12 Friday Dec 2008
Posted in Marketing
MD Skin Secrets has decided to partner with digital design and marketing company, DRMG out of Naples Florida. Digital Response Marketing Group is a full service web marketing and branding company based in Naples Florida. We are looking forward to bootstrapping our brand and our product line with such a pretigious group of marketing talent. More news to come stay tuned!
22 Thursday Nov 2007
Posted in Skin Repair
With the recent media attention concerning plastic surgery gone astray, there are specific questions the potential patient should ask prior to going under the knife…
Any surgical procedure has inherent risk, especially when performed outside of a controlled facility. I believe in preventive maintenance and non-invasive cosmetic treatments for the aging “baby boomer”. So many alternatives have been introduced relative to “anti-aging”, that the choices have become a blur of promises that the fountain of youth has been discovered.
From my soon to be published book, MD Skin Secrets – A Natural Discovery, I identify the fact that a lot of surgeons are jumping on the cosmetic band wagon. Some common sense approaches are recommended as well as the state of affairs in the specialty of “cosmetic surgery.
Below are a few excerpts…
10.2 million Cosmetic procedures were performed in 2005 according to the A.S.P.S. (American Society of Plastic Surgeons).15 In the last few years it seems everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. I’m not sure if the public has noticed, but “cosmetic surgeons” are appearing on every corner. Physicians that trained in ear, nose and throat or general surgery are certifying themselves to become, “facial plastic surgeons”. Most are qualified doctors, but specializing in cosmetic procedures after medical school is something new to the health-care profession.
Supply and demand is driving this trend in the baby boomer age. If you don’t believe that “skin is in”, just pull out your phone book and look for physicians and cosmetic surgeons. You will find a plethora of choices, but read the fine print. This is a “sub-secret” you may not be aware of when it comes to “plastic surgery”. Just as you should read the labels and check out ingredients when you purchase skin care products, the same due-diligence is required if you chose cosmetic surgery.
A “board certified” plastic surgeon can be easily identified; just look for the circle.16 Usually visible on print ads or office materials, you can’t miss the logo, a simple broken circle. There are a lot of fine surgeons in practice today, so don’t take this little “secret” as anything more than factual information. But board certified plastic surgeons are subjected to additional training and specialize in plastic and reconstructive surgery, during medical school. Of course, additional certifications and advanced training is normal for some physicians, but you are the judge. Post medical school classes are a little different and certainly not as intensive as the real thing. Multi-tasking may be the new thing, but when it comes to specific surgical procedures, find out how many have been performed and what are the credentials. Corrective surgeries for unsuccessful cosmetic procedures are becoming more prevalent, so do your comparative shopping. This is a great area to take advantage of the best method of advertising known to man; word of mouth. Ask around before you commit to a surgeon and get references!
Under the knife
Too many people decide to go under the knife before reviewing the “less-invasive” alternatives to surgery. Aside from carefully selecting a surgeon that specializes in a specific cosmetic procedure, seek consultation relative to the multitude of high-tech treatments available today. It is simply amazing what some of the new devices and topical products can do for your appearance, so don’t just sign the consent form before you do some research.
Broad spectrum lasers and an array of topical treatments abound, all backed by credible physicians and companies. The choices might make you dizzy, but again, ask friends and associates for recommendations. Be cautious of the media, many may have a hidden agenda. Nothing beats the honest opinion of someone that has had it done themselves. I hate to admit this, but even some of the professional cosmetic facilities can be tainted. Having spent thousands on the latest laser or device, they are motivated to sell customers treatment packages to help pay for the investment. With so many products on the market, as we discussed, you don’t always get what you pay for but you’re stuck with what you drove off the lot.
I believe there are many “non-invasive” and preventive measures that may reduce the signs of aging or enhance your appearance. Concurrently, there are stages or time-line considerations relative to your treatment modalities. Depending on your age as well as the “state of your skin”, distinct categories should be recognized when it comes to expectations. Again, less is often more….
15 Thursday Nov 2007
Posted in Skin Repair
The baby boomers have spoken…”Skin is in”
80 million strong and growing, those born between 1946 and 1964 are not aging quietly. Backed by the largest supply of disposable income in history, the “boomers” are kicking and screaming into the golden years, demanding age delaying solutions as they go.
Witness the glut of advertising, infomercials, and media attention focused on lotions, potions, and treatments for “anti-aging”. Walk into any high-end department store and observe what greets you at the main entrance; skin care and cosmetics. Profit per square foot rules in the retail world, and demand dictates what consumers see first. Give the people what they want, and they want anything that will slow the ravages of time, the fountain of youth. Marketing experts monitor what is hot, and skin care is not a fad, it is an established trend not expected to end anytime soon.
Worldwide, skin care is a 50 billion dollar industry, as of 2005. It’s estimated that Americans will spend over 7 billion annually on skin care products alone by 2010! Spas, salons, and professional skin care centers are the rage today, much like the fitness center boom of the 1980’s. From facials to hair removal, skin resurfacing to laser procedures, wrinkle creams and “secret” ingredients, it’s a sellers market.
The problem; what offers hope, and what is hype? Who do you believe, what do you buy, what really works? Are the claims based on reality and research, or just well produced commercial attempts to separate you from your money?
I have devoted the last 15 years of my professional sales and marketing career representing a variety of medical products, aesthetic devices, and topical skin care solutions. Regardless of product effectiveness, the company or the intent, the common denominator was advertising, sales, and profits. The chief objective was to convince, persuade, and produce. Of course, not all of my experience with most of these corporations was negative or misleading. But buyer beware, what you see is not always what you get.
The behind the scenes, insider trading tips are usually privy to those dependent on a paycheck or commission. Company secrets are kept close to the vest, and the competition for market share is intense. Notice the abundance of skin care brands available, no different than other industries, from coffee to automobiles. Yet these promises are not better taste, gas mileage or safety, but that your skin will benefit. We all know cars work, coffee picks us up each day, but in skin care, it’s often “show me the money”, results aside. In this day and age of downsizing, corporate layoffs, and economic transition, holding the company line is required. Job security is a thing of our parents or even grandparents, therefore, the executives within an organization today are driven to keep what they have.
They say much of marketing is painting a shiny red coat on a product, if it happens to work, then that’s icing on the cake. Like the wizard of Oz hiding behind his curtain, creating a false image with load noises and flashing lights, most of us have no idea what’s really in the bottle. We wish we could just click our heels, discover the truth and go home.
In the spring of 1999 I was introduced to a “Natural Discovery” that has changed the course of my life. This amazing all-natural by-product has helped many aging baby boomers feel better about themselves. It has helped many patients recovering from surgery or injury regain their original appearance, hiding the evidence of the event. Physicians and skin care professionals now have a chemical free alternative to all the high priced mass produced products dominating the anti-aging landscape.
Still in its infancy, this unique essential fatty acid is rising up the charts, threatening to knock off the mega stars of the industry with their multi-million dollar marketing campaigns. Edified by recent research conducted by board certified plastic surgeons, embraced by patients and customers, this discovery has given me a purpose for a lifetime. I believe it will offer anyone interested in caring for their skin or the skin of a loved one, a reason to believe…..Stay tuned for more…
