Pulsed dye laser treatment of molluscum contagiosum in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Molluscum contagiosum is usually a self-limited benign viral disease in children and young adults. In patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), however, the infection is often widespread, disfiguring, and recalcitrant to conventional therapy. OBJECTIVE: A treatment modality for widespread, recurrent molluscum contagiosum is necessary that is effective, safe, and simple. METHODS: Widespread molluscum contagiosum recalcitrant to conventional therapy in a patient with AIDS was treated with the 585-nm pulsed dye laser. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in the number of molluscum contagiosum lesions following a single treatment with the pulsed dye laser. Treated-areas remained disease-free after 4 months. No complications were associated with the procedure. CONCLUSION: Pulsed dye laser treatment may offer another therapeutic modality that is effective and safe in the treatment of widespread and recurrent molluscum contagiosum.

Contouring of the midtrunk in overweight patients.

Classical abdominoplasty primarily addresses the anterior abdominal wall. It involves a low transverse incision, extensive undermining in the supra-aponeurotic plane, correction of the musculofascial flaccidity, and resection of excessive skin and fat. The introduction of suction lipectomy into the armamentarium of the plastic surgeon has allowed a more thorough, yet safer, contouring of the entire midtrunk. When used in conjunction with a modified W-type abdominoplasty, circumferential suction lipectomy has yielded excellent results in contouring the midtrunk of overweight patients. It is the purpose of this article to present our technique for this procedure.