Situated in one of the world’s most revered playgrounds, the third 5 Continent Congress in Cannes, Cote D’Azur, attracted physicians of all specialties from around the world who were eager to be introduced to the latest techniques and practical application of lasers and aesthetic medicine. Palais des Festivals et des Congrès has something every conference centre needs—360 degrees of windows with a view of the sea.
In keeping with the international theme, the 5CC Board includes seven leading dermatologists from the US, Europe, Israel and Asia: Maurice Adatto, Switzerland; Henry Chan, Hong Kong; Christine Dierickx, Belgium; Klaus Fritz, Germany; Michael Gold and David Goldberg, USA; and Moshe Lapidoth, Israel. This year’s Scientific Chair was dermatologist Shlomit Halachmi from Israel. The expanded Scientific Board includes plastic surgeons Benjamin Ascher, France, and Jason Pozner, facial plastic surgeon Randolph Waldman from the USA, dermatologist Joel Cohen, USA, and Danny Vleggaar, France.
5CC delivered four consecutive tracks for 4 packed days (18–22 September) covering neuromodulators, fillers, cosmeceuticals, emerging technologies, lasers and light based devices, and clinic marketing. Featuring a stellar faculty from over 30 countries on five continents, the intimate lecture rooms provide an opportunity for extensive audience participation and debate. Diamond sponsors of this year’s congress were Syneron–Candela, Solta Medical, and MyoScience.
[pull_quote source=”David Goldberg, MD” align=”left” ]5CC is growing with every congress, which is why we selected the Palais de Carnival to host the meeting this year. It offers the room and ambience to expand the program and make this a world class congress.[/pull_quote] The 2013 faculty boasted over 100 cosmetic dermatologists and plastic surgeons from 30 countries. The programme featured an in-depth analysis of current non-invasive aesthetic treatments. The scientific content has been specifically geared toward assessing the aesthetic needs of diverse cultures, treating skin of colour, and enhancing facial structures from various parts of the world.
According to Congress President, David Goldberg, ‘5CC is growing with every congress, which is why we selected the Palais de Carnival to host the meeting this year. It offers the room and ambience to expand the programme and make this a world class congress attracting delegates from multiple specialties.’
The 2013 meeting significantly expanded coverage of topics in cosmetic dermatology and plastic surgery with the aim of teaching clinicians the most up-to-date techniques and presenting the key studies that shape everyday practice. This year, 5CC added an interesting pre-conference programme that covered advances in peels, fillers, toxins, energy-based devices and cosmeceuticals, workshops with hands-on sessions and live demonstrations. The scientific sessions also focused on the analysis of cutting-edge topics such as stem cells and biocellular therapies, LED and photomodulation, and nanotechnology.
‘What an absolutely perfect place and time of year for a conference! There was an excellent session on hand rejuvenation. The multispecialty approach to rejuvenation challenges is extremely enlightening,’ said Susan H. Weinkle, MD, Immediate Past President, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS).
‘It was a wonderful and highly informative meeting and it was a pleasure to present and participate. I enjoyed meeting colleagues from all over the world, learning of new and creative treatments and techniques for tissue tightening and rejuvenation,’ said Doris Day, MD, New York Dermatologist.
Laser-assisted drug delivery
Additional sessions were designed to facilitate approaches that combine home device-based treatments, minimally-invasive procedures, topicals, and injections. ‘I was very interested in the use of technology to drive active ingredients deeper into the dermis,’ said New Orleans Dermatologist Mary Lupo.
According to Michael H. Gold, MD, a dermatologist in Nashville, Tennessee: ‘Among the newest innovations are therapies in the area of enhanced drug and cosmeceutical delivery with devices. Skin lightening agents including hydroquinone, azelaic acid, hydroxyl acids, retinoids, corticosteroids, as well as agents for hair loss such as minoxidil, latanoprost, topical anti-androgens, and finasteride can potentially be delivered into the skin with the use of energy based devices.’ Bimatoprost is also being studied for its ability to repigment skin.
He continues: ‘There is also a study underway looking at the use of topical vitamin C post ablative laser for its ability to reduce oedema and increase healing. The Legato Skin Barrier Breakthrough System from Alma Lasers is being studied for mature scars, post acne scars, stretch marks, skin lightening, skin rejuvenation, and immediately following the removal of sutures. The combined use of cosmeceuticals with transepidermal delivery system like the Legato may be highly effective in increasing collagen fibres.’
The Cosmeceuticals session was another popular one, featuring Drs Gold, Farris, Moirand, Bucay, Li, Ghannam, Kerscher, and Sachdev. The panelists covered the role of cosmeceuticals in a laser practice, managing hyperpigmentation, DNA repair, resveratrol effects on photoageing, and new cosmeceutical delivery systems.
