Development and Validation of IBSA Photographic Scale for the Assessment of Inner Upper Arm Laxity

Abstract

Objective: To describe the development and validation of the 5-grade photographic IBSA inner upper arm scale. Methods: From 2 real-life pictures, a scale made up of 5 morphed images showing increasing severity of inner upper arm laxity was created. For validation, a set of 50 images (half of which real and the other morphed) was developed and sent to 5 trained physicians in two rounds 30 days apart. Raters' task was to make a selection of each image according to the given scale. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability were evaluated in both rounds. Results: As to intra-rater reliability, single-rater kappa scores between 0.74 and 1.00 and a global kappa score of 0.846 were observed, while inter-rater agreement was calculated with intra-class correlation coefficient reporting scores higher than 0.91, which indicate excellent reliability. Conclusion: IBSA inner upper arm laxity scale proved to be a validated and reliable tool.

Collagen Stimulators in Body Applications: A Review Focused on Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA)

“…Interestingly, the development of body applications has stimulated clinical research, the set-up of methods for assessing quantitative effects and particularly assessment scales for the main signs as skin laxity, 32 , 33 , 40 , 44 , 48 cellulite severity, 37–39 , 41 , 42 cellulite dimple, 34 wrinkles, 35 , 36 , 49 volume, 45 , 46 and striae distensae. 43 The increasing interest in the body treatment approach is remarkably apparent due to the number of scales published in the recent past years from 2019 to 2021 32–34 , 37 , 38 , 40 , 43–45 for buttocks/thighs, abdomen and knees in addition to the well-established ones logically concerning the neck and chest, hands and cellulite from 2008 to 2016 ( Figure 1 ).…”