Consider expanding ophthalmic practice with cosmetic options
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KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — Ophthalmologists should consider implementing cosmetic options into their practices to meet growing demands and attract more patients, according to a presenter at Kiawah Eye.
“Our patients trust us with their vision, so they should definitely trust us with their appearance,” Daniel C. Garibaldi, MD, FACS, of OCLI Vision, said.
According to data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, cosmetic procedures experienced 19% growth from 2019 to 2022. Virtual meetings driven by the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted facial blemishes, mask mandates drew attention to periocular cosmetic complaints, and social influencers have highlighted lower facial and lip enhancements. Cosmetic blepharoplasty experienced 13% growth, while neurotoxin injections and filler injections increased by 73% and 70%, respectively.
“I can’t tell you how much my practice in cosmetics has increased since the pandemic, and it just keeps building year after year,” Garibaldi said.
Because ophthalmologists are already comfortable performing procedures in and around the eye and are well versed in its anatomy, they should consider starting with neurotoxin injections. The most common side effects are dry eye disease, ptosis, tearing and exposure, all of which are minimal and usually reversible with time.
When choosing a neurotoxin, Garibaldi said that it is important to seek proper training by attending a course or inviting a trainer to the office to learn about the differences between options.
“The differences are small, but they are there,” he said. “I’d encourage you to pick one to start with, get very comfortable with it, learn how your results are with that neurotoxin, and then you can move on to others.”
Ophthalmologists should begin with on-label procedures, including the removal of forehead lines and crow’s feet, before adding off-label injections once they are more comfortable with the neurotoxin of choice.
Once ophthalmologists are comfortable with neurotoxin injections, Garibaldi encouraged offering soft tissue fillers to add volume to areas of deficiency. He recommended starting with hyaluronic acid because it is easy to inject, typically well tolerated and reversible.
“You want to have ‘one-stop shopping,’” he said. “Patients are going to be looking for filler and Botox in one place.”
Reference:
- 2022 plastic surgery statistics.
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/plastic-surgery-statistics. Accessed June 17, 2024.
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Garibaldi DC. Introducing cosmetics to your ophthalmic practice. Presented at: Kiawah Eye; May 30-June 1, 2024; Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
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