Amy B. Lewis, M.D. graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania. She then received her Medical Degree, with the highest honors, from the Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Lewis then moved to the New York area for a medical internship at Cornell/New York Hospital and completed her Dermatology residency at Downstate Medical Center as Chief Resident. She returned to Yale for a fellowship in Dermatological Laser and Reconstructive Surgery. After completing this specialized training, Dr. Lewis began working in private practice, while also performing several clinical studies pioneering Dermatological lasers at the Washington Institute for Dermatological Laser Surgery. She then settled in Manhattan, where she has built a premier private practice specializing in Cosmetic and Laser dermatology. Haute Beauty expert Dr. Amy Lewis shares aesthetic trends that are changing in the beauty industry.

Photo Credit: ShutterstockAs a dermatologist in my 3rd decade of practice (and proud of it!) I marvel at the advancements in cosmetic medicine.

The aesthetic space is growing by leaps and bounds with so many new treatment options. We have mastered injectables for the face, “facial sculpting” with toxins and fillers adding more improvement for tone, texture, and coloration with advanced energy lasers and devices. But the technology keeps getting even better. Injectables as a non-surgical alternative are minimally invasive and offer little to no downtime making cosmetic dermatology more accessible, more popular, and more acceptable. People are not afraid to talk about it and tell their friends. I want to thank all my patients for the word of mouth!

We have all heard the adage “you can tell someone’s age by the hands or the neck.” Let’s take this even further– don’t forget the chest, arms, legs, the entire body! Aesthetic medicine has now grown to include body sculpting and rejuvenation. Body sculpting fits into cosmetic dermatology perfectly, technology has now caught up to allow us to do what we should have been doing all along. Skin is the largest organ on our body, protecting our interiors from harsh exteriors. We don’t want to cut into this amazing skin unless we have to. It’s worth repeating that at the core is this: non-invasive; non-surgical; minimally invasive; minimal or no downtime.

Despite our increasingly busy lives, we are more aware and in search of improvement in health, well-being, and youthfulness. The appeal of a non-surgical approach with little recovery time is strong and has spread to body procedures. Aesthetic medicine has now grown to include body sculpting rejuvenation. Treatments are in high demand to ward off the need for extensive intervention in the future: start early, never get deep lines, sagging skin, etc. Preventative measures, “pre-rejuvenation,” help our skin and body age better and healthier.

A growing trend from “the face to the fanny” is QWO, the first and only FDA-approved injectable treatment for cellulite in the buttocks. There is no cutting. It’s non-surgical without frustrating drawbacks and uncertain variable results.

Here are some findings taken by the Harris Poll Company in 2020, and not to be underestimated:

● 60% of women feel cellulite is their fault whether it be from lack of exercise or diet. Not true.
● 77% of women deal with cellulite by having it always on their mind- they think about it when they are on the beach, in the mirror, and getting dressed. It’s an irritant and a distraction of the mind!
● 74% of women feel no matter what they do they will always have cellulite.
● 72% of women wish their physicians would tell them more about treatment options that talk about the root cause of cellulite.

Photo Credit: ShutterstockQWO is a series of 3 treatments every 21 days. The injections, which take 10 minutes or less, target the thickened fibrous bands that connect the skin to muscle, pulling down the skin and pushing the fat lobules up creating those dimples. QWO contains enzymes that target Type 1 and 3 collagen in the hardened thick bands and break down the “bad” collagen in the fibrous bands. The tension on the skin is released, freeing the fat lobules to redistribute smoothing out the skin.

My patients and I are pleasantly surprised with the results from QWO. The operative word here is results, which brings me to two other successful body sculpting treatments: CoolSculpt and Neo Emsculpt.

When effort through diet and exercise is not enough nor working, CoolSculpting is a proven option. CoolSculpt is a non-surgical, fat reduction procedure utilizing controlled cold temperatures to eliminate stubborn fat. The body in the following weeks after treatment naturally processes and eliminates the fat dead cells. The fat-freezing procedure also reduces fat cells in the targeted area. The results are noticeable and lasting. If you can pinch it, we can freeze it away!

CoolSculpt works nicely with NEO Emsculpt, a new favorite body shaping technology. NEO Emsculpt is an innovative device that is the only existing non-surgical procedure that combines high-frequency electromagnetic fields with radiofrequency for simultaneous fat elimination, skin tightening, and muscle building in 20 – 30 minutes per session.

Here we target the skin, muscle, and fat, tightening the skin in the treated area with an average of 25% increase in muscle tone, and up to 30% fat reduction. The three combined actions in one treatment provide value with less time for busy lives. We have seen success with the biceps, triceps, abdomen, buttocks, and calf.

The maker of NEO Emsculpt, BTL, recently updated their state of the art technology with FDA approval for application to the front thighs, back thighs, outer thighs, and inner thighs. RF (radio frequency) is now also added at a lower temperature of 40C so that the applicators can target the buttocks to increase muscle and tighten skin without fat loss. It’s a non-surgical butt-lift! You do not want to lose fat in your bum. Just cellulite!

QWO, Coolsculpt, and NEO Emsculpt are a great start to our full body contouring and rejuvenation, making us a better version of ourselves. The future of cosmetic dermatology is more promising and exciting as we emerge from the COVID era.