Identifying Levels of Competency in Aesthetic Medicine: A Questionnaire-based Study.

BACKGROUND: In 2022, the US experienced a significant increase in demand for minimally invasive aesthetic procedures, underscoring its rising acceptance amid an unregulated educational environment for practitioners. The absence of standardized educational pathways and quality control in aesthetic medicine, primarily provided by nonacademic institutions, highlights a critical need for establishing educational standards to ensure practitioner competence and patient safety. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify levels of competency for the aesthetic practitioner and necessary achievement milestones during the educational path from novice to expert injector. METHODS: A total of n = 386 international study participants responded to an online questionnaire regarding their experience in aesthetic medicine practice. The questionnaire comprised 58 questions focusing on professional data, the perceived difficulty of injection, and risk for the occurrence of adverse events for specific facial regions in soft tissue filler and toxin injections. RESULTS: Regardless of medical specialty and experience level, averages of 3.85 (1.8) years, 786.4 (2628) filler injections and 549.9 (1543) toxin injections were estimated to progress from novice to advanced injector, while averages of 6.10 (3.7) years, 1842.2 (4793) filler injections, and 1308.5 (3363) toxin injections were estimated to advance from advanced to expert injector. The nose and the perioral region have been ranked as the facial regions where it is most difficult to achieve a perfect aesthetic outcome and with the greatest risk for the occurrence of adverse events for filler and toxin injections, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this study we establish an educational framework in aesthetic medicine by defining the progression from novice to competent and expert injector levels, suggesting 4 years of practice and over 790 filler and 550 neuromodulator injections for competence, and at least 6 years with 1840 filler and 1310 neuromodulator injections for expertise. We also identify critical facial regions for targeted treatments by different expertise levels.

The Relationship Between Glabellar Contraction Patterns and Glabellar Muscle Anatomy: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging-based Study.

BACKGROUND: Glabellar contraction patterns were introduced to the scientific literature to help guide glabellar neuromodulator injection algorithms. However, the relationship between the underlying musculature and its influence on these glabellar contraction patterns is unclear. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify via Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) glabellar muscle parameters that display an influence on the distribution of individual glabellar contraction patterns. METHODS: Thirty-four healthy young individuals of Caucasian Polish descent were investigated (17 women, 17 men) with a mean age of 23.6 years and a mean BMI of 22.8 kg/m2. MRI-based measurements of length, thickness, width and surface area of procerus, corrugator supercilii, orbicularis oculi and frontalis muscles were conducted. RESULTS: Unadjusted models revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between the five glabellar contraction types and the investigated muscle parameters indicating that independent of the skin rhytid pattern, the underlying musculature was not different between the investigated groups in this sample with all p ≥ 0.102. Adjusted models revealed that sex was the most influential factor due to males displayed in general higher values for the investigated parameters when compared to females. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study reveal that based on the MRI parameters investigated and based on the investigated cohort, there does not appear to be a strong relationship between glabellar contraction patterns and underlying glabella muscle anatomy. Utilizing glabellar contraction patterns to design neuromodulator treatment algorithms may be of variable clinical merit.

Optimizing Male Periorbital Rejuvenation.

BACKGROUND: Facial rejuvenation continues to be an increasing trend among males. The periorbital region deserves special mention given the overall differences in aesthetics between sexes. OBJECTIVE: To examine the aesthetics of the upper eyelid, lower eyelid, lateral canthus, and brow with respect to male periorbital rejuvenation. METHODS: The upper eyelid, lower eyelid, lateral canthus, and brow are examined, highlighting aesthetic differences in males and females. RESULTS: The authors outline principles so as to maintain a masculine appearance when treating the male upper eyelid, lower eyelid, lateral canthus, and brow. CONCLUSION: With guiding principles, the male upper lid, lower lid, brow, and lateral canthus can be managed to achieve optimal, consistent results.

An alternative outpatient care model: postoperative guest suite-based care.

