Safety of Microfocused Ultrasound With Visualization in Patients With Fitzpatrick Skin Phototypes III to VI.

IMPORTANCE: A microfocused ultrasound (MFU) system is a safe and effective aesthetic treatment for tightening and lifting skin in the facial and neck areas. This open-label, nonrandomized trial was performed to further demonstrate the safety of MFU for improving laxity of the skin of the face and neck in 52 adults with Fitzpatrick skin types III to VI. OBSERVATIONS: Before treatment with MFU, the skin tissue of each participant was assessed and ultrasound imaging was performed on the treatment area to ensure appropriate acoustic transducer coupling. Treatment was performed from March 23, 2011, to July 20, 2011. Following treatment, there were 3 reported adverse events described as raised areas of mild edema or welts (2 events) and moderately severe prolonged erythema with mild scabbing (1 event). All events resolved after 90 days without sequelae. Analysis was conducted from Janaury 18, 2012, to March 13, 2013. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The adverse events that occurred in this trial were temporary and associated with treatment technique. When performed by trained physicians, MFU is safe in patients with Fitzpatrick skin types III to VI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01368965.

Rhinoplasty in the patient of African descent.

We are in the midst of truly changing times, as patients of African descent actively embrace facial cosmetic surgery. Gaining surgical consistency in patients of African descent has proven to be elusive and unpredictable for many rhinoplasty surgeons. Surgical success relies on the surgeon's ability precisely to identify anatomic variables and reconcile these anatomic realities with the patient's expectations for aesthetic improvement and ethnic identity. An appreciation for underlying heritage provides a link culturally to connect with prospective patients and serves as a tool for establishing realistic aesthetic goals. This article highlights the significance of exploring ancestry in the rhinoplasty consultation; identifies key anatomic variables in the nasal tip, dorsum, and alar base; and reviews surgical logic that has facilitated the achievement of consistent, balanced aesthetic outcomes.

The aging face in patients of color: minimally invasive surgical facial rejuvenation-a targeted approach.

We are in the midst of exciting times from a demographic standpoint as the population of darker-skinned people grows exponentially in the United States. Although there is a growing demand for facial cosmetic procedures amongst people of color, the total number of individuals undergoing surgical facial rejuvenation is dwarfed by the current Caucasian market. In order to provide optimal options for facial rejuvenation, cosmetic surgeons must have an underlying appreciation for the dynamic interplay among ethnicity, facial morphology, and the progression of aging. The purpose of the present article is to outline the minimally invasive surgical options for facial rejuvenation best suited for the patient of color. Although the population of individuals with darker-pigmented skin is quite vast, the present paper will focus on individuals of African descent, with whom the author has the most experience. Preferred surgical techniques include blepharoplasty, autologous facial fat transplantation, percutaneous cheek lift, and submental liposuction. Cutaneous surgeons familiar with soft-tissue surgery and facial anatomy should feel comfortable performing these techniques.

Management of the wide nasal dorsum.

The literature is replete with discussions outlining surgical techniques for managing nasal tip deformities. In contrast, articles devoted to specific dorsal nasal abnormalities are rare. Surgical management of the nasal dorsum has traditionally been relegated to either augmentation or reduction followed by osteotomy. Contemporary rhinoplasty demands attention to the creation of an ideal profile line, which may require dorsal reduction in some areas and augmentation in others. Treatment of the patient with an appropriate projection of the profile but with a wide nasal dorsum presents a special challenge: to narrow the nasal bridge without altering its projection. We discuss several surgical techniques to narrow the nasal dorsum, while maintaining dorsal height. Selected cases are presented to illustrate these techniques and to clarify surgical options.