Minimally Invasive Procedures for Gender Affirmation.

Despite an increase in the visibility of the transgender population, those who transition continue to face barriers to receiving care through traditional medical providers. Dermatologists can play an important role in the care of transgender patients, through increased understanding and awareness, better outreach, modified medical forms, improved office procedures, and safer and immediately available minimally invasive aesthetic treatments. Minimally invasive aesthetic enhancements that help align appearance with aesthetic goals and gender identity can enhance confidence and improve quality of life. This article discusses gender transition, applicable minimally invasive procedures for the face and body, and illustrative case examples.

Microfocused ultrasound for skin tightening.

The demand for noninvasive skin tightening procedures is increasing as patients seek safe and effective alternatives to aesthetic surgical procedures of the face, neck, and body. Over the past decade, radiofrequency and infrared laser devices have been popularized owing to their ability to deliver controlled heat to the dermis, stimulate neocollagenesis, and effect modest tissue tightening with minimal recovery. However, these less invasive approaches are historically associated with inferior efficacy so that surgery still remains the treatment of choice to address moderate to severe tissue laxity. Microfocused ultrasound was recently introduced as a novel energy modality for transcutaneous heat delivery that reaches the deeper subdermal connective tissue in tightly focused zones at consistent programmed depths. The goal is to produce a deeper wound healing response at multiple levels with robust collagen remodeling and a more durable clinical response. The Ulthera device (Ulthera, Inc, Meza, AZ), with refined microfocused ultrasound technology, has been adapted specifically for skin tightening and lifting with little recovery or risk of complications since its introduction in 2009. As clinical parameters are studied and optimized, enhanced efficacy and consistency of clinical improvement is expected.

A randomized, controlled trial of four ablative fractionated lasers for photoaging: a quadrant study.

BACKGROUND: Fractionated technology has revolutionized laser therapy. With the success of initial devices, several fractionated lasers have appeared on the market. Claims of superiority have made device choice difficult for physicians and patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve subjects were treated with fractionated ablative lasers (10,600-nm carbon dioxide and 2790-nm yttrium scandium gallium garnet) in this institutional review board-approved trial. Each face was divided into four quadrants, and each quadrant was randomly treated using one of four lasers. Clinical experience was used to optimize settings. Two patients submitted biopsies from each quadrant immediately after treatment. Patients and blinded investigators assessed pain during treatment and post-treatment improvement in photoaging (measured by rhytides, lentigines, texture, and pore size) using a five-point scale. RESULTS: All devices resulted in statistical improvement in photoaging in all patients, but no device was statistically significantly superior. No statistically significant difference was found in pain scores. All patients reported satisfaction 1 month after treatment. Three patients experienced adverse reactions. Histologically, there were no statistically significant differences between devices. CONCLUSIONS: Fractionated ablative lasers reliably result in improvement in photoaging. Despite marketing claims, no statistically significant differences were found in outcomes, pain during treatment, or histologic findings. Even with experienced users, significant adverse reactions are possible.

Delayed inflammatory reaction to bio-alcamid polyacrylamide gel used for soft-tissue augmentation.

BACKGROUND: Given the recent boom of the cosmetic industry, there is a wealth of new products available to patients and physicians, including soft-tissue fillers. Bio-Alcamid polyacrylamide gel (Polymekon, Milan, Italy) is a filler that has potential to cause adverse reactions. OBSERVATIONS: Two patients who had previously been treated with Bio-Alcamid outside of the United States presented with different manifestations of inflammatory responses to the product. These reactions were challenging to treat. CONCLUSIONS: Despite claims of safety, Bio-Alcamid and possibly other soft-tissue fillers available worldwide have the potential to cause adverse reactions. Physicians should be aware of the various presentations and treatment options for these reactions.

Acquired epidermodysplasia verruciformis.

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) is a rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis with an increased susceptibility to specific human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes. Classically, this viral infection leads to the development of tinea versicolor-like macules on the trunk, neck, arms, and face during childhood, and over time, these lesions can progress to squamous cell carcinoma. More recently, an EV-like syndrome has been described in patients with impaired cell-mediated immunity. We describe two cases of EV-like syndrome in HIV-positive patients, review all previously reported cases of EV in patients with impaired cell-mediated immunity, introduce the term "acquired epidermodysplasia verruciformis" to describe EV developing in the immunocompromised host and examine the limited treatment options for these patients.

Incidence of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis at two large medical centers.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence and associated risk factors of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) in patients who undergo gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA)-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval was obtained for retrospective review of the medical records from two hospitals to identify all cases of biopsy-confirmed NSF and all patients administered a GBCA from January 1, 1997, to June 30, 2007. Informed patient consent was not required. The incidence of NSF was calculated for patients who received a standard dose of GBCA, patients who received a high dose, and subgroups of patients with renal impairment. RESULTS: Fifteen patients developed NSF after gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging. All of them had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) lower than 30 mL/min, and 11 had acute renal failure or acute deterioration of chronic renal failure. The incidence of NSF after gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging without screening for renal function was zero of 74,124 patients with the standard dose of GBCA and 15 (0.17%) of 8997 patients with the high dose (P < .001). The NSF incidence associated with a high dose of GBCA increased to 0.4% in patients in a chronic hemodialysis program and to 8.8% in those who had an eGFR lower than 15 mL/min but were not undergoing hemodialysis (P < .001). The NSF incidence in the patients with acute renal failure who received a high dose when their creatinine level was increasing was 19% (11 of 58 patients) when hemodialysis was delayed for longer than 2 days. More patients with NSF had proinflammatory events, and compared with patients without NSF, these patients had lower pH, younger age, lower eGFR, elevated serum phosphorus levels, and a longer delay between GBCA injection and hemodialysis. CONCLUSION: For patients with an eGFR lower than 15 mL/min, hemodialysis helped to prevent NSF. For patients with an eGFR lower than 30 mL/min who received a high dose of GBCA, acute renal failure, delayed hemodialysis after contrast agent injection, proinflammatory events, and hyperphosphatemia were associated with increased risk of NSF.