Photobiomodulation: A Systematic Review of the Oncologic Safety of Low-Level Light Therapy for Aesthetic Skin Rejuvenation.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy is an increasingly popular modality for aesthetic skin rejuvenation. PBM induces genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic processes within target cells, but such manipulation of cell behavior has led to concerns about oncologic safety. This article presents a summary of the clinical and preclinical evidence for the oncologic safety of PBM for aesthetic skin rejuvenation. A focused systematic review was performed, in which safety data from clinical trials of PBM for skin rejuvenation was supplemented by analyses of in vitro data obtained from cells derived from human skin and human neoplastic cells and in vivo data of tumors of the skin, oral cavity, and breast. Within established parameters, red and near infrared light mainly enhances proliferation of healthy cells without a clear pattern of influence on cell viability. The same light parameters mainly reduce neoplastic cell proliferation and viability or else make no difference. Invasiveness potential (appraised by cell migration assays and/or differential gene expression) is equivocal. PBM does not induce dysplastic change in healthy cells. In vivo tumor models yield varied results with no clear pattern emerging. There are no relevant clinical trial data linking PBM with any significant adverse events, including the finding of a new or recurrent malignancy.Current clinical and preclinical evidence suggests that PBM is oncologically safe for skin rejuvenation, and there is no evidence to support the proposition that it should be avoided by patients who have previously undergone treatment for cancer.

Photobiomodulation: The Clinical Applications of Low-Level Light Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Low-level light therapy (LLLT) is a recent addition to the pantheon of light-based therapeutic interventions. The absorption of red/near-infrared light energy, a process termed "photobiomodulation," enhances mitochondrial ATP production, cell signaling, and growth factor synthesis, and attenuates oxidative stress. Photobiomodulation is now highly commercialized with devices marketed directly to the consumer. In the gray area between the commercial and therapeutic sectors, harnessing the clinical potential in reproducible and scientifically measurable ways remains challenging. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article was to summarize the clinical evidence for photobiomodulation and discuss the regulatory framework for this therapy. METHODS: A review of the clinical literature pertaining to the use of LLLT for skin rejuvenation (facial rhytids and dyschromias), acne vulgaris, wound healing, body contouring, and androgenic alopecia was performed. RESULTS: A reasonable body of clinical trial evidence exists to support the role of low-energy red/near-infrared light as a safe and effective method of skin rejuvenation, treatment of acne vulgaris and alopecia, and, especially, body contouring. Methodologic flaws, small patient cohorts, and industry funding mean there is ample scope to improve the quality of evidence. It remains unclear if light-emitting diode sources induce physiologic effects of compararable nature and magnitude to those of the laser-based systems used in most of the higher-quality studies. CONCLUSIONS: LLLT is here to stay. However, its ubiquity and commercial success have outpaced empirical approaches on which solid clinical evidence is established. Thus, the challenge is to prove its therapeutic utility in retrospect. Well-designed, adequately powered, independent clinical trials will help us answer some of the unresolved questions and enable the potential of this therapy to be realized.

An Orbital Abscess Secondary to Intraoral Impalement.

Penetrating orbital trauma in the pediatric population is rare. Even more unusual is a secondary orbital infection following penetrating trauma. Here we present a highly unusual case of fulminant facial cellulitis with an orbital abscess in an otherwise healthy 3-year-old boy following a penetrating injury to the orbit from a point of entry on the gingiva-buccal sulcus, sustained during a fall while carrying a wooden lollipop stick. Examination of the retina revealed a focal injury at the inferior pole of the globe. The organisms cultured from pus sampled from the abscess and from the discharging intraoral wound revealed the same oral commensals while the MRI revealed a track in continuity with the orbital collection.

Cosmeceuticals: The Principles and Practice of Skin Rejuvenation by Nonprescription Topical Therapy.

