Nasal filling guided by high frequency ultrasound: Reducing risks.

BACKGROUND: Given the significant increase in the quantity of cosmetic procedures utilizing hyaluronic acid fillers, including in the nasal region, the initial evaluation of patients using high frequency ultrasound becomes a crucial instrument in evaluating and handling nonsurgical rhinoplasty. AIMS: The aim of this article is to introduce an assessment methodology for nasal filling guided by high frequency ultrasound. PATIENTS/METHODS: A prospective and single-center study was conducted with 12 Latin American patients. The patients underwent nasal filling with hyaluronic acid following high power ultrasound mapping. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In the evaluation of the GAIS scale, all patients reported improvement with the treatment. No infections, nodules, ischemia, or other relevant adverse effects were noted. Real-time ultrasound-guided filler techniques have been developed to reduce the risk of vascular compromise, confirming the distribution pattern of blood vessels. It's also crucial to visualize the cannula at the same moment as the vessels, even if the previous vascular mapping was performed. Therefore, the utilization of high frequency ultrasound can act as a pivotal tool in augmenting procedure safety.

Dermal Thickness Increase and Aesthetic Improvement with Hybrid Product Combining Hyaluronic Acid and Calcium Hydroxyapatite: A Clinical and Sonographic Analysis.

Hyaluronic acid filler injections are regarded as the gold standard procedure for facial rejuvenation. Standing as the second most injected cosmetic filler, calcium hydroxyapatite-based fillers are also widely used worldwide. However, to our knowledge, prospective studies assessing patient satisfaction and sonographic changes in dermal thickness after a single session of a hybrid filler combining hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite have not been previously published. Methods: This was a single-center, prospective, quasi-experimental study comprising 15 participants between 32 and 63 years of age. Each participant received a single-session treatment based on facial subcutaneous injections of HArmonyCa, a hybrid combination filler comprising hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite. This study involved an intrapatient control design and a 120-day follow-up with clinical and sonographic assessment. For this purpose, standardized photographic images, high-frequency ultrasound evaluations, and physician- and patient-oriented overall aesthetic improvement scores were recorded at 0, 30, 90, and 120 following the procedure. Results: According to our findings, 20% of the subjects had an exceptional improvement; 20%, "very improved"; and 60%, "improved." Intrapatient sonographic comparison showed a significant increase in dermal thickness, at 90 and 120 days, only on the side treated (P < 0.001). Conclusion: In our clinical study, a single-session treatment with a hybrid product combining hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite resulted in positive cosmetic satisfaction and increased dermal thickness.

Bicalutamide and the new perspectives for female pattern hair loss treatment: What dermatologists should know.

Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most common form of alopecia in women. FPHL may compromise body image and strongly affect self-esteem, negatively impacting quality of life. Currently, the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug for its treatment is topical minoxidil, with a variable response rate. Recently, a few studies in FPHL have pointed out bicalutamide as an emergent selective androgen receptor antagonist with a favorable safety and tolerability profile. This review aimed to summarize and discuss the key information on this new therapy for FPHL. Bicalutamide has no diuretic effect. It does not cross the blood-brain barrier, and it has little effect on serum luteinizing hormone. Additionally, bicalutamide was found to be effective on women presenting with other features of hyperandrogenism such as seborrhea, acne, and hirsutism with mild and well-tolerated adverse effects. Despite the high prevalence and psychosocial impairment, FPHL treatment remains challenging. Therefore, although future prospective, comparative, randomized clinical trials are essential to establish the ideal dose and efficacy of the drug, oral bicalutamide appears to be a promising option to expand the arsenal of FPHL treatment.

Hyaluronidase: What is your fear?

BACKGROUND: The aesthetic treatment based on fillers with hyaluronic acid presents an increasing demand in the present day because it is considered a safe and minimally invasive procedure. In the management of adverse effects or more severe complications of hyaluronic acid-based fillers, hyaluronidase is the treatment of choice. AIMS: To demonstrate efficacy in reversibility and safety in the treatment of HA complications. PATIENTS/METHODS: It is a retrospective study article that reports the use of hyaluronidase in the main undesirable effects of fillers in 114 patients in a private dermatological clinic from 2015 to 2018. RESULTS: The target of the application was 51 cases of overcorrection (45%), 50 cases of Tyndall effect (44%), and 13 late nodules (11%). When we evaluated the areas where HYAL was injected, we found that the area with the most indication of the application of the product was the eyelid region (58 injections). CONCLUSION: This study concluded that HYAL is a safe and effective drug in the management of mild adverse events of HA applications with no severe side effects in our protocol of use.

A Retrospective Study Supporting the Importance of Individualizing the Dose of Botulinum Toxin According to the Age.

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin type A injection remains the leading nonsurgical cosmetic procedure worldwide with a high rate of efficacy and patient satisfaction. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to demonstrate the importance of individualization of botulinum toxin doses to treat the upper face according to the age of the patients, considering the muscles particularities and the specificities of each face area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study with 389 female patients treated with botulinum toxin type A in the upper third of the face (forehead, glabellar, and periorbital lines). Statistical analysis of the data was performed. RESULTS: The mean age was 47.49 years old and the median total dose of botulinum toxin type A was 53.76 units, whereas the median dose in the glabella was 26.28 U, the mean forehead dose was 12.23 U, and in the periorbital area was 14.79 U, adding both sides. It is possible to observe that the doses are negatively correlated with age, except in the periorbital area, where an increase in the dose was observed. CONCLUSION: It is important to highlight that although there is consensus on pre-established dose suggestions, the treatment should be individualized, respecting the individual characteristics of each patient.

