Aesthetics

As new cosmetic treatments are introduced and physicians' understanding of existing treatments grows, determining whether a particular technology fits in one's practice requires evaluating arguments both pro and con, says the president of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS).

Although many lasers have earned Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treating patients of color, an expert says that physicians' expertise has yet to catch up with the technology available.

As nonablative rejuvenation techniques advance, physicians are striving for more impressive results in a higher percentage of patients, an expert says.

Key developments from the recent American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) meeting include broader applications for existing devices and the growing availability of treatments that combine modalities, sources tell Dermatology Times.

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National report - Chemotherapy and radiation can createunwanted results ranging from hair loss to pigment problems.However, an expert tells Dermatology Times that with some newbiologically targeted cancer therapies, skin-related side effectsseem to provide a barometer of these treatments' effectiveness.

The YAG laser can be used safely as long as it is not used withinone centimeter of the orbital rim where there would be a risk oflight being transmitted to the eye.

At issue is the role of vitamin D, dubbed "the sunshine vitamin"because it is synthesized through the skin, and sunlight thereforerepresents a legitimate source for producing the vitamin.

National report - For treating the lips and lower face,experts tell Dermatology Times that options including fillers,botulinum toxin injections and newer resurfacing technologies candeliver excellent cosmetic results usually with little or nodowntime.

Las Vegas - Lipodissolve, a treatment some doctors believe tobe a form of mesotherapy, is evolving to be highly effective fortreatment of post-liposuction irregularities and cellulite, but thetherapy is not a replacement for liposuction and proper training isessential, according to Barry Lycka, M.D., speaking at the annualmeeting of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology andAesthetic Surgery here.

San Francisco - Developed in France more than 50 years ago,mesotherapy has been slow to gain widespread acceptance in theUnited States.

National report - While soft-tissue fillers offer the uniquebenefit of providing fast correction for busy patients who don'twant to have the down-time for a face-lift, bruising can throw amonkey wrench into the best-laid plans for stellar patientsatisfaction.

Las Vegas - The calcium hydroxylapatite filler Radiesse(Bioform) has its share of caveats, but the filler generally offersgood correction that lasts for a year or more, with side effectsunlikely, according to Alastair Carruthers, M.D., speaking at theAnnual Meeting of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology andAesthetic Surgery.

Las Vegas - The new wound healing product Biafine (OrthoNeutrogena), gaining popularity among radiation oncologists for the treatment of radiation dermatitis, also offers an innovative option for dermatologists in treating problems ranging from sunburn to superficial wounds, according to Diane Berson, M.D., speaking at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery here.

Q. What is Syn-Coll? It is being touted as the new anti-agingmoisturizer ingredient.

Poly-L-lactic acid is also being used by some physicians off-labelas a volume restorer for cosmetic enhancement in non-HIV patients.

Houston - For the general dermatologist, the mainstay of safeand effective skin cancer management is dependent upon sensibleclinical judgment, says Deborah MacFarlane, M.D., associateprofessor of dermatology and plastic surgery at the University ofTexas Medical School at Houston, and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Hong Kong - Members of the Pigmentary Disorders Academy (PDA)discussed a spectrum of topical issues, finalized revisions tomanuscripts for a supplement to the Journal of the American Academyof Dermatology, and decided to undertake a global, community-basedsurvey investigating the natural history of melasma as the nextmajor project when the group convened its third annual meetinghere.

National report - As if keeping track of the expanding rosterof fillers and neurotoxins wasn't enough for dermatologists andcosmetic surgeons, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)'s nod towardAllergan's estimated $3.4 billion buyout of aesthetic rival Inamedinjects an anything-but-paralyzing wrinkle into what some industrypundits call a quest to deliver "total facial rejuvenation."

Padua , Italy -- Researchers at the University of Padua report that injections of a synthetic polymer may be helpful in treating some HIV patients' facial wasting associated with combination antiretroviral therapy.

Daejeon, Republic of Korea -- Scientists here say they have engineered a protein that may help hasten impaired wound healing in diabetics, whose wounds often heal slower than usual to their condition.

Cleveland ? "What if there were no topical corticosteroids? Or if a patient were unable to use them?"

Atlanta -- "Community-acquired MRSA is just exploding among the urban patient population we serve," says Henry Michael Blumberg, M.D., an epidemiologist and director of the division of infectious disease at Emory University School of Medicine.

It is an easy procedure, is reassuring to the patient, and usually only a single treatment is required. However, if necessary, the procedure can be repeated after three to six weeks.

He predicts that more long-lasting, fast-acting fillers will begin emerging in the next couple years.

The skin of the cheek and anterior neck is made up of an interconnected three-layer unit.

National report ? Rejuvenating an aging face is not just about tightening the skin's surface, and the process must be viewed in a three-dimensional, rather than a two-dimensional, manner.

San Francisco ? Integrating resurfacing procedures into one's practice demands that physicians proceed conservatively in areas ranging from negotiating learning curves to marketing new procedures, according to Seth L. Matarasso, M.D.

National report ? As the American population becomes more diverse and includes a higher percentage of people of color, cosmetic physicians will have to adjust their approaches to various treatments, but perhaps, most obviously, those treatments using lasers.

National report ? Facelifts may give a person a renewed youthful appearance, but they can also have an unpleasant side effect ? the development of noticeable, large, blue veins. Temple veins, especially, tend to become more prominent after facelift procedures.