Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:Cellulite is a common female cosmetic concern for which there are few treatment options with long-term effectiveness data. The aim of this multisite prospective registry study was to collect observational data on the real-life clinical use of a tissue stabilized-guided subcision (TS-GS) system for long-term improvement of cellulite appearance. METHODS:Fifty-three subjects were enrolled and received a single treatment using the TS-GS system. Physicians treated the subjects according to their standard of care. Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) was completed by the patient and clinician assessing overall aesthetic improvement after 180 days. Treatment parameters, pain scores, quality of life data, and expected treatment effects and adverse events were also recorded throughout the study. RESULTS:The patient and physician GAIS scores at Day 180 revealed an overall improvement in 91% and 96% of patients, respectively. Quality of life and self-confidence scores also improved through 180 days. No serious adverse events were reported. Expected treatment effects were similar to those reported in the pivotal trial supporting FDA clearance. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:This study demonstrated significant improvement in the appearance of cellulite after a single treatment session in patients with moderate-to-severe cellulite. These results are consistent with the previously published the pivotal study data.

Importance/UNASSIGNED:Recent concerns regarding repetitive use of general anesthesia in children younger than 3 years have placed greater importance on the controversy surrounding the timing of the initiation of port-wine stain (PWS) laser treatment. Objective/UNASSIGNED:To evaluate the use of PWS treatments at the age of 1 year or younger in the office setting without general anesthesia. Design, Setting, and Participants/UNASSIGNED:Retrospective cohort study based on medical record reviews at a single, high-volume laser center for children who started pulsed dye laser treatment at the age of 1 year or younger for their PWS between 2000 and 2017. The data cutoff was at 1 year after the initial treatment to have comparable data points. Main Outcomes and Measures/UNASSIGNED:The primary outcome was improvement of PWSs using before and after photographs, which were reviewed by 4 physicians independently and graded using the following 5-point visual analog scale (VAS): poor (grade 1: 0%-25% improvement), fair (grade 2: 26%-50% improvement), good (grade 3: 51%-75% improvement), excellent (grade 4: 76%-99% improvement), and complete (grade 5: 100% improvement) clearance. Results/UNASSIGNED:Of the 197 patients (73 [37.1%] boys; 124 [62.9%] girls), most (149 [75.6%]) had facial lesions. The mean age at the time of first treatment was 3.38 months (range, 5-355 days) and the mean number of treatments was 9.8 (range, 2-23; median, 10). Per the mean physician VAS grading of 197 patients, 51 patients (25.9%) showed 100% clearance (mean [range] VAS score of 4.78 [4.5 - 5]); 81 patients (41.1%) showed 76 to 99% improvement (mean [range] VAS score of 3.91 [3.5 to <4.5]); 44 patients (22.3%) showed 51% to 75% improvement (mean [range] VAS score of 2.86 [2.5 to <3.5]); 13 patients (6.6%) showed 26% to 50% improvement (mean [range] VAS score of 2.12 [1.5 to <2.5]); and 8 patients (4.1%) showed 0 to 25% improvement (mean [range] VAS score of 0.78 [0 to <1.5]). The presence of a V1 (first branch of the trigeminal nerve [ophthalmic nerve]) lesion was associated with a statistically significantly higher clearance rate by a VAS grade of 0.55 (95% CI, 0.25-0.84; P < .001). The mean (SD) VAS grade for all patients was 3.65 (1.26), corresponding to excellent clearance. None of the patients experienced scarring or permanent pigmentary change. Conclusions and Relevance/UNASSIGNED:In this study, treatment of PWSs in infancy was both safe and effective. Early intervention allows for treatment without general anesthesia, maximizing the chance to achieve clearance before school age and thereby minimizing the negative outcome of PWSs for both the patient and the family.

BACKGROUND:Microneedling and soft-tissue filler injections have been used independently to improve acne scarring. The effectiveness of a combined approach using microneedling followed by polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-collagen gel has not been carefully studied. OBJECTIVE:The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of microneedling alone versus microneedling followed by injection of PMMA-collagen gel filler for correction of atrophic facial acne scars. METHODS:We conducted a multicenter, open-label, randomized, prospective study on subjects with distensible atrophic acne scars in the face to determine whether microneedling with PMMA-collagen gel is a superior acne scar treatment over microneedling alone. Forty-four subjects received 3 microneedling treatments over a 12-week period followed by randomization to treatments with PMMA-collagen gel (treatment group) or no further treatment (control group). RESULTS:At 24 weeks, the treatment group achieved a statistically significant improvement in acne scores over microneedling alone. The improvement continued at 36 weeks. At 24 weeks, the treatment group showed a strong trend in improvement on the Physician Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale compared with microneedling alone.

BACKGROUND:Obtaining a fellowship position for Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology (MSDO) is becoming very competitive. Applicant qualities desired by MSDO fellowship directors have not been previously explored in a systematic way. OBJECTIVE:To characterize the prevailing practices of selecting MSDO fellows. METHODS AND MATERIALS/METHODS:Cross-sectional study based on an anonymous online survey of MSDO fellowship directors. RESULTS:There were 34 completed surveys. Selection criteria with the highest importance to fellowship directors were the ability to work well and get along with others, interview, work ethic, and letter of recommendation from the Mohs micrographic surgery director at the applicant's residency. The criteria with the lowest importance were advanced degrees, medical licensing examination scores, and membership in Alpha Omega Alpha. Specific applicant factors that were looked upon most positively by fellowship directors include applicant from own institution and applicant's personal reasons and circumstances, whereas factors that were most unfavorable include applicant's desire to practice in the same city/area as the fellowship location and graduate of foreign medical school. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Although variations existed, MSDO fellowship directors collectively placed greater importance on criteria that reflect interpersonal skills than on objective measures of academic performance, which highlights the importance of "fit."