Carolyn I. Jacob

Liposuction and Surgical Recontouring of the Neck: A Retrospective Analysis

Background. With the advent of tumescent liposuction, many advances in cosmetic surgery have occurred. Liposuction of excess adipose tissue from the submental area, jowls, and neck, along with cold steel surgery, has become an attractive alternative to the facelift for cervicomental aesthetic surgery. Objective. To describe new techniques for tumescent neck liposuction, platysma repair, and subcutaneous musculoaponeurotic system plication, evaluate results, and assess complications with the procedures. Methods. We reviewed the results of the last 35 patients who underwent neck liposuction, simultaneous platysma plication, subdermal CO2 laser resurfacing, and/or subcutaneous musculoaponeurotic system plication at our institution. Results. Three of 35 patients (9%) experienced mild complications from the procedure. Two of the three complications (66%) were in patients who underwent subdermal and/or platysma laser resurfacing at the time of liposuction. Good to excellent results were achieved in 91% of patients and fair to good results were achieved in 9%. No major complications such as nerve injury occurred. Conclusion. Neck liposuction can be a safe method for facial rejuvenation when performed properly. Platysma repair, and in some cases subcutaneous musculoaponeurotic system plication, can further improve results when combined with the liposuction procedure.

Strongyloides stercoralis infection presenting as generalized prurigo nodularis and lichen simplex chronicus

Strongyloides Stercoralis is a parasitic nematode that develops an autoinfective life cycle within the gastrointestinal tract of its human host. The infection produces peripheral eosinophilia and cutaneous eruptions, as well as gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms. Detection of S stercoralis is difficult through stool examination, but may be demonstrated by ELISA for IgG antibody against the parasite. We describe a patient with chronic S stercoralis infection initially presenting with generalized prurigo nodularis and lichen simplex chronicus.