The use of infrared radiation in the treatment of skin laxity.

BACKGROUND: Cosmetic surgery and medicine are extremely interesting fields for a plastic surgeon. Lasers and lights determine ablation, contraction and regenerating stimulus in skin tissues. The aim of this study is to examine the use of infrared lights in treating facial and body skin laxity. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2011, in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Hospital San Camillo-Forlanini, 303 patients were enrolled in the study and underwent laser therapy. The laser operates in wavelength from 1100 to 1800 nm. The treated areas are: face, neck, eyebrows, abdomen, legs and buttocks. RESULTS: We have noticed no systemic complications. A case of a patient with a three days lasting erythema on both lower eyelids caused by laser therapy healed without any pharmacological therapy. Neither hyper- nor hypopigmentation of the skin was found. The satisfaction degree of patients has been: facial, neck and eyebrow lifting "very satisfactory" for 70% of the patients, "satisfactory" for 10%, "unsatisfactory" for 20%; for the other areas it was "very satisfactory" for 40%, "satisfactory" for 20% and "unsatisfactory" for 40%. CONCLUSION: The use of infrared radiation represents a valid alternative to surgical lifting, but cannot replace it. The infrared light technique used has turned out to be useful in contrasting skin laxity of the face and other parts of the body. The absence of scars and surgical risk makes this technique useable for a large number of patients.

Chronic ulcers: MATRIDERM(®) system in smoker, cardiopathic, and diabetic patients.

Diabetic ulcers and pressure ulcers represent a more frequent cause of chronic wounds in aging populations. It is estimated that approximately 15% of the diabetic population will develop diabetic ulcers during their life and over half of these patients develop an infection, often osteomyelitis, with 20% requiring amputation. The authors report a case of a 65-year-old woman affected by a post-traumatic loss of substance due to road accidents with soft tissue exposure (comprising muscle tendon) of the left knee combined with the fracture of the right fibula previously subjected to surgery and reconstruction of muscle tendon. The patient was affected by diabetes type II, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease. In 2008, she underwent a double bypass surgery and coronary angioplasty. Initially, the patient was treated with cycles of advanced dressings, with fibrinolytic ointments, hydrocolloid, and subsequently, when the bottom began granulated with fibrinolytic and idrocellulosa, Hydrofibra-Ag, and Ag-alginate, three times a week for 30 days. In the second step, the authors decided to treat the ulcer with the MATRIDERM system and auto skin graft. Following the first treatment, 7 days after the procedure, the authors found the reduction of the loss of substance until its complete closure. The wound's infection was evaluated by a buffer negative confirmation performed every 2 weeks four times. We obtained decrease of limb edema and full functional rehabilitation. The skin appeared renovated, with volume restoration and an improvement of the texture.