BACKGROUND: Patients recovering from outpatient surgery are responsible for managing their pain, managing ambulation, and even implementing thromboembolism prophylaxis after discharge. Because of the importance of postoperative care to prevent complications, a model of care that helps a patient transition to independent self-care could provide optimal results. OBJECTIVES: The authors investigated the safety and morbidity rate for patients who underwent body contouring procedures and overnight care at an attached, nurse-staffed guest suite facility. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of 246 patients who underwent major body contouring and who stayed at least 1 night in the guest suite facility. Major complications included a return to the operating room within 48 hours, major wound infection, and unplanned hospitalization within 48 hours. Minor complications included any postsurgical effect necessitating unplanned physician intervention within the first 30 days. Univariate analyses correlating patient characteristics and complication rates were conducted, as well as comparison of complication rates among same procedures reported in the literature. RESULTS: The complication rate (major and minor complications) was 25.20%. Surgical site infection occurred in 8.13% of patients. The most common wound complication was erythema around the incision site (12.20%). Death, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism did not occur. Comparison with relevant results reported in the literature indicated a significant reduction in the occurrence of postoperative venous thromboembolism. CONCLUSIONS: Patient education after surgery is essential to healing and adequate care. The guest suite model provides improved care and education for the patient and family postsurgery by addressing some of the known risk factors of plastic surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Neuromodulator Injection for Gummy Smile.

SUMMARY: Neuromodulators have become a treatment of choice for the management of excess gingival show, or "gummy smile." There have been many proposed algorithms for the optimal placement and dosage of neuromodulator to inject in these locations. The authors aim to clarify these points and provide surgeons with a reliable way to manage the gummy smile that results from hyperactive muscles of the midface.

Revision Rhinoplasty Finesse with Digital Osteotomies.

SUMMARY: Revision rhinoplasty is a finesse procedure requiring careful consideration of all of its requisite steps. Lateral osteotomies are required in many cases and, in the setting of prior lateral osteotomies, can often be recreated with digital pressure alone, without the use of an osteotome. The advantages of doing so include decreased dead-space creation and preservation of attachments between the skeleton and overlying soft tissue.

Neuromodulator Finesse for Masseter Hypertrophy and Bruxism.

SUMMARY: A particularly prominent mandibular angle or a hypertrophied masseter muscle can result in an excessively wide facial appearance, which some individuals may find less aesthetically pleasing. Although normally a benign condition and strictly an aesthetic concern, a hypertrophied masseter can also cause pain, bruxism, and headaches. Neuromodulator for masseter reduction and treatment of bruxism has become first-line treatment. In this article, the authors present the senior author's (R.J.R.) anatomic approach to neuromodulator injection of the masseter, with a corresponding video of the injection technique.

Clinical Applications of Tranexamic Acid (TXA) in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

PURPOSE: Tranexamic Acid (TXA) has gained increasing recognition as a valuable pharmacologic agent within plastic surgery. This study reviews the scientific evidence regarding the use of TXA in the full range of plastic and reconstructive surgery to provide clinical recommendations regarding for safe and effective use in various plastic surgical procedures. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. An established appraisal process was used to rate the quality of articles (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology). RESULTS: Forty-five studies describing the use of TXA in plastic surgery were included. There is moderate-certainty evidence to support the use of intravenous administration of TXA in craniofacial surgery procedures to reduce blood-loss and transfusion requirements. There is high-certainty evidence to support the use of TXA in cosmetic surgery and intravenous administration in rhinoplasty procedures to reduce blood-loss. Further high-level studies are needed to determine TXA's effects on hematoma rates in facelift surgery and breast-related procedures. There is moderate-certainty evidence to support the use of TXA in burn care. Further studies are required to provide quantitative conclusions on the effects of TXA administration in microsurgery. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest study to date on the use of TXA in plastic surgery and the first to provide clinical recommendations. The literature highlights TXA's promising role in the fields of craniofacial surgery, cosmetic surgery and burn care. Standardized, objective measurements are required to provide quantitative conclusions regarding TXAs effects on ecchymoses and edema in cosmetic surgery procedures.

The Seven Step Neck Lift Z-Plasty.

Patients with large amounts of neck skin redundancy who do not desire or are not candidates for traditional face and neck lifts can be managed with direct neck lifts. There are many existing surgical techniques to address central neck laxity. In this article, we aim to clarify our surgical technique in a clear video format to showcase how to address central neck laxity in seven steps with neck lift Z-plasty.

A Multicenter Pilot Study of a Novel Allograft Adipose Matrix in Malar and Prejowl Volume Restoration.

