Aesthetics

Dr. Smith points out that collagen products are white and opaque so they can be injected close to the surface without worrying about any visual color abnormality.

Las Vegas ? Sculptra (Dermik) can offer a highly effective restoration of volume, but age plays an important role in how dermatologists should approach their technique of sculpting with the filler, Danny Vleggaar, M.D., says.

New products in the pipeline will add more versatility to fillers, but until they arrive, Dr. Cohen suggests alternatives such as using a 32-gauge needle to fill in etched-in lines in the nasolabial folds and vertical lip lines.

The unit measurement is made by finding out how much of the toxin is lethal to 50 percent of mice in a study. But that amount may vary when new production processes are introduced.

Orlando ? The Baumann Skin Typing System is a multi-dimensional representation of skin types. Using it will save dermatologists time and lead to more effective skin care, Leslie Baumann, M.D., says.

The emphasis on blood vessel quantity over quality might explain why efforts to grow new vessels in patients with ischemic complications by simply supplying cells with VEGF have fared poorly.

Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia ? There have been many advances in laser technology for medical applications, but for the treatment of pediatric skin diseases, dermatologists are still turning to the "tried-and-true" pulsed dye, Q-switched pigment and CO2 lasers.

The dermatology field's increasing shift toward cosmetic services requires practitioners to examine the relationship among patients, their dermatologists and other participants in the cosmeceutical market, say William P. Coleman III, M.D., and Zoe D. Draelos, M.D., a Dermatology Times editorial adviser, who answered a series of questions on the topic for staff correspondent John Jesitus.

Carefully scrutinized, the evidence does not support an actual malignancy risk.

Hayward, Calif. -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given clearance to Thermage Inc. to use its technology for treating wrinkles on parts of the body other than the face.

Scottsdale, Ariz.--With the marketing rights to cosmetic drug Reloxin in a state of flux, Medicis Pharmaceutical is seeking a commercial partnership to market the potential Botox competitor.

This former maximum-security federal penitentiary held such notorious criminals as Al Capone, "Creepy" Carpis and Robert Stroud, the "Birdman of Alcatraz." It was a prison from 1934 to 1963 and reopened in 1972 as a recreation area with a self-guiding trail, cellblock tour, slide show and ranger programs. Wear warm clothes and comfortable shoes. Call (415) 705-5555 for times of departure from Pier 41.

Four key areas to look at when evaluating a billing service are: integration, performance, cost and relationship.

One of the biggest changes in the 2006 CPT book involves the grafting section of the Integumentary System. There were many deletions, a host of new codes and a significant number of amendments to the rules and guidelines that govern these complex surgical procedures.

CTCL can look like atypical eczema or atypical psoriasis and it can be treated as such long before it is accurately identified.

The "vaccine" approach of customizing the intervention to the patient is antithetical to the blockbuster mentality of much of the pharmaceutical industry.

For a great many patients and physicians alike, however, silicone still carries the stigma it acquired after complaints of complications arose from use in breast implants.

The results showed a modest improvement in facial rhytids in the majority of patients, with the maximum improvement in the nasolabial and mesiolabial area seen at three to six months.

Perhaps there is no field in medicine like cosmetic dermatology, where scientific advances appear to run light-years ahead of ethical analyses f those changes.

Among the certainties awaiting new dermatologists joining or starting a practice — especially one specializing in cosmetic dermatology — is this: They'll be doing a lot of procedures using Botox (Allergan) and fillers.

Pressure is building in Washington to move forward with the federal government's proposed pay-for-performance Medicare reimbursement program.

This time during her physical examination, the patient was certain that she was touched inappropriately.

As might be expected with any new cosmetic procedure, suture suspension, popularly known as "thread lift," has engendered significant media attention. Thread lift has been promoted on "Oprah," "Today" and "Good Morning America" as a "lunch-time facelift." More recently, articles in The New York Times and Allure magazine have questioned the predictability and longevity of results, and the potential for complications.

Chronic stress increases the rate of emergence, number and size of squamous cell carcinomas, in addition to decreasing the number of T-cells that are critical for fighting this type of cancer.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- A Malaysian study has found that the vitamin derived from antioxidant-rich palm oil is more potent than other forms of vitamin E when used to accelerate healing of dermal wounds.

National report — A proposed $3.2 billion merger of Botox-maker Allergan and breast-implant maker Inamed would ultimately benefit dermatologists, an Allergan official says.

National report — Every eight seconds, a member of the baby boom generation turns 50 — and an increasing number of these baby boomers are looking to turn back the clock.

Rather than being a one-time treatment, she adds that Fraxel's anufacturer — and most doctors who use the technology — recommend a series of three to five treatments.

National report — As baby boomers get older, they are fighting a valiant battle against aging. But while they want to look younger, they are often too busy to give up weeks for recuperation, they don't want major side effects, or to spend $10,000, and they really don't want to wait until their faces are sagging so much that only a major facelift will help.

National report — Minimally invasive procedures provide a wealth of lift options for patients, and the trend will continue, Sorin Eremia, M.D., tells Dermatology Times.