Performance and Safety of Amino-Acid- and Hydroxyapatite Enriched-Hyaluronic Acid Intradermal Gel in Facial Skin Defects.

Background and Objectives: The facial skin defects associated with aging are common concerns in the aging population. Hyaluronic-acid-based intradermal gels have established themselves as safe and effective treatments for addressing these concerns. Recently developed enriched products aim to enhance the efficacy of these gels, yet their effectiveness lacks thorough validation in the existing literature. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective analysis, we investigated the outcomes of intradermal gel treatments in 103 patients with soft tissue defects. This study included three groups: 35 patients received amino-acid-enriched hyaluronic acid gel, another 35 were treated with hydroxyapatite-enriched hyaluronic acid gel, and the remaining 33 underwent hyaluronic acid treatment only. The efficacy of the treatments was assessed using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) score, while patient satisfaction was gauged through a detailed questionnaire. Any adverse event was monitored. Results: The treatments demonstrated remarkable efficacy, as evidenced by mean GAIS scores of 1.714 points for those treated with amino acid-enriched hyaluronic acid gel, 1.886 points for individuals receiving hydroxyapatite-enriched hyaluronic acid gel, and 1.697 for those treated with hyaluronic acid alone, all showing statistical significance (p < 0.0001). Patient satisfaction was very high. Significantly, there were no recorded instances of major adverse events. Conclusions: Hyaluronic gels, particularly those enriched with amino acids and hydroxyapatite, are effective and safe interventions for addressing facial skin aging defects. They serve as valuable tools in mitigating age-related blemishes and contribute to the overall improvement of skin aesthetics.

Telemonitoring Wound Recovery with Smartphone: An Italian Experience during Pandemic Period.

An important problem of plastic surgeons is monitoring wound healing, loss of substance, and postsurgical scar in different pathologies of the skin. Face to face monitoring is expensive and cannot be performed in periods of social crisis such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The use of telemedicine techniques is rising in this field of healthcare, promising the same results as the standard follow-up with more flexibility and savings. The purpose of this case study was to evaluate the effectiveness of remote monitoring and treatment through remote follow-up using digital applications. We followed up 25 patients with postoperative or diabetic ulcers for a period of 6 months (ranging from 2 to 6 months). We have performed clinical assessments using the Scar Cosmesis Assessment and Rating scale, and we have measured patient satisfaction using questionnaires. We chose to use the application for smartphone, describing the types of ulcers, number and average consultations, and the type of recovery, whether partial or complete. Monitoring wound recovery was very easy, and the patients found the experience very satisfactory. The total number of consultations was 255 with a significant reduction in outpatient visits during the pandemic period. Telemedicine is a useful tool in wound management and can be used to provide an optimal health care service with no inferior results to standard care.