MedEsthetics magazines offers business education and in-depth coverage of the latest noninvasive cosmetic procedures for physicians and practice managers working in the medical aesthetics industry.
Issue link: https://medesthetics.epubxp.com/i/123304
BEST PRACTICES Stromal vascular fraction (SVF)-assisted cell therapy may improve the survival rates of fat grafts when used for cosmetic facial contouring. Researchers Jie Li, MD, et al, analyzed data from 38 female patients who underwent fat transplantation—26 with fat transplantation and SFV, 12 with fat transplantation alone. Using computed tomography; pre- and post-procedure photographs; and evaluation with the Philips Extended Brilliance Workspace to analyze the volume of augmentation, the researchers found that fat survival was higher in patients who received adjunctive SFV (64.8% +/-10.2%) than in patients who underwent fat grafting alone (46.4%+/-9.3%). The results of the study were published in Dermatologic Surgery (March 2013). EMR for Cosmetic Physicians The mandatory move to electronics health records (EHR) has led to a variety of new user-friendly systems that are increasingly targeted in terms of medical specialty and sub-specialty. Modernizing Medicine, creator of the Electronic Medical Assistant (EMA)—a cloud-based, specialty-specific EMR application—has launched EMA Cosmetic, a system that is geared toward cosmetic surgery practices. The new software joins its existing products for dermatology and plastic surgery. The touch-based mobile EMR system requires no typing and features an adaptive learning engine that observes and adjusts to each doctor's unique practice style. It includes the EMA Interactive Anatomical Atlas, a high-resolution anatomic body illustration used to assign diagnoses and treatments. The zoomable, multi-view, three-dimensional layered tool allows users to move from the skin to deeper structures like muscles, joints and tendons. For more information visit modmed.com. 6 MAY/JUNE 2013 | MedEsthetics Not All Skin Barrier Functions Change with Age Aging skin is different than young skin, but only within certain parameters, say researchers with the division of cosmetic science, department of chemistry at the University of Hamburg in Hamburg, Germany. Stefanie Luebberding, et al, studied 150 women between the ages of 18 and 80. The subjects were divided into five age groups with 30 women in each group to measure the potential influence of aging on skin barrier function, including transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum hydration, sebum content and pH value. The researchers used worldwide acknowledged biophysical measuring methods to gauge TEWL, hydration level, sebum secretion and pH value of hydro-lipid acid film on the cheek, neck, décolleté, volar forearm and dorsum of the hands. Their results were published in The International Journal of Cosmetic Science (April 2013). They found that sebum production decreased significantly with age, with the lowest skin surface lipids levels measured in subjects 70 years and older. The highest skin surface pH was measured in subjects between 50 and 60 years old, while the lowest mean pH level was seen in the eldest age group. TEWL and stratum corneum hydration showed only very low correlation with subject's age. The dorsum of the hand showed the highest TEWL and lowest stratum corneum hydration in all age groups. The researchers concluded, "The results show that only some parameters related to skin barrier function are influenced by ageing. Whereas sebum production decreases significantly over lifetime and skin surface pH is significantly increased in menopausal woman, TEWL and stratum corneum hydration show only minor variations with ageing." © ISTOCKPHOTO.COM SVF Improves Fat Graft Outcomes