ALLERGAN SOUTH AFRICA
New research from Allergan confirms frown lines are South Africans’ number one worry about their appearance
Research supports on-going need to provide high quality consumer education and international standard physician training
Johannesburg, South Africa, 18 September 2014: When considering non-surgical aesthetic treatments such as wrinkle relaxing injections or facial fillers, the number one aspect that concerns most South Africans about their appearance and the area they most wish to treat is their frown lines.
Recent research conducted by Allergan Pharmaceuticals (Allergan) which manufactures some of the world’s leading medical aesthetic brands – including the Juvéderm® range of facial fillers – revealed some fascinating insights into how South African women and men think, feel and respond to non-surgical aesthetic treatments. It also shone a light on why quality consumer education is still needed.
The research shows 61% of South African respondents worried most about their frown lines, while 51% felt concerned about crows’ feet, the lines around the eyes. Around 45% felt bags under their eyes were the most important facial feature to treat.
“This differs from respondents in Europe, where frown lines were not of particular interest,” says Morné Steenkamp, Country Manager, Allergan South Africa. “European respondents were far more interested in treating the area around their eyes or their lips.”
Allergan’s research in South Africa, which comprised 75% women and 25% men, shows the main motivators for South Africans seeking non-surgical aesthetic treatments, included the desire to look healthy, refreshed and good for one’s age.
The majority of respondents in South Africa also indicated a strong focus on their ‘inner beauty’, with around 82% saying they wanted to look as good as they felt on the inside and 80% agreeing that looking good was all about personal confidence. “What we are seeing is a change in thinking about beauty, that outer appearance merely enhances inner beauty,” says Dr Jennifer Irvine, Johannesburg-based aesthetic medical practitioner.
Containing a naturally-occurring sugar that is normally found in the skin, facial fillers can gently restore what time has taken away. Facial fillers are injected in miniscule amounts beneath the skin to replace lost volume, which softens the lines and wrinkles caused by sagging skin. They can also be used to create definition and to beautify facial features. Facial fillers should always be administered in a doctor’s office and the result can be instantaneous.
Surprisingly however, the survey found that South Africans lag behind European women in terms of awareness of the available non-surgical aesthetic options. When it comes to facial fillers, for example, only a third of the South African respondents (32.3%) stated they were aware of these treatments compared with 83% of European. As with Europeans, South Africans worry about complications as well as an unnatural looking result.
“This lack of awareness is one of the reasons why Allergan recently launched two educational campaigns, to provide factual and accurate information about these treatments,” says Steenkamp. “We have a responsibility to educate South Africans about facial fillers, making sure they have access to sound information and licensed practitioners. Allergan has embarked on two initiatives in order to address consumer fear and lack of awareness: the new consumer education website for Juvéderm®and the Allergan Medical Aesthetics Academy (AMAA),” says Steenkamp.
Earlier this year, Allergan launched its new Juvéderm® website, which aims to educate consumers and potential patients about the benefits of facial fillers in gently reversing the signs of facial ageing and enhancing natural beauty. The Allergan Medical Aesthetics Academy (AMAA) strives to raise treatment standards in South Africa by training medical professionals on intermediate and advanced injection techniques. The AMAA uses a formal training model that incorporates theoretical and practical elements, and provides a platform for collaboration among local and international professionals to share knowledge and discuss new approaches and advances.
Wanting to look like they take care of themselves and to feel attractive and satisfied with their facial appearance were the main reasons why some respondents had sought out treatment already. “Nearly all respondents, both men and women, wanted others to notice when they put effort into their appearance, but they also emphasized the importance of looking natural,” says Steenkamp.
While males and female respondents were interested in treating similar aspects of their appearance, South African males were more likely to seek aesthetic treatments on the encouragement of their partners or after seeing how celebrities looked after treatment.
According to Dr Irvine: “What’s interesting is that respondents in South Africa rarely recommend injections to others or know others who use injections, showing that using non-surgical aesthetic treatments are still a private decision. This matches what I see in my practice too. However, it also supports why Allergan’s industry leading educational activities are welcome in South Africa.”
For more information on dermal fillers and to find an aesthetic practice visit: www.juvederm.co.za.
About Allergan
Allergan is a multi-specialty health care company established more than 60 years ago with a commitment to uncover the best of science and develop and deliver innovative and meaningful treatments to help people reach their life’s potential. Today, we have approximately 11,600 highly dedicated and talented employees, global marketing and sales capabilities with a presence in more than 100 countries, a rich and ever-evolving portfolio of pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices and over-the-counter consumer products, and state-of-the-art resources in R&D, manufacturing and safety surveillance that help millions of patients see more clearly, move more freely and express themselves more fully. From our beginnings as an eye care company to our focus today on several medical specialties, including eye care, neurosciences, medical aesthetics, medical dermatology, breast aesthetics, and urologics, Allergan is proud to celebrate more than 60 years of medical advances and proud to support the patients and customers who rely on our products and the employees and communities in which we live and work.
Rochelle is the founder and driving force behind Aesthetic Appointment. With a passion for the aesthetics and pro-ageing industry in South Africa, she has been in the aesthetic publishing industry since 2012, dedicated to creating a valuable platform for insights and knowledge, bridging the gap between patients and doctors - delivering reliable, medical-based information. Rochelle firmly believes in the power of a good skincare regimen, especially when started at home, and is committed to educating consumers about the myriad of treatments, procedures, and products available to them.
- Rochelle Friedmanhttps://www.aestheticappointment.co.za/author/rochelle
- Rochelle Friedmanhttps://www.aestheticappointment.co.za/author/rochelle
- Rochelle Friedmanhttps://www.aestheticappointment.co.za/author/rochelle
- Rochelle Friedmanhttps://www.aestheticappointment.co.za/author/rochelle
