Stephanie McLean Three days of intensive upskilling, education, and a glamorous Barbie Gala to celebrate Cosmedicon’s 8th year.
Held at the stunning Intercontinental Hotel in Double Bay, Sydney, this year’s Cosmedicon was an unmissable event. Kicking off with a full day of industry-supported workshops featuring Cryomed Aesthetics, Dermocosmètica, and Hugel Aesthetics, delegates had the opportunity to explore key topics such as Korean beauty, innovative treatment protocols, and hair restoration, as well as the latest advancements in skin bio-remodelling. This seamless format allowed attendees to move effortlessly between sessions, diving into areas of interest with ease. This year’s event also included sessions on facial injectable training and non-surgical rejuvenation techniques for beginners, providing essential support for new practitioners looking to enter the field of aesthetic medicine.
To wrap up the first day, attendees gathered for a welcome cocktail party sponsored by Cryomed Aesthetics, where they got an exclusive first look at the new Wonder Face device. This innovative device synchronises neuro-muscular stimulation and radio-frequency to lift and rejuvenate the skin, improving texture and pores. Beyond aesthetics, it also offers advanced treatment protocols for TMJ disorder (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder), lymphatic drainage, and targeted nasolabial fold therapy.
Day one of the scientific program featured leading local and international experts sharing key insights on facial rejuvenation, the impact of GLP-1 one year on, and a highly anticipated industry panel. Attendees also explored evolving surgical outcomes and the role of pre and post surgical wound care with Dr Ian Chinsee, while Dr Alistair Sloan provided an in-depth look into the ever-evolving world of exosomes and provided insights into their future development.
“An Industry in Turmoil” with Dr Gabi Caswell, Dr John Flynn, Dr Ian Holten, Jacinta King RN, Dr David Kosenko, Dr Tom Parmakellis, Sheri-lee Knoop, Presendent of CNA and Kate Evans of AHPRA.
This panel offered a real-time look at the challenges facing the aesthetics industry, giving the aesthetics community a valuable opportunity to ask questions directly to Kate Evans, Head of the Rapid Response Unit at AHPRA. Concerns raised included insurance, the Queensland Health’s interpretation of the Poisons Act, who was consulted in regards to the changes in AHPRA’s guideline, as well as a very candid overview of the state of the industry by Dr David Kosenko.
A key concern raised was the grey area surrounding insurance coverage for doctors prescribing cosmetic medications to nurses. In many cases, doctors prescribing to multiple cosmetic nurses—sometimes up to 20—may not be adequately covered, leaving them liable for any issues that arise.
To be adequately covered and meet registration requirements, the question was raised: “Should doctors be reporting the billings of the nurses they prescribe to?” To ensure compliance with guidelines and proper coverage, doctors may need to track and report the billings of the cosmetic nurses they prescribe to, highlighting a potential gap in current practices.
The conversation then shifted to the key stakeholders AHPRA consults when implementing legislation and why new guidelines are often announced just before busy periods or holidays, such as Christmas. There was a strong call for transparency, as many highly regarded experts attending the event noted that they had not been consulted in the process.
Dr David Kosenko highlighted the challenges of balancing the roles of both practitioner and business owner while navigating complex federal and state laws. He emphasised the difficulty of understanding the various industry bodies and boards that design guidelines, which are then left to practitioners to interpret. The biggest challenge, he noted, arises when seeking clarification from these bodies, the responses are often vague and unhelpful, leaving you uncertain you are doing the right thing.
Additional Highlights
Dr Ian Holten provided insights on how the industry can ensure patient honesty through thorough consultation and administrative processes, while Professor Terry Everitt highlighted common mistakes in sun protection and why we often get it wrong. This included using inadequate SPF, not applying enough sunscreen or not reapplying frequently enough.
Dr Ian Chinsee shared his approach to scar management, demonstrating the use of pre and post operative skincare from iS Clinical to optimise healing and outcomes with results that really blew the audience away.
Dr Hugo Ho showcased his skin-first approach to thread lifts, emphasising that while they bridge the gap between non-surgical and surgical treatments, they should be regarded as a standalone procedure. He also highlighted their uniqueness in being reversible, unlike some other non-surgical options on the market.
Dr Helen Maroulis reinforced this skin-first philosophy in her talk on PRP, emphasising the importance of using non-glass PRP tubes and highlighting the rapid growth of this market as consumers shift their focus away from surgery toward non-surgical, undetectable treatments.
This topic naturally segued into discussions on exosomes with Dr Alistair Sloan, who noted that while exosomes are a trending innovation, not all are created equally. He urged practitioners to thoroughly investigate the exosomes they use in their clinics—understanding their origin, purification process, and size to ensure efficacy and safety. Additionally, he forecasted that synthetic exosomes will be the next major development, as they allow for greater control over their contents and size selection, offering more predictable and targeted results.
The conference’s social events concluded with a Barbie themed gala dinner with attendees dressing up in their best Barbie and Ken costumes. Along with lots of food and dancing, prizes were won for the best dressed.
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