Over the years, the Non-Surgical Symposium (NSS) has established itself as the go-to event for aesthetic professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge and stay ahead of the ever-evolving aesthetics industry. Each edition of the NSS has been a roaring success, attracting industry leaders, experts, and enthusiasts from around the world. From its inception, the NSS has consistently delivered cutting-edge education, showcasing the latest advancements and evidence-based treatments in the field of aesthetics. This year’s NSS will be held in Gold Coast, Australia, at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Attendees of the NSS have been treated to a diverse range of topics, covering everything from facial aesthetic treatments and skincare to the business aspects of running a successful practice. One of the defining features of the NSS has been its commitment to continuous professional development. As a result, the NSS has been instrumental in providing attendees with the tools and knowledge they need to ensure positive patient outcomes. Through interactive workshops, live demonstrations, and thought-provoking discussions, the NSS has empowered participants to elevate their skills and offer world-class excellence in their practice.

The NSS has not only focused on technical expertise but has also emphasised the importance of patient safety and risk mitigation. Recognising the challenges that come with an expanding industry, the symposium has dedicated sessions to address these concerns, equipping professionals with the necessary strategies to navigate regulatory guidelines and uphold the highest standards of care. By fostering discussions on responsible marketing, mental health considerations, and ethical practices, the NSS has played a pivotal role in promoting patient welfare and professional accountability.

At this year’s event, the NSS has sectioned their event to be focused on both medical aesthetics and cosmetic injectables, alongside its first ever dermal and non-surgical presentations, with Dermal Clinicians and Therapists sharing their insight into multi-disciplinary practices alongside the surgical and medical fields. This year’s scientific committee has also seen Dermal Clinicians offer their contributions to the event, with James Vivian being positioned on the committee to help put together outstanding and innovative content that will offer attendees great educational value.

With less than one month to go, we caught up with ASAPS President Dr Tim Edwards to learn about his involvement with ASAPS, NSS, and what else is on the horizon for both the event and society.

Dr Edwards, please briefly explain your professional background and how you became ASAPS President?

I have been a Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon since 1998, honing the craft over ten years of postgraduate surgical training. 

Initially, this training started in South Australia’s major adult and paediatric hospitals, following on to the world-famous Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit in the United Kingdom. On returning from the UK, I became one of the founding surgeons of Adelaide Plastic Surgery, developing an experienced team of Specialist Plastic Surgeons, anaesthetists, medical and nursing professionals, and administrative staff, who all play their role in ensuring the highest level of patient care and safety, with great surgical outcomes.

With an interest in Surgical Education, I joined the board of ASAPS, which is the peak body in Australia for postgraduate education in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. This has since led to me assuming the role of President in 2022.

ASAPS runs state of the art educational events in Non Surgical and Surgical Aesthetics each year. The NSS is the sum of many moving parts and my role is to ensure the NSS is not only successful, but that it offers continuous value to attendees. As the president of the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, I am heavily invested in the success of the NSS, and work collaboratively with many teams to ensure that the event is the event to attend for the very highest quality of expertise and education. Our keynote speakers fly in from all over the world to deliver insights to a vast demographic of health professionals; it really is a key moment in the Aesthetics calendar. 

Why is an event like the NSS important for the industry? 

The non-surgical community comes from a diverse range of backgrounds, and has a thirst for information and education to improve their technical skills, and to ensure patient safety. 

The Non-Surgical Symposium not only demonstrates cutting-edge education from industry leaders, but it also provides a forum for support and cross-pollination of experience between non-surgical clinicians. 

Continuous professional development (or CPD) is crucial to most industries; but for a sector that is growing as rapidly as ours, and with other human lives in our hands, the very best in education is the only way you can ensure positive and safe patient outcomes. 

The Non-Surgical Symposium is designed for exactly that. Bringing together the greatest minds, experts and the very pinnacle of innovation, all packaged into one three-day event. Events like the NSS exist to ensure we are all, as a sector, progressing and learning with one central goal in mind: The utmost in patient safety. 

We understand now more than ever that as the industry grows we need to adapt also. We are advocates of inclusivity, which is why you’ll see that this year’s program is a collaboration between experts from very different fields. 

By bringing together the very best not only in Australia, but from across the globe, the NSS is truly three days of education, which offers a lifetime of value. There is a little something for everyone at the 2023 Non-Surgical Symposium. 

What can aesthetic professionals expect from this year? Why should people who haven’t been before come along?

Those who are new to the NSS are in for a treat this year. Co-curated by the Non-Surgical Symposium’s Scientific Convenor and ASAPS Past President, Dr Naveen Somia, and the brand-new Scientific Advisory Committee, the 2023 program has been redesigned around the four key pillars of successful aesthetic practice: facial aesthetic treatments, care of skin and customer service, the business of running your practice, and risk mitigation. 

The education program is bigger than ever, and we anticipate that the new pillars of business excellence and risk mitigation will be a central focus for many, if not all, attendees. As the sector grows, so does competition and risk. These two pillars will help to educate attendees on how to create a thriving aesthetics practice that keeps one step ahead, in the safest way possible. 

The program also covers an extensive and diverse range of topics, including a global perspective on filler complications, menopausal skin and body changes, and important conversations around social media and building a cosmetic business online. Speakers and sponsors will showcase technical advances, evidence-based treatments and techniques in the field of aesthetics, in order to help attendees achieve world-class excellence. 

There is also an exciting lineup of sponsor workshops from the likes of Allergan, Merz, Teoxane, Galderma, Skinceuticals and many more – where attendees can get hands-on with the latest technology. 

What are you looking forward to the most at this year’s event? 

The true joy of the NSS is the coming together of all professionals and collaborating for the benefit of the patient. In addition to the program, I am always blown away at the value you can take away from a simple conversation over coffee, in between sessions, or even at the event’s signature social event – the Gala Dinner. At the NSS, networking can often prove as valuable as the education program itself. 

I am genuinely excited about the multiple systems on display this year that will help professionals to upgrade their service delivery across facial aesthetics and care of the skin. The new business stream looks particularly impressive too; an unrivalled lineup that is possibly the best I have seen to date. 

The risk mitigation stream will also be one to watch. We are delighted to share that Anne Tonkin, Chair of the Australian Medical Board will be forming part of this stream with a talk on the recently announced Guidelines for Cosmetic Surgery and Procedures; lifting the lid on A patient Safety Framework which is effective from 1st July. 

Attendees will finally be able to hear the changes from those directing them, and will have the opportunity to discuss the implications of these changes; as well as how to navigate them for their own success. 

If you’re in the business of aesthetics, surgical or non-surgical, and these recent changes are on your radar; you will want to be there for this talk. 

Besides NSS, what are you working on with ASAPS this year?

ASAPS is principally an educational provider, but during the last year, much of our focus has been entwined with the Government review into the Cosmetic Surgery industry. ASAPS has been leading the call for protection of patients by improving regulations around who can perform invasive surgery, where that surgery should be performed, and what standards of post operative care should be expected. We have also led the debate in protecting vulnerable patients from aggressive or misleading marketing, and helping to identify patients whose mental health may impact on their decision making.

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