The Croatian Society of Aesthetic Medicine has once again pushed boundaries at the 12th Croatian Esthetic Medicine Symposium. Set in the fairy-tale town of Opatija, three days of lectures, over 500 participants, and 50 speakers gathered with one goal in mind: to advance the field of non-surgical methods and knowledge. As in previous years, the congress had a charitable aspect – this year it was in support of the Ukrainian association ZAGRAVA. What did the 12th CEMS bring? Find out below.
The Croatian Society for Aesthetic Medicine of the Croatian Medical Association (HDEM HZL) once again impressed all attendees with another edition of the Croatian Esthetic Medicine Symposium (CEMS). From March 17 to 19, 2023, Opatija shone with aesthetic brilliance. During these three days, the Hotel Ambasador became a paradise for all attendees at the international scientific-professional congress, which featured innovative lectures, tense panel discussions, and a marathon of live demonstrations. In addition to a large number of domestic lecturers and experts, this year’s CEMS also brought together numerous international experts and lecturers – one thing is for sure, there was not enough room in the lecture hall!
During the three-day congress, medical and dental doctors attentively followed lectures, panel discussions, and live demonstrations, mostly on the topic of non-surgical aesthetic medicine, with panel discussions on dermatology and social media. This year’s Croatian Esthetic Medicine Symposium (CEMS) covered a broad spectrum of topics, justifying the size and importance of this congress. Each year, CEMS takes a step forward, as demonstrated this year, with a change in location and new content. Numerous domestic and foreign experts participated in panel discussions and sections, presenting new methods and techniques in their respective fields. At CEMS, a new study by Dr. Albina Kajaia titled “Sustained Improvements in Lower Facial Volume, Width, and Angle After a Single Treatment With Onabotulinum Toxin A for Masseter Muscle Prominence” was presented for the first time, followed by clinical experiences using Vistabel and Juvederm Volite fillers. The attendees in the hall had the honor of being the first to hear the study and see its results, which were later shared with the rest of the medical world.
With great excitement and anticipation, the grand opening of the 12th Croatian Esthetic Medicine Symposium was welcomed, with opening speeches from Asst. Prof. Željko Rotim, Prim. Siniša Glumičić, Prof. Goran Hauser, Prof. Sonja Ribarić Pezelj, and Prof. Viktor Peršić. With this ceremony, the wait was over and CEMS shone in full glory.
As is tradition, the plenary lecture on non-surgical methods of aesthetic medicine was given by Academician Mirna Šitum, President of the Ethics Committee of the HDEM HZL, who raised the issue of beauty and pain this year. “Are we treating healthy people in aesthetic medicine?” was the main question posed by the Academician during the lecture, in which she sought to describe this phenomenon that occurs in aesthetic medicine, which has become widely accessible to everyone in today’s world.
Biostimulators as a hot trend in aesthetic medicine
Experts presented new technologies, products, and treatments, with a constantly active audience asking questions about the latest trends in aesthetic medicine and surgery. Currently, the biggest trend in aesthetic medicine was presented – biostimulators as a game-changer in aesthetic medicine.
The section dedicated to biostimulators was led by Asst. Prof. Aleksandar Milenović, Secretary-General of HDEM HZL, and Prof. Roberto Ruffa. Biostimulators are currently the biggest trend in aesthetic medicine and have thus found their place at CEMS, which seeks to create new trends and talk about existing ones. In addition to the chairs, eminent doctors, Dr. Nevia Delalle, Dr. Boris Filipović, Dr. Bruno Cvjetičanin, and Dr. Branislav Lukić, also spoke about biostimulators. Ukrainian eminent Dr. Vladlena Averina also responded to the topic of biostimulators at this year’s congress, rounding off the theme of biostimulators.
One of the most intriguing topics this year, which drew the attention of many, was titled “Is Everything Always About Sex?” and generated great interest among the participants of the congress. The chairman, Asst. Prof. Vladimir Mozetič, led this issue through the section and was joined on stage by Prof. Mykola Boiko, Dr. Nina Bašić Marković, and Dr. Oksana Yesypchuk. Numerous topics were discussed within this section, with an equal focus on female and male genital health and corrective methods for both genders. The audience showed the most interest in the lecture of Ukrainian sexologist and urologist Prof. Mykola Boiko, who gave an interactive presentation on various penis enlargement methods he had encountered and shared the results with our audience.
