Dermatologic surgery into the next millennium, Part III.

Face-lift procedures and blepharoplasties are performed as in-office surgeries. Either local sedation or conscious sedation is used, and the patient's vital signs are carefully monitored. To avoid complications, the patient is followed closely postoperatively. It is highly suggested that the patient receives a medical clearance prior to undergoing either of these procedures.

Dermatologic surgery into the next millennium, part II.

This is the second article in a 4-part series on dermatologic surgery. This section provides detailed information about filling agents and botulinus toxin A. The filling agents discussed here are frequently used in our office. It is emphasized that meticulous technique and patient selection predict a good cosmetic result. To select the right agent, patient safety must be a priority.

The use of conscious sedation for outpatient dermatologic surgical procedures.

BACKGROUND: Dermatologic surgery has undergone increasing levels of sophistication over the past few decades. Commensurate with this demand, an established anesthesia technique called conscious sedation has been employed. OBJECTIVES: Methods for performing office-based conscious sedation are described. Recommendations are made regarding prerequisites for conscious sedation in an office setting, patient selection, complications management, and postoperative discharge requirements. CONCLUSION: The goals of anesthesia are to provide for patient safety and comfort, to increase patient acceptance of the procedure, and to enhance the surgeon's efficiency and satisfaction.

Dermatologic surgery into the next millennium: Part I.

Dermatologic cosmetic surgery is a subspecialty of dermatology that has recently been developed. In this four-part series, we describe many of the procedures performed in our ambulatory surgery setting. We also highlight the significant changes in the techniques and treatment environments for these procedures over the past three decades. In part one, we focus on liposuction and face lift operations. Patients increasingly expect less invasive procedures, decreased "down time," and superior results. These expectations create a greater demand for the dermatologic surgeon. The trends and prospects for dermatologic cosmetic surgery in the next millennium are illustrated.

A novel application of the infrared coagulator in hair transplantation. Significant reduction of width of the donor site wound.

BACKGROUND: The infrared coagulator, a by-product of laser technology, has been used in dermatology in a variety of settings. During hair transplantation sessions, we observed a significant reduction of the donor ellipse width while performing hemostasis with the infrared coagulator. OBJECTIVE: Quantitative assessment of the donor wound width after infrared coagulator use, and correlation to the number of previous transplant sessions and patients' age. METHODS: Twenty-four patients (22 men, two women) underwent hair transplantation. The infrared coagulator was utilized for hemostasis with a pulse duration of 2.5 seconds. RESULTS: The infrared coagulator produced an average donor area decrease of 42%, while achieving rapid hemostasis. No correlation was demonstrated to number of previous transplant sessions or patients' age. CONCLUSIONS: The infrared coagulator significantly decreases the donor wound width while providing hemostasis. Advantages include the potential of larger donor strip harvest, minimal tissue manipulation, and less traumatic closure.