Signs point to a suppressed market for all aesthetics products for at least the remainder of 2009, but there's some evidence that dermal fillers have escaped the worst effects of the economic downturn. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that while there was a 5% decrease in facelifts in 2008, the use of hyaluronic acid fillers was up by 6%, although dermal filler sales started to take a hit in the final quarter of the year.

One of the most successful centers of medical device innovation, Israel is wrestling with that success and adopting new models to build on it. TriVentures, a new firm that is part incubator, part VC fund, is focusing on companies at the very earliest stages of development. At the other end of the spectrum, Ofer Hi-Tech is looking to roll up companies and create the next Kyphon.

Although no major breakthroughs were reported at this year's American Academy of Dermatology meeting, participants emphasized ongoing progress in existing aesthetic technologies. The dermal filler market proved to be one of the most dynamic topics. Although growth is expected to slow somewhat in the next three years, the worldwide market for dermal fillers is projected to continue to grow at double digit or near double-digit rates, approaching $950 million by 2010.

Israeli-based Colbar R&D ltd has a technology that offers a more durable scaffold for tissue engineering. The technology allows for the first time the precise programming of the collagen matrix that is used in tissue repair. The three year old company has a dental product for tooth implantation on the market in the US and a second product for correcting contour deficiencies in clinical trials in Europe.