incidents]).

What Which? has done:

- In June 2008 Which? submitted a response to the deregulation proposals which stated that the Government was basing its decision to deregulate laser treatments on an ‘inadequate assessment’ on the effects of such a move on both consumers and the NHS.

- In July 2008, over thirty patient groups, medical bodies, cosmetic clinics and industry representatives joined forces with Which? to oppose Government plans to stop regulating cosmetic laser treatments from 1 October. The groups signed a joint letter to Health Minister Ben Bradshaw MP, calling on him to halt Government plans to remove non-surgical laser treatments, like hair removal and skin treatments, from current healthcare regulation. Which? said that the Government had underestimated the financial impact of such a change on the NHS, the cosmetic treatment industry and the number of people burned as a result.

WHICH

Even as many of us yearn to wear the sheer, body-hugging fashions available today, we are stopped by our rear reflection and the sight of dreaded back fat rolls and lumps. A study published in the October issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), reveals a new back lift procedure that removes these unsightly bumps and bulges while hiding the scar under the bra line.

“For many patients - even the very fit ones, such as an aerobics instructor - the upper to mid-line back where the rolls and bulges form was very frustrating,” said senior author Joseph Hunstad, MD and ASPS Member Surgeon. “This redundancy of skin occurs generally from aging and cannot be exercised away. For those who desire to wear form-fitting outfits, this procedure eliminates the problem.”

The study reviewed seven female patients who had the bra-line back lift between 2001 and 2007 with an average follow-up of 22 months. Pre-operative marks were placed to outline the patient’s brassiere, as well as delineate the excess back tissue to be removed. The procedure removed the redundant skin, sometimes up to 8 or 10 inches wide, and connected the remaining tissue together. According to the study, the procedure takes about an hour from start to finish. The authors have completed the bra-line back lift on 20 patients to date.

The study found minimal complications and about two weeks after surgery, patients were allowed to increase their activity levels based on their discomfort. Feedback from all seven patients was uniformly positive, according to the study.

The study concluded that the procedure is a safe and powerful method to contour the middle and upper back - literally removing all of the back rolls and folds. By placing the scar within the patient’s bra-line, it is easily concealed even by a two-piece bathing suit, according to the study.

“This is an exciting new procedure that gives patients concerned about this area of their body a possible new option to discuss with their plastic surgeon,” said James Wells, Chair of the ASPS Public Education Committee. “As with all new procedures that are not yet widely practiced, patients need to choose an ASPS Member Surgeon who has a comprehensive understanding of how bodies change over time, the impact of environment and lifestyle and the know-how to develop the best treatment plan for the best result.”

According to the ASPS, more than 19,500 lower back lifts were performed in 2007. Currently, statistics for upper back lifts are not available.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. Representing more than 6,700 physician members, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 90 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
ASPS Media Relations
American Society of Plastic Surgeons

In noisy environments, prosthetic ears may improve hearing and speech recognition, according to an article released on September 15, 2008 in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

When the outer ear, also called the pinna, is removed surgically or significantly damaged by trauma, patients may require prosthetic ears, according to the article. The authors describe the situation faced by these patients: “Their external auditory canal is usually intact, and the remainder of their auditory system should function normally,” they say. “In these patients, the physician must strive not only to correct the aesthetic defect caused by the missing pinna but also to correct the hearing loss caused by its absence.”

To investigate the potential effects of a prosthetic ear on the patient, William E. Walsh, M.D., C.M.I., of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, and colleagues examined eight different silicone rubber prostheses in a two part study. First, the researchers experimented using a life-sized head made of foam, with a 12-millimeter hole drilled at the location of the external auditory canal. Placing a microphone at the entrance of the ear canal, the sound pressure with and without the prosthesis as the head rotated.

The prosthesis improved the sound volume acquired by 8.1 decibels when the frequency of the sound was 4.6 kilohertz. This increase was 9.7 decibels when the frequency was 11.5 kilohertz.

