Aesthetics

Orlando - A new noninvasive body sculpting device (LipoSonix, LipoSonix, Inc.) has shown promise in preclinical and human studies, an expert says.

New York - Hyaluronic acid (HA) products' success rests on the ability of this compound to provide effective, long-lasting treatments, says an expert.

Boston - Avoiding complications from laser procedures begins with putting the equipment in the right hands, an expert says.

National report - Results of two parallel, prospective, open-label, North American studies demonstrate that treatment with the injectable filler consisting of microspheres of calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) in a carboxymethylcellulose gel carrier (Radiesse, BioForm Medical) provides safe, immediate and relatively durable restoration of facial volume in patients with HIV-associated lipoatrophy.

Is there a relationship between the foaming of a cleanser and its ability to clean?

Scottsdale, Ariz. - Lasers, lights and radiofrequency energy devices have become a mainstay for nonsurgical lifting and tightening performed by cosmetic surgeons worldwide.

Vancouver, British Columbia - Dermatologists need to consider the range of characteristics to make a diagnosis of a rare or uncommon condition in children.

National report - To itch is human and to successfully treat - divine.

San Francisco - Results from several studies performed with imiquimod 5 percent cream (Aldara, 3M Pharmaceuticals) suggest that the immune response modifier may have a role as a surgical adjuvant for improving local tumor control and/or to enhance scar appearance, says James M. Spencer, M.D., M.S., clinical professor of dermatology, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York.

National report - Focal hyperhidrosis (or primary or idiopathic hyperhidrosis) is a common problem that affects about 3 percent of the population and has significant psychosocial implications.

Cleveland - "At Face Value," written by Dermatology Times Senior Editor Karen Donley-Hayes, appeared in the June 21, 2006, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA, Vol.295, No. 23, 2701-2702). A story spurred by the essay was also published on Heathday.com, and Ms. Donley-Hayes was interviewed for the University of Kentucky's Dr. Greg Davis on Medicine program, which aired on WUKY 91.3 FM UK Public Radio.

Irvine, Calif. - A new service based here promises to bring Botox Cosmetic (botulinum toxin A, Allergan) and injectable facial fillers to patients' workplaces.

Philadelphia - Skin tone and luminosity are key indicators of age in the perception of viewers, European researchers say.

London - A hospital ethics committee will decide by mid-August whether to grant approval for a full face transplant.

Rancho Mirage, Calif. - The Asian population has a spectrumof skin types, from the porcelain white of the Japanese to thebrowner Pacific Islanders, according to Wendy E. Roberts, M.D. Sheis a dermatologist here, and assistant clinical professor ofmedicine at Loma Linda University Medical School, Loma Linda,Calif.

Berkeley, Calif. - Dermatologists can perform most cosmeticprocedures on blacks with Fitzpatrick IV-VI skin types, exceptlaser resurfacing, because the risk of scarring is too high.

In the 1990s, while chairman of dermatology at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Marta Rendon, M.D., saw the most complex cases to come through the clinic.

Hayward, Calif. - Thermage? is introducing a way forphysicians to "drive practice success."

Complications from the procedure that have sparked some debateinclude the potential for thread failure, migration, exposure,static and dynamic deformities and palpable threads.

New York - Planning and performing a surgical reconstructionafter Mohs surgery is usually a simple and straightforward task ifthe surgeon follows simple rules and uses simple techniques,according to Michael R. Shohet, M.D., director of facial plasticand reconstructive surgery at the Mount Sinai School of Medicinehere.

Norfolk, Va. - Used in combination, minimally invasive lowerface procedures such as botulinum toxin and filler injections andfat grafts can achieve impressive results while making plasticsurgery accessible to more patients, an expert tells DermatologyTimes.

At study completion, about two-thirds of patients were rated asachieving "success," defined by a 50 percent or greater reductionin lesion counts.

Bangalore, India - U.S. pharmaceutical company Allergan hasobtained a license from the Drugs Controller General of India tointroduce Botox in India.

Hershey, Pa. - The topical retinoid cream tazarotene, aloneor in combination with oral antibiotics, is an effective,well-tolerated option for ongoing maintenance therapy in patientswith moderate to severe acne, according to a study published in theMay issue of Archives of Dermatology.

Wausau, Wisc. - A. Jay Burns, M.D., assistant professor ofplastic surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern MedicalSchool in Dallas, is the new president of the American Society forLaser Medicine and Surgery.

New York - The Skin Cancer Foundation has awarded grants tosupport five research projects in 2006.

The Chinese culture exerts a profound impact on a variety of medical decisions, including face transplants, sources say.

2006 DT Laser & Technolgoy Guide

Common legal issues facing physicians who perform cosmetic laser treatments include medical malpractice, as well as issues related to physician extenders and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), an expert says.

For many controversies surrounding laser treatments, there are no black-and-white answers. What works for one physician or patient may not work for another, says an expert.