Aesthetics

San Francisco - Injection compression sclerotherapy is a highly safe and effective treatment for improving the appearance of aged hands, Lee G. Schulman, M.D., Schulman Vein and Laser Center, reported in a poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Rancho Mirage, Calif. -- A recent study rating the effects of botulinum toxin B in the treatment of hyperkinetic facial wrinkles showed that Myobloc is an effective treatment for interglabellar wrinkles. And while Myobloc showed some advantages over the more commonly used Botox (botulinum toxin A), the longevity of the treatment is about one or two weeks less, even at higher dosages.

Maui, Hawaii - Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) implants offer an alternative for facial augmentation to patients seeking a permanent yet revisable rejuvenation solution, Anthony V. Benedetto, D.O., said at the annual Hawaii Dermatology Seminar sponsored by the Skin Disease Education Foundation.

Maui, Hawaii - More than a decade after being banned by the Food and Drug Administration for cosmetic use, liquid silicone is back and poised to take a big bite out of the cosmetic filler business.

As baby boomers age, their increasing numbers have generated a burgeoning market for ways to fight off signs of aging - both physical and mental. People want to feel and look young for as long as possible. Cosmetic dermatology has responded to those desires with chemical peels and lasers, creams and gels, Botox and collagen.

Ask dermatologists from California to the Carolinas for an opinion on where the field is going, and it's likely you'll get a variety of opinions. The reason could be that dermatology is now recognized as a broad domain with expertise in several areas including medical, surgical, and cosmetic, as well as immunodermatology and dermatopathology.

Vancouver - Men require a larger dose of botulinum toxin A for treatment of glabellar rhytids than do women, according to the results of a dose-ranging study conducted by Alastair Carruthers, M.D.

Oklahoma City - Results of preclinical and initial clinical studies indicate the investigational compound CX-452 has promising activity as a highly safe and very effective topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and anti-aging agent, Bryan B. Fuller, Ph.D., said.

Atlanta - A report covering two years of research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish the maximum human tolerance to 116 chemical agents had some good news for the environment and people. Cotinine, a major metabolite of nicotine, which is present in all tobacco smoke, has been reduced in the last two years.

Chicago - Endovenous treatment with a 940nm diode laser appears to be safe and effective for eliminating saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) incompetence and closing the greater saphenous vein (GSV), Ki-Hoon Song, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Chicago - Lasers and light sources can be used to treat some leg veins, but under most circumstances sclerotherapy remains the therapeutic modality of choice, Jeffrey S. Dover, M.D., said at the meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Chicago - Duplex-guided radiofrequency (RF) endovenous occlusion (Closure) is showing excellent long-term success for eliminating reflux of the greater saphenous vein (GSV), Robert A. Weiss, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Chicago -- Sclerotherapy results can be optimized and complications minimized by using the appropriate sclerosant solution in the minimal sclerosing concentration for obliterating a given size vessel, Neil S. Sadick, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Chicago - Incorporating a few straightforward screening questions and some simple intraoperative techniques can translate into significant benefits for enhancing the success and safety of liposuction surgery, Naomi Lawrence, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Birmingham, Ala. - In a rare occurrence, superficial punctate keratitis developed after injections of botulinum toxin type A to the glabellar area, a difficult diagnosis arrived at through the combined consultation of a dermatologist and an ophthalmologist.

Dear general practitioners: Botox isn't an easy road to riches. You need to get very good and deliver consistent, high-quality results throughout the entire transaction - from the first phone call to the next follow-up appointment. You are looking at investing at least $10,000 (more commonly $20,000) after all is said and done, plus probably a hundred hours (or more) of your time.

Charleston, S.C. - Facial flaps can lead to elegant functional and cosmetic reconstruction of facial defects following tumor removal, according to Joel Cook, M.D. For dermatologic surgeons to achieve superior results, however, they must have a firm understanding of basic head and neck anatomy, wound healing, and flap dynamics.

Lubbock, Texas - Dermatologists are now at the point where they like to repair and reconstruct the wounds they create in the treatment of skin cancer, according to David F. Butler, M.D.

Malden, Netherlands - Phototherapy possesses potential as an adjunct treatment in wound healing, according to research recently completed by Anneke Andriessen, Ph.D. Before any solid conclusions can be drawn, however, much work remains to be done with respect to standardizing phototherapy-related research and communicating results.

In the war against the visible signs of aging, American women and men willingly embrace the latest weapons. From Botox injections to microdermabrasion, chemical peels to laser hair removal, collagen injections to cosmeceuticals, cosmetic dermatology procedures are enjoying explosive growth.

Acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, hyperhidrosis, trichotillomania, onychotillomania, neurotic excoriations ... Even as connections between isotretinoin (Accutane) and depression in teens was hotly debated in the media spotlight last year, no one denies the powerful connection between the health of the psyche and that of the skin.

Asni?ress, France - The amount of ultraviolet A radiation (UVA) filtering is as important as labeled sun protection factor (SPF) levels in determining the effectiveness of sunscreens, according to Andr?ougier, Ph.D. However the UVA blocker he prefers most, Mexoryl, remains unavailable in the United States as it awaits FDA approval.

Washington -- Artecoll, a new item in the increasingly broad array of permanent and semipermanent nonsurgical wrinkle-reduction options, on Feb. 28 took a big step toward FDA approval.

A teleconference sponsored by an unrestricted educational grant from Ferndale Laboratories Inc.

San Francisco - Most recipients of botulinum toxin type A (Botox Cosmetic) injections to soften or even remove facial wrinkles are currently women. But according to University of California-San Francisco dermatologist Christopher B. Zachary, M.D., males also benefit from this therapy, and removing certain facial wrinkles and furrows may provide benefits beyond just a handsome face.

Chicago - Tumescent liposuction performed as a sole procedure is a safe and effective technique for achieving limited breast reduction in females, Murad Alam, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Chicago - The presence of a single upper lid or asymmetry between the left and right lids with regard to the height of the supratarsal crease are among the most frequent characteristics that bring Asian patients to seek periocular aesthetic surgery, Jean Carruthers, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatology Surgery.

San Francisco - A higher level of confidence deciding which dermatologic surgery procedures should be performed on the pregnant patient may lead to making these procedures safer and more comfortable, Christine E. Correale, M.D., said.

Chicago -- Increasing experience with fat autograft muscle injection (FAMI) demonstrates its value for producing predictable, long-lasting, three-dimensional volume augmentation, Kimberly J. Butterwick, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Hermosa Beach, Calif. - New treatment options for patients with HIV-related facial lipodystrophy are proving as effective at boosting the spirits as they are at filling out the face. The distinctive outward appearance of facial wasting stigmatizes AIDS patients and contributes to heightened levels of anxiety and depression.