As we move ever closer to IMCAS Asia in July, we take a look back at the high points from this year’s IMCAS congresses.

January: IMCAS Annual World Congress, Paris, France

This year’s aesthetic research and learning calendar got off to a flying start at the IMCAS Annual World Congress in Paris.

A record 7000 participants from 85 different countries attended the congress in January to discover the latest developments and hottest topics in aesthetic science.

The congress is renowned for its high-class teaching and learning, and this year over 500 international expert speakers flew in to share their tips and techniques over 250 learning hours.

The 2017 scientific program explored aesthetic practice from all the angles so practitioners could return to their patients with a complete picture of the latest advances in their domain.

The Anatomy on Cadaver Workshop, a long-time favorite among newcomers and loyal attendees alike, was again one of the best-attended sessions of the congress. Over a full day, experts performed live cadaver dissections, allowing an effective exploration of different facial and body zones, before applying that knowledge in live demonstrations on patients. This unique approach allowed an interesting insight into injections, thread lifts, mammary implants, lasers & EBD and vulvovaginal treatments. The workshop also included a live satellite link to Surabaya, Indonesia, part of IMCAS’ ever-growing global approach.

The full-day cosmeceuticals course was a highlight of day two in Paris, and reflected the continued interest in the field among aesthetic professionals. The set of sessions examined the science behind the topical products that are being created to combat skin and hair aging. The sessions also included a feature on “connected beauty” and culminated in market analysis as the speakers made their predictions for cosmeceuticals for the next five years.

The following day, two regional masterclasses put Eastern Europe and the Middle East in the spotlight. Over a full day of sessions, IMCAS took a closer look at these huge and important sections of the market, where physiology and cultural approaches to aesthetic science are markedly different to those of Western Europe and the USA.

Other full-day modules included face surgery, regenerative medicine, lipofilling, lasers & EBD, and, for the third year in a row, delegates could even continue learning during their lunch break with the IMCAS Beyond series. Three inspiring talks provided a fascinating insight into the future of the aesthetic medical world. The first asked whether biochip implants will be our future and the audience were clearly intrigued by a talk by Rainer Bock who, in 2015, had a Near Field Communications chip implanted in his left hand, which allowed him to directly communicate with other devices, such as smartphones and data readers. The next sessions explored robotics and simulators as the future of invasive and minimal invasive treatments, while the third and final session uncovered trends and predictions for aesthetic medicine and practitioners.

The IMCAS World Tribune celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. Over the last decade, the Tribune has enabled attendees to start the year with a clearer understanding of the developments and influences in the medical aesthetic market. During the three-hour session, the speakers first presented on market analysis, before moving onto two roundtable discussions on lasers and energy based devices and injectables, and closing with a series of interesting talks on industry strategy, given by CEOS of major industry players.

March: IMCAS Americas, Cancun, Mexico

The inaugural IMCAS Americas provided a unique platform for exchange between worldwide leaders in our domain, as experts discussed activities in North America and the flourishing Central and South American regions.

As in Paris, the Live Anatomy on Cadaver Workshop was well attended, with attendees benefiting from detailed dissections, streamed live from The School of Anatomy and Surgery of the Faculty of Medicine of Nice, France.

The first hour was presented in collaboration with the Research and Innovation Group in Genital Restoration (GRIG) and the American Hospital of Paris and delved into vulvovaginal rejuvenation treatments, while multiple satellite link-ups allowed a live commentary from experts at IMCAS Americas and The American Hospital of Paris. The sessions began with a combination of dissection and live demonstrations on suspending devices, before moving on to highly practical training on dangerous zones for fillers and toxins. The final session was dedicated to the neck and breasts, looking into submental and breast fat anatomy followed by an exploration of breast implants.

In fact, the ever-popular theme of breast surgery was given plenty of time for in-depth analysis, with an entire afternoon dedicated to this topic. Experts not only explored breast augmentation but also revealed the latest technology and techniques for breast shaping and reduction. This was followed by a teaching course on buttock treatments, of particular interest in Latin America, with buttock augmentation and remodeling being discussed further in sessions on suspending devices and lipofilling.

Over three days, delegates were not only be able to delve into the science behind all the major aesthetic procedures, but were also able to attend several sessions dedicated to marketing and practice management, offering a complete toolkit for anyone wanting to create or grow their private practice, update their online marketing skills and personal branding, or attracting and retain patients.

Coming in July: IMCAS Asia, Bali, Indonesia

After such a strong start, the industry will doubtless be looking forward to IMCAS’s next congress. Fortunately, there is not long to wait! IMCAS Asia will take place on July 21st to 23rd in Bali, Indonesia.

IMCAS Asia will be another unique event, shaped by the Asian aesthetic market and bringing the latest techniques, innovations and approaches to international attendees.

One distinctive section is IMCAS’s One-Day Surgery: France-Asia module, which comprises a whole day dedicated to aesthetic surgery. The objective of the day is to uncover and analyze the differences in cultural expectations, patient analysis and techniques in France, representing the European approach, versus various Asian countries. In each session, attendees will learn about the different perspectives of experts from both regions, enabling them to better tailor their surgical practice to their patients.

IMCAS will also bring its new target courses and product analysis sessions to Asia for the first time. The target courses are more intimate sessions on a specific topic with greater opportunity for discussion, while product analysis sessions allow attendees to have a clear non-commercial update on the latest products and devices currently available on the market. In short, each of IMCAS’s international congresses has its own distinctive atmosphere and approach and is not to be missed.

Sign up now for IMCAS Asia!