Supraperiosteal application of hyaluronic acid with cannula: Is it possible?

INTRODUCTION: The aging process occurs in all anatomical layers of the face; therefore, rejuvenation should not be limited to the dermic signs of aging (Aesthet Surg J. 2018;38:73) The treatment with fillers in strategic points can reconstruct young anatomy, providing natural results (Aesthet Surg J. 2018;38:73). There are two instruments used for facial application of hyaluronic acid: cannula and needle. Both of them have advantages and disadvantages. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aim to compare the limitations of application with cannula by cutaneous ultrasound when compared to the needle by ultrasound, since some injectors suggest that one of the disadvantages would be the inability to reach certain application plans (periosteum). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 52-year-old female patient was treated with 22 mg/ml hyaluronic acid (Juvéderm® Voluma), guided by high-frequency ultrasound (LogicE device, Logic brand (GE Healthcare), with high-frequency linear probe (L8-L18i-RS). The left hemiface was treated with a 27G needle and the right hemiface with a 5 cm 22G cannula (SoftFil®). CONCLUSION: This study proved that, in the malar/zygomatic and the chin region, it is possible the cannula and needle reached the supraperiosteal region. In the temporal region, the cannula did not reach the supraperiosteal plane.

Safety in immediate reconstitution of poly-l-lactic acid for facial biostimulation treatment.

Poly-L-lactic acid is presented as freeze-dried preparation of 150 mg per vial and, according to consensus, the recommendation on your preparation is hydrate in sterile water for injection (SWFI) or bacteriostatic water at room temperature for ≥24 hours. (J Drugs Dermatol; 2014;13:s44) However, in these long periods of hydration, it is time-consuming and costly for the physicians. To demonstrate the safeness of immediate reconstitution of facial biostimulation treatment with PLLA. A clinical prospective study with 26 Latin American female patients, aged between 27 and 80 years, complaining of facial laxity of treated with immediate PLLA reconstitution. One PLLA vial was injected per session in 12 mL total dilution. All patients had their pictures taken before and after the treatment in Photo Analysis Program Vectra 3D (Canfield® ). A follow-up 90 days was performed. The total of 58 facial applications of PLLA was reported in female patients with a mean age 52.62 (±13.46) years. Pain was reported in 17 injections (29.31%) and ecchymosis in 6 (10.34%). Also, 2 patients (3.44%) developed a nodule. None of the patients presented significant bruising, edema, or papules formation. Despite the literature declare that a longer hydration times (up to 48 hours) have been shown to reduce the risk of nodule formation (Aesthet Surg J; 2011;31:95), our study demonstrated the safeness of injection with immediate reconstitution and a very low adverse events rate. Immediate PLLA reconstitution is a great asset for physicians, injections in account of being less laborious, less time-consuming, and reducing product loss for the injector.

Use of vibrating anesthetic device reduces the pain of mesotherapy injections: A randomized split-scalp study.

Pain evaluation during local injections is a complex process. Injections cause patient's distress, especially when the target is a sensitive area such as scalp. Nonpharmacological methods as vibration before and during the procedure have been used to reduce pain. Mesotherapy has become a popular nonsurgical procedure for nonscarring alopecia, such as androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and alopecia areata (AA). Vibration has been successfully used in dermatological procedures, pediatrics, and dentistry. No study was found on vibration anesthesia during scalp mesotherapy. To analyze the effect of a vibration anesthetic device (VAD) during scalp mesotherapy on the patients' comfort.This is a randomized split-scalp study; thirty patients received mesotherapy with or without VAD on half of their scalp. Numerical rating scale (NRS) was used to measure self-reported pain. To test difference in means and medians in comparing device use and by treatment (AGA or AA), Student's t tests and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used. Overall mean pain score on the no vibration-assisted side was 8.0 ± 1.0 while pain score for the vibration side was 2.3 ± 1.5, for AGA (P < .001) and 7.4 ± 1.2 and 2.1 ± 1.3, respectively, for AA (P < .001). Findings were similar for medians. No complications were found following procedure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study analyzing the effect of VAD in patients undergoing scalp mesotherapy. The VAD technique was found to be safe, effective, simple, and suitable for scalp procedures.

Effect of the aging process on columella-labial, naso-mental and facial angles and how to apply it in clinical practice.

BACKGROUD: Aging is the result of the interplay of changes occurring in the facial skeleton, ligaments, muscles, adipose tissue, and skin (1), and these changes befall each mentioned structure at a different pace, start in each individual at a different age, and differ between ethnic background. (4) It changes directly the measurements of the face angles, making the face more concave and flattened aspect, while the young face presents a more convex and rounded aspect. Female skulls had an increase in all transverse facial widths and depth of the middle face with increasing age. Therefore, aging is consequence of progressive changes through intrinsic and extrinsic factors (5) and different methods can be used to assess and diagnose these changes. AIMS: The aim of the study is to evaluate facial angles and their aging changes. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed with a total of 1213 Caucasian female patients in the author's private clinic. The angles evaluate age-related changes were analyzed: facial, naso-mental, and columella-labial angle. Photograph analysis program Vectra 3D (Canfield) was used to perform the anthropometric assessment of the angles, and after data collection, the analysis was performed statistics. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: We could conclude angles analyzed change with age, while two angles increase (naso-mental and facial angle), the other decreases (columella-labial angle). The study reinforces the principle of an objective clinical anthropometric assessment of facial angles as a relevant guide for a more appropriate treatment plan for the doctor to perform aesthetic procedures in order to restore a youthful face.