Comparison of different technologies for noninvasive skin tightening.

Facial skin laxity is a bothersome sign of aging. In the past, the only option for treating laxity was surgery. While surgical lifting remains the gold standard, there has been a growing demand among patients for less invasive techniques. Patients are increasingly seeking procedures with little to no downtime, lower risk profiles, and a more natural appearance. The industry has responded to these demands with an emergence of noninvasive skin tightening devices. The rate of development and marketing of these devices has increased exponentially within the last decade. Whereas we previously had no options, now we are faced with many choices. How do we choose which technology is best for our patients? While there is a paucity of comparative trials to date, a critical exploration of these technologies is worthwhile. The underlying mechanism of action of all these treatments is essentially the same: heating of the dermis and subdermal areas while minimizing injury to the epidermis. In this article, we outline the different technologies and highlight the differences to help guide us in selecting the right treatment.

Updates in noninvasive and minimally invasive skin tightening.

The demand for noninvasive and minimally invasive skin-tightening procedures is rising within the aesthetic world. Although these treatments will not replace surgery,a growing patient population is seeking results through low-risk procedures with associated minimal downtime.The technology within this realm is changing due to an increased ability to safely deliver energy to deeper tissue planes. Within the last year alone, research has led to the introduction of a subdermal radiofrequency device, advancements in minimally invasive lasers, and the use of microfocused ultrasound off the facial tissue. Through research studies, protocols are being optimized and clinical results are becoming more reliable.

A new treatment regimen for rosacea: onabotulinumtoxinA.

Rosacea is a cutaneous condition with several clinical subtypes that are commonly seen in daily medical practice. There are many different treatment modalities for each of the physical findings associated with this disease, and all have varying results. As the use of onabotulinumtoxinA rises, its benefit in the treatment of a growing number of medical diseases increases. The authors report anecdotal evidence of patients with rosacea experiencing improved symptoms of erythema and flushing after treatment with intradermal, microdroplets of onabotulinumtoxinA. There were no adverse events reported for any of the treatments. The mechanism of action through a likely neurogenic component to vascular dysfunction, inflammation, and hypersebaceous activity is reviewed.