Robert H. Gotkin

Cellulite: A New Treatment Approach Combining Subdermal Nd: YAG Laser Lipolysis and Autologous Fat Transplantation

BACKGROUND Cellulite is an alteration of the topography of the skin that occurs in body areas where fat deposition seems to be under the influence of estrogen: mainly the hips, buttocks, thighs, and abdomen. The presence of cellulite is a significant source of patient dissatisfaction. There is currently no cure or consistently effective treatment for cellulite. OBJECTIVE The authors sought to show that the subdermal application of the neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser combined with autologous fat transplantation is a safe and effective treatment for cellulite. METHODS From January 2003 to December 2006, 52 female patients with Curri grade III to IV cellulite were treated with subdermal 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser lipolysis combined with autologous fat transplantation. Patient assessment was collected for data analysis. After the treatment, tissue samples were obtained in some subjects in order to ascertain the histologic effects of the laser treatment. RESULTS This treatment resulted in significant clinical improvement in cellulite. The adverse effects were mild and temporary, and the postoperative period was well tolerated. A majority of patients (84.6%) rated the results of treatment as either good or excellent. CONCLUSIONS The treatment of severe cases of cellulite (Curri grades III and IV) by a combination of 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser lipolysis and autologous fat transplantation proved to be both safe and effective. In addition, subdermal laser lipolysis has the advantage of inducing neocollagenesis and stimulating postoperative skin tightening. This represents a new treatment option for the ubiquitous cellulite disorder. Although this treatment has shown promising results in this pilot study, further studies are necessary in order to draw final conclusions.

Laser-Assisted Liposuction

In the United States, as in many other countries, liposuction is the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedure. Advances in technology have enabled surgeons to improve the safety and efficacy of the procedure. One such technological advance is laser-assisted liposuction. This minimally invasive technique employs laser energy in direct contact with adipose tissue to induce lipolysis and, at the same time, coagulate tiny blood vessels and stimulate dermal and subdermal neocollagenesis. These features of laser lipolysis permit a fast, comfortable postoperative recovery, a rapid return to activities of daily living, and excellent skin redraping as a result of laser-induced skin tightening.

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.

The Anatomy of the Facial Vein: Implications for Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Procedures

Background: Anatomical knowledge of the facial vasculature is crucial for successful plastic, reconstructive, and minimally invasive procedures of the face. Whereas the majority of previous investigations focused on facial arteries, the precise course, variability, and relationship with adjacent structures of the facial vein have been widely neglected. Methods: Seventy-two fresh frozen human cephalic cadavers (32 male and 40 female cadavers; mean age, 75.2 ± 10.9 years; mean body mass index, 24.2 ± 6.6 kg/m2; 99 percent Caucasian ethnicity) were investigated by means of layer-by-layer anatomical dissection. In addition, 10 cephalic specimens were investigated using contrast agent–enhanced computed tomographic imaging. Results: The facial vein displayed a constant course in relation to the adjacent anatomical structures. The vein was identified posterior to the facial artery, anterior to the parotid duct, and deep to the zygomaticus major muscle. The angular vein formed the lateral boundary of the deep medial cheek fat and the premaxillary space, and the medial boundary of the deep lateral cheek fat and the sub–orbicularis oculi fat. The mean distance of the inferior and superior labial veins, of the deep facial vein, and of the angular vein from the inferior orbital margin was 51.6 ± 3.1, 42.6 ± 2.3, 27.4 ± 3.0, and 4.2 ± 0.7 mm, respectively. Conclusions: This work provides detailed information on the course of the facial vein in relation to neighboring structures. The presented clinically relevant anatomical observations and descriptions of landmarks will serve as helpful information for plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgeons.

