Aesthetics

Ottawa - Canada has lifted restrictions on the use of silicone gel breast implants after a 14-year ban.

New York - The Skin Cancer Foundation raised more than $1 million at its annual Skin Sense Award Gala in October.

San Ramon, Calif. - The first noninvasive ultrasound treatment for body contouring yielded measurable results in a multicenter controlled clinical study, investigators report.

International report - The world's first full-face transplant could happen in 2007, sources say, even though they say there's no race to perform the groundbreaking surgery.

In his Guest Commentary "Managing rosacea; practitioners discuss trends" (September 2006), Dr. William Baum presents his findings after moderating advisory panels across the country consisting of specialists talking about the many facets of rosacea.

Cambridge, Mass.-Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Hong Kong have developed a biodegradable solution that can stop bleeding in wounded rodents within seconds.

The saying "like father, like son" takes on a new twist when you meet the Orentreich family. Norman Orentreich, M.D., is the patriarch of a dermatology practice that includes his son and daughter.

Toronto While plasma and CO2 laser resurfacing technologies each offer distinct advantages for perioral treatments, meeting patients goals and preferences is the key to success, an expert says.

The topical retinoid was significantly superior to vehicle control for maintaining disease improvement.

Retinoids affect the inflammatory pathways of acne lesion development indirectly via their ability to normalize hyperkeratinization. However, they also exert direct immunomodulatory effects by competing with transcription factors like AP-1.

National report When it comes to wound healing, scabs are out and wound hydration is in, says Susan H. Weinkle, M.D., a Bradenton, Fla., dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla.

Homeopathic physicians used calendula during the Civil War as an antiseptic or antibiotic to effectively treat war wounds and gangrene.

Dr. White says the devices are being studied in diabetic wound healing, and that thus far, the results suggest that the use of light devices speed up healing.

Another consideration was to design and build a vascular laser that could treat the widest range of vascular conditions, something that could only be done with multiple wavelengths.

Evidence exists in animal studies indicating LLLT may play a role in treating wound infections including those of bacterial and fungal etiologies.

"Usually, when kids go to the clinic, especially if they're little, they get so many vaccinations that when one takes off their clothes, they think they're getting a shot," explains Papri Sarkar, M.D., a third-year resident in Harvard's dermatology training program. "Also, I try to avoid using gloves unless they're clinically necessary."

When patients miss appointments, what should a practice do?

I do a lot of complicated skin cancer repairs and I have never really been very sure of the correct way to code for this particular type of closure: the purse string repair. I have spoken with several of my colleagues and everyone seems to be coding this differently. I have also scoured the CPT book with no real hints at what I should code. What do you think?

Failing to preserve the natural look of the tragus and the pretragal depression can betray the best and most innovative cosmetic procedure.

National report - For many hair removal indications, existing lasers perform well, an expert says.

Paris - Lower-facelifting in anti-aging medicine is one of the most sought after procedures by patients.

National report - Both the 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser and broadband light (BBL) source are safe and effective modalities for hair removal, but even better results may be achieved using them in combination, according to the results of a study undertaken by Michael H. Gold, M.D., medical director, Gold Skin Care Center and The Laser and Rejuvenation Center, Nashville, Tenn.

National report - Patients with axillary hyperhidrosis derive significant quality-of-life benefits from treatment with botulinum toxin type A (Botox, Allergan), and the magnitude of improvement remains consistent with repeated injections over a period of at least three years, according to the results of an open-label extension study.

Toronto - Women's skin ages faster than men's, according to a German study, Reuters reports.

Irvine, Calif. - Botox manufacturer Allergan Medical is launching Juvederm, its "next-generation" family of hyaluronic acid dermal filler products, in November through an experience trial involving physicians with expertise in facial aesthetics.