Prevention of temporal alopecia following rhytidectomy: the prophylactic use of minoxidil. A study of 60 patients.

BACKGROUND: Temporal hair loss that results from traumatized hair follicles following rhytidectomy is an unsightly complication that can distress both the patient and the operating surgeon. Topical minoxidil is a proven therapy for androgenic alopecia and female senile alopecia. It has also been found to be useful in preventing the hair loss that commonly follows hair transplantation. OBJECTIVE: To analyze through a retrospective study the effect of topical minoxidil on the incidence of temporal hair loss following facelift procedures. To our knowledge this is the first study to investigate the role of minoxidil in preventing post-rhytidectomy temporal alopecia. METHODS: The charts of 60 women with a mean age of 58 years who underwent primary cervicofacial rhytidectomy were studied. Either a standard SMAS/flap technique or pliation was done in all cases. Each patient received either 2% or 5% topical minoxidil for 2 weeks before surgery and for 4 weeks after surgery, with a 5-day break period beginning on the day of surgery. Patients were monitored for complications immediately postoperatively and in 3-6 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Almost 80% of the patients underwent SMAS/flap procedures. Transient temporal alopecia was noted in only one patient, 6 weeks after discontinuing minoxidil. This resolved within 4 weeks of its reintroduction. The only other complications noted included minor hematomas (3.3%), skin slough/infection (1.7%), minor transient and localized edema (8.3%), minor ecchymosis (1.7%), a unilateral neuropraxia of the buccal nerve lasting 3 months (1.7%), and a minor temporary unilateral skin depression (1.7%). Side effects of minoxidil were not observed. CONCLUSION: On comparing our findings to results of larger rhytidectomy series in which minoxidil was not used prophylactically, and our experience before using minoxidil, we conclude that minoxidil plays a role in effectively preventing the temporal hair loss that occurs following primary cervicofacial rhytidectomies. We also found that minoxidil did not negatively impact on the risk of hematoma formation, skin necrosis, edema, or ecchymosis. Side effects of minoxidil did not present a problem.

A side-by-side comparative study of 1064 nm Nd:YAG, 810 nm diode and 755 nm alexandrite lasers for treatment of 0.3-3 mm leg veins.

BACKGROUND: Laser and intense pulsed light device treatments of leg veins have generally yielded disappointing results. Use of longer wavelengths, longer pulse widths, and better cooling devices have recently sparked renewed interests in these methods. OBJECTIVE: To prospectively compare, side by side, a 3-msec cryogen spray-equipped 755 nm alexandrite, a sapphire window cooled super-long-pulse 810 nm diode, and a variable pulse width, cryogen spray-equipped 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of 0.3-3mm leg veins. METHODS: Thirty female volunteers, skin types I-V, age 32-67 years with comparable sets of leg veins were treated with the Nd:YAG laser and either the diode laser, alexandrite laser, or both. In most patients two to three sets of comparable sites were treated. Treatment parameters varied with each laser and according to the size of veins being treated. Patients were examined 1 week after each treatment and at 1, 2, and 3 months after the last treatment. Pre- and posttreatment 35mm photographs were taken. Improvement was judged by two experienced physicians both visually on patients and by comparison of pre- and posttreatment photographs. Results were graded as percent resolution, in five groups, 0%, 0-25%, 25-50%, 50-75%, and 75-100%. RESULTS: In the 22 patients completing the study, 36 leg vein sites were treated with the Nd:YAG laser, 18 leg vein sites were treated with the diode laser, and 12 leg vein sites were treated with the alexandrite laser. Greater than 75% improvement was observed at 88% of the Nd:YAG laser-treated sites, 29% of the diode laser-treated sites, and 33% of the alexandrite laser-treated sites. Greater than 50% improvement was observed at 94% of the Nd:YAG laser-treated sites, 33% of the diode laser-treated sites, and 58% of the alexandrite laser-treated sites. Less than 25% improvement was observed at 6% of the Nd:YAG laser-treated sites, 39% of the diode laser-treated sites, and 33% of the alexandrite laser-treated sites. Pain during treatment was variably perceived by patients, but occasionally sufficient for patients to decline further treatment. Posttreatment purpura and telangiectatic matting were a significant drawback for the alexandrite laser. Transient hemosiderin pigmentation, as seen with sclerotherapy, was common with larger vessels. CONCLUSION: The cryogen spray-equipped 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser was remarkably effective and safe for the treatment of 0.3-3 mm leg veins. The use of topical anesthesia may be needed for some patients. The super-long-pulse 810 nm diode laser gave unpredictable results. Additional refinements of fluence and pulse width could improve its performance. The 3-msec, 755 nm alexandrite laser at fluences of 60-70 J/cm2 and an 8 mm spot can be effective, but inflammatory response, purpura, and matting limit its usefulness. Longer pulse widths might decrease these problems. For leg vein treatment, the 1064 nm wavelength is very safe for type V skin, the 810 nm wavelength at super-long pulse widths of 400-1000 msec is very safe for type IV and marginal for type V skin, and the 755 nm wavelength is limited to nontanned type I-III skin.