Hot topics of this year’s CEMS
The Croatian Society for Aesthetic Medicine once again gathered a large number of foreign speakers at this year’s conference. World-renowned names in aesthetic medicine such as Dr. Andrew R. Christie Schwarz, Dr. Albina Kajaia, Dr. Vladlena Averina, and Dr. Ismail Kucuker, along with other eminent speakers from the region and the world, filled the lecture hall at Hotel Ambasador. With their notable and highly attended presentations, the global experts brought non-surgical medicine trends to Croatia and shared their methods with detailed explanations of each step through live demonstrations. In addition to setting new trends, one of the main rules of this year’s CEMS was a balance between lectures and practical demonstrations. The second and third days of the conference were filled with live demonstrations. For the first time, a marathon of live demonstrations was held, where numerous domestic and international experts showed their methods and techniques.
Undoubtedly, live demonstrations were the most attended events at the 12th CEMS. In one place, medical and dental doctors, as well as all enthusiasts of non-surgical methods of aesthetic medicine, followed the demonstrations of numerous experts with enthusiasm and great interest. The most notable demonstrations were held by foreign experts such as regular speakers at world congresses, Dr. Andrew R. Christie Schwarz from France, Turkish plastic surgeon Dr. Ismail Kucuker, international expert and member of the scientific board of AMWC, Dr. Vladlena Averina from Ukraine, Prof. Dr. Wioletta Baranska Rybak from Poland, Italian plastic surgeon Dr. Marco Papagni, and dermatovenereologist Dr. Evgeniya Shelemba. Alongside foreign experts, the president of HDEM HZL, Asst. Prof. Željko Rotim, also demonstrated his skills and methods.
The topic of social media and its influence on medicine found its place at the 12th CEMS. The panel discussion, moderated by Marko Ostojić, P.M. of digital marketing, aimed to comment on the trends, both bizarre and less bizarre, and their impact on the public and young people. The trends were discussed from various perspectives, as seen in the mix of panelists from different career fields, including Academician Mirna Šitum, owner of the polyclinic Dr. Anđela Prolić, TV, radio, and digital author Tatjana Jurić, and CEO of the aqventi agency Ana Rotim.
In addition to the topic of trends, dermatology was also a popular theme. Four dermatologists, Dr. Nevia Delalle, Dr. Jelena Meštrović-Štefekov, Dr. Iva Dediol, and Dr. Maja Kovačević, joined forces to answer all the questions that the CEMS participants had about skincare, while also commenting on new bizarre trends in skin care and dispelling myths.
Awards and special recognitions at the 12th CEMS
After a series of lectures and practices, it was time for the grand gala dinner, which had a humanitarian character. This year, the funds raised were donated to the Ukrainian association ZAGRAVA, whose founder, Dr. Vladlena Averina, was an honorary participant in the congress.
Once again, prestigious Esthetic Awards were presented this year. Physicians and dentists were free to apply for the “Esthetic Case Report” competition to showcase the best cases from their daily practice. More than 50 doctors applied for this year’s award, and the awards were presented in two categories.
In the first category, the “Social Media Award,” applicants had to collect as many “likes” as possible on the official Instagram profile of the Croatian Society for Aesthetic Medicine (@cemsstagram), where all submissions were published. The award was won by Dr. Ljubomir Erceg. In the second category, the “Expert Award,” the expert committee evaluated each work, and the best one was awarded to Dr. Jasna Platužić. In addition to presenting the Esthetic Awards, the plaque for honorary member of HDEM was also awarded to Prof. Uroš Ahčan at the gala dinner.
The Croatian Esthetic Medicine Symposium was held under the patronage of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia this year as well. As always, CEMS was rated by the Croatian Medical Chamber and the Croatian Dental Chamber.
