Columbia, S.C. - Two well-established cosmetic surgery practices in South Carolina are offering discounted cosmetic procedures to the 1.2 million members of Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, the state's largest managed care plan. The discounts will average about 20 percent for eight common procedures. Botulinum toxin (Botox) treatment, for instance, will cost $175 for one area after the discount.
San Diego - FotoFacial and FotoBody techniques produce consistent, predictable, and visible improvement in the appearance of the skin, with virtually no downtime, Patrick Bitter Jr., M.D., said at the Cosmetic Dermatology Seminar.
Paris -- Results from a series of animal studies demonstrate the efficacy of a new, low-concentration, low-pH zinc/iron solution for stimulating epithelization of partial thickness and second-degree burn wounds, reported researchers from the department of dermatology and cutaneous surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami.
Paris - Early clinical experience indicates that stem cell treatment may be a valuable intervention for promoting wound healing when conventional approaches, including advanced modalities, fail, Evangelos Badiavas, Ph.D., M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.
Tucson, Ariz. - Use of a three-stage forehead flap in nasal reconstruction modestly lengthens the time until completion of the initial repair compared with the traditional two-stage approach, but that small drawback is far outweighed by the fact that the end result of the three-stage technique is cosmetically superior and achieved much earlier without the need for difficult late revisions, Frederick J. Menick, M.D., said.
Paris - The development of infection, necrosis, or dehiscence as acute complications after cutaneous reconstruction procedures can be very frightening to patients and have potentially devastating effects on the surgical outcome. Therefore, early diagnosis and proper management, including attention to both the wound and patient's well-being, are critical, Stuart J. Salasche, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.
Los Angeles - Laser pretreatment dramatically increases the transdermal delivery of the chemotherapeutic agent 5-FU, according to Dr. Kuo-Hsien Wang, M.D. who presented at the Society for Investigative Dermatology annual meeting. "This method has potential for the treatment of cutaneous malignant diseases and precancerous lesions, such as actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease, and superficial basal cell carcinoma," he said.
Orlando - Cellular energy supplied through substrates of the creatine kinase system accelerates skin repair and healing, reduces sunburn, and protects skin from UV damage. The processes, in turn, can improve skin quality, moisture retention, and suppleness, according to Nadim Shaath, Ph.D., president of Alpha Research and Development Ltd., White Plains, N.Y.
Paris - Education efforts aiming to increase adult understanding of the importance of sun protection and awareness of skin cancers appear to have made a positive impact, although there is much room for further progress, Rona M. MacKie, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.
Paris - Use of the tissue adhesive 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate (Dermabond) in properly selected dermatologic surgery cases offers significant advantages for both surgeon and patient, Zoltan Trizna, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.
Dr. James has recently spruced up his dermatology practice by offering a variety of cosmetic procedures. He performs laser procedures, chemical peels, and injectable filler agents. Although he has had some experience with botulinum injections, the recent FDA clearance of Botox for glabellar rhytids has provided him with a great opportunity to expand his cosmetic practice.
Irvine, Calif. - Allergan Inc., contrary to popular belief, isn't fighting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's allegations that statements in Botox Cosmetic advertisements are misleading, thus violating of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
Liposuction is being considered a possible answer for physicians frustrated with how to control a growing number of patients with type 2 diabetes, according to the American Medical News.
Seattle - While many surgeons are reluctant to do it, early tangential excision and grafting of deep burns of the face and neck offer important benefits over the traditional spontaneous healing followed by reconstruction. Loren H. Engrav, M.D., reported in his 20-year experience that not only do patients avoid wasting a year or more of their lives waiting for their burns to heal, but they also have less extensive reconstructive work ahead.
Paris - Bioengineered skin substitutes can facilitate healing of difficult wounds and even achieve closure of some long-standing chronic wounds refractory to other measures, but the success of these modalities depends on proper wound bed preparation and even then, they may not be the answer for all patients, Vincent Falanga, M.D., said at the World Congress of Dermatology.
New Orleans - In a perfect world all clothing would be rated for its sun-protective value, and sun-protective clothing would be part of the average wardrobe, according to Raymond Kuwahara, M.D., who described the sun-protective properties of clothing at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.
New Orleans -The management of congenital nevi is an extremely challenging and easily misunderstood area for dermatologists. New insights into the disorder were shared at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology by a specialist in the field, Ashfaq A. Marghoob, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York.
New Orleans - Significant technological developments continue to advance laser and cosmetic surgery, according to Jeffrey Dover, M.D., who reviewed progress in the field over the last year at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology here.
New Orleans - Before solid research establishes their validity, "cosmeceuticals" should be considered "hope in a jar," according to Leslie Baumann, M.D. In discussing the burgeoning field, where cosmetic products are reputed to have biologic effects, Dr. Baumann separated myth from fact at the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting.
Chicago - A three-tiered program to reduce inflammation in the body on a cellular level includes a diet rich in antioxidants, antioxidant supplements, and topical preparations that will deliver unique antioxidants directly to the skin, according to research performed by dermatologist Nicholas Perricone, M.D.
Los Angeles -- In an attempt to prove estrogen's unknown effect on keratinocytes, researchers presented in vitro data at the Society for Investigative Dermatology that suggest a direct link of the hormone to in vivo epidermal turnover and wound healing.
New York - The upstart, unproven Botox alternative Hyacell and its alleged illegal use in a makeshift clinic here in July point to an incident many physicians figured would happen.
Even before botulinum toxin (Botox Cosmetic) received FDA approval in April for use in cosmetic procedures, the demand for the treatment had made Botox the fifth most common nonsurgical cosmetic procedure in the country.
Paris - A new cosmetic product incorporating beta-lipohydroxyacid (LHA), a lipophilic derivative of salicylic acid, appears to be usefulwhen used alone for preventing relapses in patients who have responded toacne treatment and as an adjunct to topical tretinoin for improving thetolerability of the retinoid and shortening the onset to efficacy, accordingto results of prospective, randomized, double-blind studies presented byBrigitte Dréno, M.D., at the World Congress of Dermatology.
Paris - Combination topical-antibiotic-plus-retinoid treatmentof inflammatory acne using adapalene 0.1 percent gel (Differin) with clindamycin1 percent lotion offers better efficacy and safety compared with clindamycin1 percent lotion alone, according to the results of a study presented atthe World Congress of Dermatology.
