IMPORTANCE Despite the growing popularity of cosmetic procedures, the sociocultural and quality-of-life factors that motivate patients to undergo such procedures are not well understood. OBJECTIVE To estimate the relative importance of factors that motivate patients to seek minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This prospective, multicenter observational study was performed at 2 academic and 11 private dermatology practice sites that represented all US geographic regions. Adult patients presenting for cosmetic consultation or treatment from December 4, 2016, through August 9, 2017, were eligible for participation. EXPOSURES Participants completed a survey instrument based on a recently developed subjective framework of motivations and a demographic questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Primary outcomes were the self-reported most common motivations in each quality-of-life category. Secondary outcomes were other frequently reported motivations and those associated with specific procedures. RESULTS Of 529 eligible patients, 511 agreed to participate, were enrolled, and completed the survey. Typical respondents were female (440 [86.1%]), 45 years or older (286 [56.0%]), white (386 [75.5%]), and college educated (469 [91.8%]) and had previously received at least 2 cosmetic procedures (270 [52.8%]). Apart from motivations pertaining to aesthetic appearance, including the desire for beautiful skin and a youthful, attractive appearance, motives related to physical health, such as preventing worsening of condition or symptoms (253 of 475 [53.3%]), and psychosocial well-being, such as the desire to feel happier and more confident or improve total quality of life (314 of 467 [67.2%]), treat oneself or celebrate (284 of 463 [61.3%]), and look good professionally (261 of 476 [54.8%]) were commonly reported. Motivations related to cost and convenience were rated as less important (68 of 483 [14.1%]). Most motivations were internally generated, designed to please the patients and not others, with patients making the decision to undergo cosmetic procedures themselves and spouses seldom being influential. Patients younger than 45 years were more likely to undertake procedures to prevent aging (54 of 212 [25.5%] vs 42 of 286 [14.7%] among patients Ն45 years; P < .001). Patients seeking certain procedures, such as body contouring (19 of 22 [86.4%]), acne scar treatment (36 of 42 [85.7%]), and tattoo removal (8 of 11 [72.7%]), were more likely to report psychological and emotional motivations. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This initial prospective, multicenter study comprehensively assessed why patients seek minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. Common reasons included emotional, psychological, and practical motivations in addition to the desire to enhance physical appearance. Differences relative to patient age and procedures sought may need further exploration.
This is the first study using high-resolution superficial diagnostic ultrasound to map skin thickness of the face and neck at standard anatomic locations. Ultrasound is an inexpensive, noninvasive, and convenient means to monitor dermatologic conditions and guide their treatment.
IMPORTANCE Although hyaluronidase is known to remove hyaluronic acid fillers, use of low doses has not been well studied. OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness and dose-related effect of small quantities of hyaluronidase to treat hyaluronic acid filler nodules. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Split-arm, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial at an urban academic center. Participants were 9 healthy women. Recruitment and follow-up occurred from February 2013 to March 2014; data analysis occurred from February to July 2016. INTERVENTIONS Each participant received aliquots (buttons) of either of 2 types of hyaluronic acid fillers into bilateral upper inner arms, respectively. At 1, 2, and 3 weeks each button was treated with a constant volume (0.1 mL) of variable-dose hyaluronidase (1.5, 3.0, or 9.0 U per 0.1 mL) or saline control. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Both a blinded dermatologist and the participant independently assessed detectability. RESULTS Seventy-two treatment sites on 9 women (mean [SD] age, 45.8 [15.7] years) received all interventions and were analyzed. There was a significant difference in physician rater assessment between saline and hyaluronidase at 4 weeks
For quantifying noninvasive fat reduction, all available methods had significant limitations: photographic comparisons were subjective; circumference or caliper measurements were confounded; ultrasound was operator dependent; MRI was expensive; computed models and simulations were in early development. As new technologies are developed, the need for reliable, accurate and practical measures of subcutaneous fat will increase. Lasers Surg. Med. 50:96-110, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
IMPORTANCE Patients undergoing skin surgery under local anesthesia can experience anxiety. Adjuvant intraoperative anxiety reduction methods may help.OBJECTIVES To assess whether hand-holding or holding a stress ball reduces patient anxiety during excisional surgery of head or neck skin cancer with the patient under local anesthesia and to measure pain and patient satisfaction. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSIn this nonblinded, single-center randomized clinical trial, performed from January 24 through April 26, 2017, at a dermatology outpatient service in an urban, academic medical center, a consecutive sample of 135 adults who required excisional removal of nonmelanoma skin cancer of the head or neck was randomized and studied.INTERVENTIONS Participants were randomized 1:1:1 to 3 groups: hand-holding, stress ball, or control (treatment as usual). Participants in the hand-holding group had a female researcher hold one of their hands during administration of anesthesia and extirpation, and those in the stress ball group held a round compressible ball and squeezed it as desired during the same period. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESThe primary outcome was anxiety, measured by a visual analog scale (VAS), 6-item State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and physiologic measures (blood pressure and heart rate). Secondary outcomes were pain during the procedure and overall participant satisfaction. In addition, participants were asked how many hours they spent researching the procedure before surgery.RESULTS A total of 135 participants, 45 per study arm, were enrolled (mean [SD] age, 65.5 [13.9] years; 84 [62.2%] male; 134 [99.3%] white). There were no withdrawals or dropouts. Anxiety decreased over time in all groups, but no significant differences were found in the 3 anxiety measures across the 3 groups (VAS anxiety score before: control group, 3.11; hand-holding group, 3.04; stress ball group, 3.09 [P > .99]; VAS anxiety score during: control group, 1.89; hand-holding group, 2.31; stress ball group, 2.47 [P = .55]; STAI score: control group, 8.91; hand-holding group, 8.93; stress ball group, 8.76 [P = .96]). The 3 groups also did not significantly differ in postprocedure pain scores (control group, 0.78; hand-holding group, 0.64; stress ball group, 0.67; P = .85). Almost all participants (134 [99.2%]) were very satisfied. Participants who had done research had higher preoperative VAS anxiety scores (researched, 3.84; did not research, 2.62; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEHand-holding and squeezing a stress ball do not appear to provide incremental anxiety reduction in patients during excisional skin cancer surgery. It is possible that some subgroups may respond better or that patients may respond better when able to select and tailor their preferred anxiety reduction method.
Objective: Previous studies conclude that high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) enables noninvasive and accurate measurements of subcutaneous fat thickness. The primary objective of this cross-sectional study was to better characterize subcutaneous fat thickness measurements in a diverse patient population using HRUS. Secondarily, we sought to correlate these measurements with patients' body image. Methods: A cross-sectional study to measure subcutaneous fat measurements at seven distinct anatomic sites, including upper and lower extremities, submental, and torso regions, in 40 men and women of different ages and races using HRUS. Independent t-tests and analysis of variance were performed to analyze findings. Results: In our patient population, on average, women had thicker subcutaneous fat than men at all anatomic sites. Asian patients had significantly reduced fat thickness at peripheral anatomic sites, such as arms when compared to patients who identified as Black and Other (p = 0.05 and p = 0.008, respectively). Lastly, women reported decreased total body satisfaction at all anatomic sites when compared to men. Conclusion:The information obtained and methods developed in this study may be utilized clinically during patient selection for fat reduction procedures, including for estimating the degree of likely benefit; for managing pathologies involving subcutaneous fat thickness alteration; and to monitor the progression of lipodystrophy secondary to disease or drugs.
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