In the second part of the study, the researchers examined whether this improvement would actually benefit patients. A total 11 English-speaking young adults with normal hearing took a speech test in two different forms. The first was unmodified, ,while the second allowed the acoustic effects caused by the absense of a pinna were stimulated, based on the data from the study made with the foam head. Participants sat in front of two speakers,  one playing normal speech and one playing white noise. The participants then plugged their left ears and tried to understand the sentences. The sound level of the speech was gradually increased, one decibel at a time, until the participant could understand all of the sentences. This was repeated with the prosthesis over the opposite ear.

The prosthesis used in this tests improved the average ratio of speech to noise at which the subject was able to understand all of the sentences heard. The authors of the study claim this “answers the question whether the gain measured in a model system actually improves a patient’s hearing,”

The continue, discussing prosthetic ears in the context of improved acoustics. “Auricular prostheses provide an acoustic gain at certain head positions and frequencies, and this acoustic gain is clinically relevant because it benefits speech recognition in noise.” They continue: “In some individuals, auricular prostheses not only effectively restore aesthetics but also may improve hearing. To verify the results of the present experiments, the main outcome measures described in this study will be used to obtain future measurements from individuals who wear auricular prostheses.”

The Importance of Auricular Prostheses for Speech Recognition
William E. Walsh, MD, CMI; Brian Dougherty, BS; David J. Reisberg, DDS; Edward L. Applebaum, MD; Chirag Shah, BS; Patrick O’Donnell, MD; Claus-Peter Richter, MD, PhD
Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2008;10(5):321-328.
Click Here For Abstract

Company will launch SmoothShapes at “EADV Congress” in Paris beginning today
Elemé™ Medical Inc., a private venture-backed aesthetics company building a franchise in the body shaping market with an initial focus on treatment of cellulite, announced today that it has received CE Mark approval of its FDA-cleared SmoothShapes® System. The Company also announced that it is launching the SmoothShapes device internationally at the “17th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology”, Sept. 17-21, Paris. The product launch will include an Elemé Medical-sponsored symposium: “Impacting Cellulite: A Discussion with SmoothShapes® Experts.”

The SmoothShapes® System uses a proprietary technology called Photomology® that features a unique mechanism of action combining dynamic laser and light energy with mechanical massage and vacuum. This process affects the tissue responsible for the appearance of cellulite-enlarged fat cells and inflexible collagen. SmoothShapes stimulates restoration of healthy cell activity by focusing on both the physical manifestations of cellulite and its underlying causes. Treatments provide improved appearance of cellulite with longer-lasting results that patients can see and feel.

“Based on our technology’s robust scientific foundation, we expect considerable interest in SmoothShapes from dermatologists attending the EADV Congress,” said Nancy M. Briefs, President and CEO. “These clinicians will place high value on the fact that the regulatory-approved claims about SmoothShapes are based exclusively on results obtained in rigorous, independent and ongoing clinical studies of our System. Consequently, we anticipate that SmoothShapes will be able to quickly establish solid traction in European markets.”

The Elemé Medical-sponsored symposium, “Impacting Cellulite: A Discussion with SmoothShapes® Experts”, will include a panel of international dermatology experts: Christine Dierickx, M.D. (Boom, Belgium); Nathalie Fournier, M.D. (Clapiers, France); Serge Mordon, Ph.D. (Lille, France); Klaus Fritz, M.D. (Landau, Germany); and, Michail Pankratov, M.D., Ph.D. (Vice President, Regulatory & Clinical Affairs, Elemé Medical).

About EADV

The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) advances excellence in clinical care, research, education, and training in the fields of Dermatology and Venereology. Its mission is essentially realized through its Congresses and Symposia, the publication of its official scientific journal, The Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (JEADV), and provision of CME accreditation.

About Elemé Medical™

Elemé Medical Inc., headquartered in Merrimack, N.H., is dedicated to providing market-leading technology in all areas of body shaping. SmoothShapes® System with pioneering Photomology® technology is a medical device with FDA clearance and CE Mark approval to market. The Company’s name, when spoken phonetically, suggests “lasers, medicine and aesthetics.”

Elemé Medical™