Background: Aesthetic practice relies on a harmonious relationship between medicine and commerce. Bridging the gap is a large number of skincare products that make therapeutic claims while avoiding the regulatory framework of pharmaceuticals. In this gray area, clinicians find themselves poorly disposed to counsel patients wisely as the industry is expanding faster than empirical evidence of efficacy and safety can be acquired. To serve our patients and engage with industry, we must understand the theoretical principles and evaluate the clinical evidence in practice. Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to classify cosmeceuticals by method of action, explain how they work in principle with reference to skin aging, and evaluate the clinical evidence for them. Methods: A literature and cosmetic clinic website search was conducted to establish a list of the most commonly advertised cosmeceuticals, and a peer-reviewed literature search was then conducted to establish the clinical evidence for them. Results: A huge number of cosmeceuticals are marketed for skin rejuvenation but almost invariably they fall into 1 of 4 categories. These include the induction of tissue repair mechanisms, inflammatory modulation, scavenging of reactive oxygen species, or a combination of the 3. With the exception of retinol derivatives and hydroxy acids, the clinical evidence is limited, despite promising preclinical evidence for several cosmeceuticals. Conclusions: Cosmeceuticals reside within a highly competitive ecosystem and are often brought to market based on preclinical, not clinical evidence. Success and failure will largely be governed by the establishment of clinical evidence in retrospect.

Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Aesthetic Surgery.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) have come to be viewed as a ubiquitous solution for aesthetic and reconstructive problems involving loss of tissue volume and age or radiation-induced loss of tissue pliability and vascularity. As the theoretical potential of "stem cell therapy" has captured the public imagination, so the commercial potential of novel therapies is being exploited beyond scientifically sound, hypothesis-driven paradigms and in the absence of evidence establishing clinical efficacy and safety. Moreover, with variations in methods of isolation, manipulation, and reintroduction described, it is unclear how the practitioner with an interest in ADSC can harness the clinical potential in reproducible and scientifically measurable ways. This Continuing Medical Education (CME) article presents a summary of our understanding of what ADSC are, their utility within the field of aesthetic surgery, and the current and future directions for adipose stem cell research.

Beyond the L-Strut: Redefining the Biomechanics of Rhinoplasty Using Topographic Optimization Modeling.

Rhinoplasty utilizes cartilage harvested from the nasal septum as autologous graft material. Traditional dogma espouses preservation of the "L-strut" of dorsal and caudal septum, which is less resistant to axial loading than virgin septum. Considering the 90° angle between dorsal and caudal limbs, the traditional L-strut also suffers from localized increases in internal stresses leading to premature septal "cracking," structural-scale deformation, or both. Deformation and failure of the L-strut leads to nasal deviation, saddle deformity, loss of tip support, or restriction of the nasal valve. The balance between cartilage yield and structural integrity is a topographical optimization problem. Guided by finite element (FE) modelling, recent efforts have yielded important modifications including the chamfering of right-angled corners to reduce stress concentrations and the preservation of a minimum width along the inferior portion of the caudal strut. However, all existing FE studies offer simplified assumptions to make the construct easier to model. This review article highlights advances in our understanding of septal engineering and identifies areas that require more work to further refine the balance between the competing interests of graft acquisition and the maintenance of nasal structural integrity.

The Efficacy and Safety of Tranexamic Acid in Cranio-Maxillofacial and Plastic Surgery.

The antifibrinolytic drug tranexamic acid (TXA) is effective in reducing blood loss and transfusion requirements in other fields of elective surgery and its use is emerging in a number of plastic surgical subspecialties. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the current evidence for the efficacy and safety of TXA in craniomaxillofacial, head and neck, breast, aesthetic, burns, and reconstructive microsurgery. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for randomized controlled trials of TXA in plastic surgery. Studies were analyzed using standard methodology. A total of 7965 records were screened, of which 14 met the inclusion criteria. Seven were suitable for meta-analysis. In craniofacial surgery, TXA was associated with a mean reduction in blood loss of 18.2 mL/kg (P = 0.00001) and a mean reduction in blood transfusion of 8.7 mL/kg (P = 0.0001). In orthognathic surgery, TXA was associated with a mean reduction in blood loss of 156 mL (P = 0.001). Tranexamic acid may also have a role in reducing drainage output volumes in oncological breast excision and lymph node dissection of the neck. Level-1 evidence for efficacy in aesthetic surgery, burns, and reconstructive microsurgery is lacking. Although no reported complications were attributable to TXA, there remain no phase IV trials published. Level-1 evidence supports the use of TXA in craniofacial and orthognathic surgery. There exists an unmet need for studies in areas, including burns, aesthetic surgery, and reconstructive microsurgery. Phase IV trials in areas of proven efficacy are also required.