From chemical peels to compounds that activate genes, the advances in extending a healthy lifespan and good looks took center stage at the 21^st Annual World Congress on Anti-Aging and Aesthetic Medicine (A4M) Dec. 12-15 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas.

Part of the Tarsus Group's medical conference portfolio, the event showed significant growth. The number of exhibitors was up to 320, compared with 250 last year, and attendance was up to approximately 4,700, compared with about 3,900 the previous year.

"What's changing the landscape is our focus on education," said Doreen Brown, CEO of A4M & Medical Conferences International. "We're bringing stellar speakers and sound scientific presentations. When you do that, you attract more quality attendees. The word spreads and exhibitors want to be here."

Two new tracks were added to the educational program this year, covering a broad spectrum of anti-aging technologies, stem cell therapies, new obesity protocols and new lab testing for a variety of bio markers, to name a few.

Extra icing on the cake was the celebrity appearances. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was on hand to receive the 2013 Infinity Award, A4M's highest honor, for his early leadership role in securing funding in area of stem cell research. Suzanne Somers, a TV personality and healthy living advocate, was a featured guest speaker.

"We've been very successful with the celebrity factor," Brown said. "This element brings excitement to our show and makes it more of a fun experience for attendees." Potentially adding more celebrities is in the works for next year.

The showfloor featured the latest in neutraceuticals, aesthetic equipment and high-end skincare products, just to name a few. Compounding pharmacies also had a strong presence.

"Doctors are starting to learn more about what nutritional supplements can do for their practice and even for themselves," said Rob Erdmann with Pure Encapsulations that has been an exhibitor for eight years.

Erdmann noted the consistency and the steady pace of traffic, as well as the number of doctors attending. What's grabbing their attention right now? "Antioxidants, such as glutathione and resveratrol, are very popular at this show," he said. "We've had many questions about those."

An educator at the College of Health and Wellness in Sydney, Australia, Terry Everitt didn't mind the long-haul flight to "get a different perspective." He said, "The spectrum of educational offerings here (in the US) is broader. When you're teaching you want know not just what's happening but what is in the pipeline."

Everitt noted the increasing interest in the applied health sciences and clinical aesthetics educational tracks at his college. "It's definitely a growth industry," he said. "Not only baby boomers are getting older and fighting it every inch of the way but younger people now understand that aging is not preventable but definitely slowable."

The mental set he tries to cultivate among his students? "Ask questions. What does a product do and how does it work?"

The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine was formed in 1992 by Dr. Robert Goldman and Dr. Ronald Klatz, and U.K.-based Tarsus Group bought the academy’s conference component in 2006. The academy holds two annual conferences each year – one in Las Vegas and the other in Orlando – as well as symposiums around the world throughout the year.