By Dr Isabelle Yeoh | IYAC Aesthetic Clinic

Patients sometimes ask how we decide what treatments to bring into IYAC.

Yes, we know — with so many new machines, treatments, products and technologies appearing all the time, it can be difficult to know what is really useful and what is simply new (or hype!).

Over the years, many patients have placed their trust in us to help them make these decisions. We don’t take that trust lightly. Part of our role is to do the homework before something reaches our patients.

So we thought we would share a little of what we consider before introducing something new at IYAC.

We Start by Listening

Most of our decisions begin with a need — often something our patients have been asking us about.

Treating sagging eyelids is a good example. We have been using microfocused ultrasound with visualisation (MFU-V) around the eyes since 2013. We have also offered microneedling radiofrequency for almost a decade. Both are non-surgical treatments that work well, but may involve some discomfort and downtime.

As people’s lives get busier, we saw a need for another option — one that was relatively comfortable, with minimal downtime, while still giving worthwhile results at a reasonable price. That led us to look for and eventually introduce a radiofrequency treatment specifically suited to the eye area.

Sometimes the solution isn’t a treatment; it could be a product. For example, in 2015, patients frequently asked what they could use for fine lines around their eyes. That was one of the reasons we developed our own sleeping mask, which can also be used around the eye area.

The need comes first, then we look for the solution.

We’re Happy to Wait

We have never felt the need to be the first to introduce a new technology simply because it is new or getting a lot of attention.

Like computers and mobile phones, new technologies often go through some troubleshooting in their early years. A second or third generation may come along after manufacturers have had time to learn from real-world experience and improve on the earlier versions.

Waiting also gives us time to understand a technology better — its strengths, limitations, safety record and whether it offers something worthwhile for our patients.

Picosecond lasers are a good example. We watched the technology develop for several years before introducing one, as we wanted to be more certain that it offered enough improvement over the pigment treatments we were already using.

By the time we introduced picosecond technology, there was more clinical experience behind it, and we could see where it could improve the way we treated certain pigmentation problems.

We Like to Experience Treatments Ourselves

Where appropriate, our doctors and team experience new treatments ourselves before introducing them to patients.

Having the patient perspective helps us understand what our patients will go through.

Is it painful? Is the numbing adequate? How long does the skin take to recover? How long does it take to see results? How often does it need to be done?

These may seem like small details, but together they can make all the difference to the treatment experience.

Safety, Evidence and Support Matter

We look at the available clinical evidence, safety and regulatory requirements.

The company behind a treatment or product matters too. We prefer to work with established companies that provide ongoing training, technical and clinical support. We want to know that the support will still be there for the long haul.

Our team is trained before a new treatment is introduced, and the necessary regulatory requirements have to be in place before we proceed.

Once a treatment is introduced, we also conduct regular internal clinical audits. We do this by recording patients’ feedback and reviewing our results, with the aim of refining our protocols and continuously improving outcomes.

Sometimes We Need to Look Beyond the Treatment

Not every treatment suits every patient, and not every concern is best addressed with a procedure.

Sometimes there are other factors worth looking at. Nutrition, supplements, sleep, stress and other aspects of lifestyle can all affect how we look and feel.

This is part of our integrative approach to aesthetics — looking beyond the surface where appropriate and considering what may be contributing to the problem in the first place.

What It Comes Down To

What we recommend comes back to the individual — their concerns, skin, health and lifestyle, expectations and what they are comfortable with.

Sometimes that means recommending a treatment, sometimes a simpler option, and sometimes saying that we don’t think anything needs to be done.

After more than 20 years, we’ve learnt to keep listening, keep improving, and offer what we believe will help the people who have placed their trust in us.