Wound Healing Process After Thermomechanical Skin Ablation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Energy-based devices have been widely applied for skin ablation. A novel ablation technique based on thermomechanical principles (Tixel© ) has been recently developed. The aim of this study was to examine the wound-healing process and clinical aspects after thermomechanical skin ablation. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six female participants were treated with Tixel© on healthy skin of the dorsal side of the right forearm in a single session with a 600 µm protrusion and 12 milliseconds pulse. The treated area was examined with confocal laser scanning microscopy on day 1, 2, 7, and 14 after treatment. Clinical symptoms were evaluated at the same time-points. RESULTS: All patients developed erythema and mild edema on the treated areas, which completely disappeared within 14 days. No post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or scarring was observed. Thermomechanical skin ablation resulted in the formation of homogeneous micro-ablation zones. Two weeks after ablation, the honeycomb patterns of the epidermis in all examined layers was thoroughly restored. Thus, wound-healing was completed. CONCLUSIONS: Wound healing after thermomechanical skin ablation is much faster compared with other fractionated ablation methods. Treatment intervals of 2-4 weeks could be recommended. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 The Authors. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Correction of Skin Depressions of the Hands and Décolletage With VYC-17.5L: A Prospective, Single-center Study.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have assessed the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers for rejuvenating the hands and décolletage. VYC-17.5L is an HA filler with physical properties that may be well suited to these areas. METHODS: This was a prospective study of females undergoing VYC-17.5L treatment in the dorsum of both hands and the décolletage. All had ageing of the hands rated 3–4 on the Allergan Hand Volume Deficit Scale (AHVDS), and of the décolletage rated 3–5 using the Fabi–Bolton Chest Wrinkle Scale (FBCWS). Patients were initially treated with VYC-17.5L up to a maximum of 1.5 mL per hand and 3.0 mL in the décolletage; VYC-17.5L touch up was allowed at 1 month. Subjects were followed up for 12 months. The primary endpoint was the number of responders in each hand and the décolletage at 6 months, defined as a ≥ 1-point improvement on AHVDS or FBCWS. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were enrolled (mean age, 56.6 ± 9.9 years). Six-month response rates were 100% in each hand (AHVDS) and 96.9% in the décolletage (FBCWS). Mean improvements were statistically significant at all three sites (P<0.001). At 6 months, patient satisfaction using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale was high: 81.3% rated their right and left hands as ‘improved’ or ‘much improved’; 65.6% rated their décolletage this way. Results were durable out to 12 months for all endpoints. There were no unexpected safety findings. CONCLUSIONS: VYC-17.5L was effective and safe for correction of skin depressions of the hands and décolletage. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(12): doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.5524.