Background: Allograft adipose matrix (AAM) offers a novel, off-the-shelf, and readily available natural option in the treatment of facial soft tissue volume and reconstructive deficits. AAM is a natural soft tissue supplement or replacement that can support cushioning and volume correction. A prospective multicenter pilot study evaluated AAM in facial volume restoration. Methods: Eleven women (mean age of 55.8 ±â€…10.9 y) with midface volume deficit were followed up for 24 weeks after AAM treatment in this institutional review board-approved multicenter pilot study. The clinical safety and efficacy of the AAM treatment were evaluated using clinical scales and three-dimensional quantitative facial photography. Results: AAM was safe to address facial volume deficits, with minor site-related adverse events and discomfort that resolved within 2-4 weeks. Observations also revealed facial volume improvements throughout the study with 91% positive responders. At week 24, the subject facial satisfaction scores revealed an 86% increase compared to baseline, along with a statistically significantly improved midface fullness compared to baseline. Conclusion: AAM offers a natural and safe option for midface volume restoration and supports overall satisfaction and volume improvements.

Isolated Fibrous Dysplasia of the Bilateral Nasal Bones: Complex Management of the Bony Vault.

Fibrous dysplasia is a benign fibro-osseous process affecting the skeletal system, with resulting cystic and fibrous tissue expansion. Craniofacial fibrous dysplasia represents a small subset of monostotic disease, accounting for approximately 10%-25% of all such cases. Involvement of the frontal, temporal, and sphenoid bones has most commonly been described, with a limited number of reported cases citing disease isolated to the nasal bones. The case reported here is differentiated by the degree of expansion of the bilateral nasal bones and the required clinical management of the bony vault in the setting of gross nasal asymmetry.

The emerging role of biostimulators as an adjunct in facial rejuvenation: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Facial aging has long been an area of focus in esthetic surgery. It is the consequence of physiologic and environmental factors, with a trend toward non-surgical modalities. Although volume augmentation has long been a focus of non-surgical facial rejuvenation, there is emerging interest in the use of biostimulators to induce physiologic changes in the skin. This article aimed to provide an overview of this class of therapies. METHODS: A systematic review regarding the clinical use of biostimulatory agents including platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) in facial rejuvenation was performed using PubMed databases. The protocol was developed following the preferred reporting for items for systematic reviews-protocols guidelines. Included studies matched predetermined criteria according to the employed intervention and outcomes. RESULTS: The systematic review was performed in September 2023, with the primary search yielding 464 articles. Abstract review resulted in 73 articles of potential relevance. Comprehensive review of the articles and manual reference checks were performed, independently, by 2 authors. This yielded a total of 45 articles that met the inclusion criteria. CONCLUSIONS: There is an increasing role for non-surgical modalities in facial rejuvenation. Biostimulatory agents may be used as an alternative, or act as an adjunct, to other non-surgical modalities. These agents induce physiologic changes that mitigate facial aging. There is limited, quantifiable data, which fully illustrate the effect in these products. Although these agents are known to illicit inflammatory changes, more controlled studies are needed to better elucidate the biostimulatory capacity of such non-surgical treatments.

Technical Precision with Autologous Fat Grafting for Facial Rejuvenation: A Review of the Evolving Science.

SUMMARY: The scientific study of facial aging has transformed modern facial rejuvenation. As people age, fat loss in specific fat compartments is a major contributor to structural aging of the face. Autologous fat grafting is safe, abundant, readily available, and completely biocompatible, which makes it the preferred soft-tissue filler in the correction of facial atrophy. The addition of volume through fat grafting gives an aging face a more youthful, healthy, and aesthetic appearance. Harvesting and preparation with different cannula sizes and filter-cartridge techniques have allowed for fat grafts to be divided based on parcel size and cell type into three major subtypes: macrofat, microfat, and nanofat. Macrofat and microfat have the benefit of providing volume to restore areas of facial deflation and atrophy in addition to improving skin quality; nanofat has been shown to improve skin texture and pigmentation. In this article, the authors discuss the current opinions regarding fat grafting and how the evolving science of fat grafting has led to the clinical utility of each type of fat to optimize facial rejuvenation. The opportunity exists to individualize the use of autologous fat grafting with the various subtypes of fat for the targeted correction of aging in different anatomic areas of the face. Fat grafting has become a powerful tool that has revolutionized facial rejuvenation, and developing precise, individualized plans for autologous fat grafting for each patient is an important advancement in the evolution of facial rejuvenation.