Updated anatomy of the buccal space and its implications for plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic procedures

BACKGROUND The buccal space is an integral deep facial space which is involved in a variety of intra- and extra-oral pathologies and provides a good location for the harvest of the facial artery. The age-related anatomy of this space was investigated and compared to previous reports. METHODS We conducted anatomic dissections in 102 fresh frozen human cephalic specimens (45 males, 57 females; age range 50-100 years) and performed additional computed tomographic, magnetic resonance and 3-D surface volumetric imaging studies to visualize the boundaries and the contents of the buccal space after injection of contrast enhancing material. RESULTS The mean vertical extent of contrast agent injected into the buccal space was 25.2 ± 4.3 mm and did not significantly differ between individuals of different age (p = 0.77) or gender (p = 0.13). The maximal injected volume was 10.02 cc [range: 3.09-10.02] without significant influence of age (p = 0.13) or gender (p = 0.81). The change in surface volume was 3.64 ± 1.04 cc resulting in a mean surface-volume-coefficient of 0.87 ± 0.12 without being statistically significant influenced by age (p = 0.53) or gender (p = 0.78). CONCLUSIONS The facial artery was constantly identified within the buccal space whereas the facial vein was found to course within its posterior boundary. The buccal space did not undergo age-related changes in volume or size which highlights this space is a reliable and predictable landmark for various plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic procedures.

Calvarial Volume Loss and Facial Aging: A Computed Tomographic (CT)-Based Study

Background Our understanding of the aging changes involving the cranium and its impact on the overlying soft tissues is limited. Objectives This study was designed to look at the changes that occur in the cranium with aging and to propose an additional mechanism for loss of support for overlying soft tissues. Methods One hundred and fifty-seven white individuals (10 males and 10 females in each decade: 20-29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years, 50-59 years, 60-69 years, 70-79 years, 80-89 years, and 8 males and 9 females aged 90-98 years) were investigated. Computed tomographic (CT) multiplanar scans with standardized measurements of cranial thickness were performed for the frontal bone, nasion, vertex, pterion, lambda, calvarial and midfacial height, and sagittal and transverse diameter. Results Increasing age correlated with a decrease in sagittal diameter in both males (rp = -0.201) and females (rp = -0.055) but with an increase in transverse diameter in both males (rp = 0.233) and females (rp = 0.207). Frontal bone thickness decreased in males -1.57mm/-18.14%, whereas it increased slightly in females +0.26mm/+3.04%. At the pterion, bone thickness increased significantly in both genders. Calvarial volume decreased with increased age in both males and females: -70.2 ml/-5.35% and -61.4 ml/-5.10%, respectively. Conclusions The lateral expansion of the skull may favor a skeletonized appearance of the face in elderly individuals. The computed volume of the calvaria decreased with advancing age in both genders, providing an additional element in the multifactorial model for facial soft-tissue laxity. Level of Evidence 2

Age and Gender Differences of the Frontal Bone: A Computed Tomographic (CT)-Based Study

BACKGROUND Age-related changes of the frontal bone in both males and females have received limited attention, although understanding these changes is crucial to developing the best surgical and nonsurgical treatment plans for this area. OBJECTIVES To investigate age-related and gender-related changes of the forehead. METHODS Cranial computed tomographic images from 157 Caucasian individuals were investigated (10 males and 10 females from each of the following decades: 20-29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years, 50-59 years, 60-69 years, 70-79 years, 80-89 years, and of 8 males and 9 females aged 90-98 years). Frontal bone thickness and forehead distance measurements were carried out to analyze age and gender differences. RESULTS With increasing age, the size of a male forehead reduces until no significant differences to a female forehead is present at old age (P = 0.307). The thickness of the frontal bone of the lower forehead (≤4 cm cranial to the nasal root) increased slightly in both genders with increasing age. In the upper forehead (≥4 cm cranial to the nasal root), frontal bone thickness decreased significantly (P = 0.002) in males but showed no statistically significant change in thickness in females (P = 0.165). CONCLUSIONS The shape of the frontal bone varies in young individuals of different genders and undergoes complex changes with age because of bone remodeling. Understanding these bony changes, in addition to those in the soft tissues, helps physicians choose the best surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for the forehead. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4