Systematic Review of Capsular Contracture Management following Breast Augmentation: An Update.

BACKGROUND: Capsular contracture is one of the most frequent indications for revision following breast augmentation. Management goals focus on restoring breast aesthetics and minimizing subsequent recurrence of capsular contracture. As new data emerge, close review of the data are merited to build evidence-based clinical guidelines to inform surgical practice and management of capsular contracture. METHODS: A systematic review of the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews databases was conducted to characterize the surgical management of capsular contracture in revision breast augmentations. The primary endpoint was capsular contracture recurrence rate. RESULTS: The review was conducted in November of 2021. Primary search revealed 14,163 results. Initial screening by title left 1223 articles. Abstract review left 90 articles for full-text review, of which 34 were ultimately included and were all observational in nature. CONCLUSIONS: Capsular contracture management remains an important topic, with limited high-level evidence for establishing clear evidence-based treatment guidelines. Although more evidence is required to assess the effects of capsulectomy, implant exchange, and plane change, these appear to be useful mechanisms for reducing recurrent capsular contracture. There is more evidence regarding the use of acellular dermal matrix, although this still requires long-term follow-up studies. New developments regarding textured implants limit the revision breast augmentation surgeon to smooth devices.

Preventing Hump Recurrence in Dorsal Preservation Rhinoplasty: The Five Key Tenets.

SUMMARY: Preservation rhinoplasty has re-emerged over the past decade and continues to gain traction in the rhinoplasty community. Dorsal preservation rhinoplasty (DPR), one of the tenets of preservation rhinoplasty, centers on preservation of the native osseocartilaginous joint of the dorsum, with changes instead achieved through modification of the underlying septal cartilage and surrounding bony nasal pyramid. However, one complication unique to DPR is the phenomenon of hump recurrence, where tensile forces or memory lead to a recurrent convexity of the dorsal hump. Hump recurrence is the most common complication after DPR and often requires revisionary surgery. Accordingly, strategies to reduce the incidence of hump recurrence are highly sought after. In this article, we describe the senior author's main tenets of preventing hump recurrence in DPR, focusing on 1. Appropriate patient selection; 2. Addressing anatomic blocking points; 3. Adding mechanical fixation of the cartilaginous vault with suture techniques depending on the level of septal manipulation; 4. Applying a graduated approach to DPR procedural selection; and 5. Ancillary measures to control the shape of the nasal dorsum. Implementation of each of these five tenets is critical for modern rhinoplasty surgeons to reduce the incidence of hump recurrence in their preservation rhinoplasty practices.

Dead Space - The Final Frontier in Rhinoplasty: Review and 10 Key Recommendations.

SUMMARY: Mitigating dead space has been recognized as an essential step towards ensuring a more predictable and aesthetically pleasing outcome in rhinoplasty. The current body of literature leaves a discernible gap in offering a unified, systematic approach to dead space management in rhinoplasty. The aim of our article is to bridge this gap by presenting an integrative approach to surgical and post-surgical techniques.

Evolving Role of Exosomes in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Dermatology.

Exosomes, or extracellular vesicles, represent the latest cell-free addition to the regenerative medicine toolkit. In vitro preclinical studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of exosomes, which vary based on source and biomanufacturing, for a myriad of potential therapeutic applications relevant to skin and soft tissue reconstruction. Primary search was performed in September 2021 on the MEDLINE database via PubMed and Ovid, with focus on articles about therapeutic application of exosomes or extracellular vesicles. In total, 130 articles met criteria for applicability, including early-stage clinical trials, preclinical research studies with in vivo application, and articles applicable to plastic and reconstructive surgery and dermatology. Most studies used animal models of human disease processes, using either animal donor cells to isolate exosomes, or human donor cells in animal models. Exosome technology has catapulted as an acellular therapeutic vehicle with off-the-shelf accessibility. These features eliminate prior threshold for broad adoption of regenerative cell-based therapies into surgical and medical practice. To date, there are no exosome products approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. This review highlights exosomes as the new frontier in regenerative medicine and outlines its preclinical therapeutic applications for cutaneous repair and restoration.