[Cosmetic injectables in dental practice: legal aspects in the Netherlands]

A recent survey indicates 49% of this journal's subscribers endorse the administration of cosmetic injectables by properly trained dentists. Given the surging demand for cosmetic treatments, it's essential to establish clear guidelines and conventions defining the roles of the various healthcare professionals in various situations. There is, however, considerable discussion still and from a legal standpoint, the role of dentists within cosmetic medicine remains ambiguous. Under the Dutch Individual Healthcare Professions Act (Wet BIG), dentists are authorized to administer cosmetic injectables exclusively for dental purposes. However, based on the content of current dental training, one might argue that dentists' authorization could be extended to include facial injectable treatments in the entire face, in future. Presently, it is prudent for general practice dentists to abstain from cosmetic procedures with cosmetic injectables without a specific (aesthetic) dental objective.

[What is 'botox', what are fillers, and how safe are these cosmetic injectables?]

Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A, popularly referred to as 'botox') is a muscle-relaxant that is injected into the mimic facial muscles to soften wrinkles in more than two percent of Dutch women annually. A similar number of women undergo filler injections with hyaluronic acid hydrogels, used to counteract the aging appearance of the skin, or to create desired facial contours. Complications are generally mild in nature and rare (certainly compared to surgical complication rates) and include nodules, bumps and a temporary heavy feeling of the eyebrows. Vascular complications related to filler injections (1:7000) can potentially lead to unilateral blindness or skin necrosis. In the Netherlands, the risk of blindness over the past six years is estimated to be 1 in every 1.4 million filler injections. Permanent skin damage due to gangrene has never been reported in the Netherlands. In conclusion, BoNT-A and hyaluronic acid filler injections are safe procedures in the hands of appropriately trained healthcare professionals.

[Cosmetic facial surgery: a bird's eye view]

Surgical procedures that rejuvenate and/or harmonize the face are known for their long-lasting and clinically relevant positive effects on the psychological well-being and quality of life of the client. Despite the popularity of cosmetic injectables, facelift surgery remains the most powerful and durable treatment for restoring aging symptoms, especially in the female face. Skin correction of the upper eyelids is the most commonly performed aesthetic facial surgery. This article provides an overview of the most important cosmetic surgical procedures for the face, focusing on the facelift, neck lift, forehead lift, upper and lower eyelid correction, subnasal lip lift and rhinoplasty. The indications, contraindications, treatment techniques, advantages and disadvantages are explained. Due to the increasing demand for cosmetic treatments, it is important that dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons have knowledge of these procedures in order to provide optimal information, referral or treatment when desired.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for dermal ischemia after dermal filler injection with calcium hydroxylapatite: a case report

Dermal injection of fillers is a popular and relatively safe aesthetic procedure. Severe complications are rare, but they do occur. One of the most threatening complications after dermal filler injection is skin necrosis due to vascular occlusion. Different treatment options are available, including the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy. A 46-year-old female received facial dermal filler injections with calcium hydroxylapatite at an aesthetic clinic. A few days after injection she developed a burning pain, numbness of the skin and white discoloration in the injected area. Two days after injection treatment was started with hyaluronidase and warm compresses. In addition, the patient received prednisolone, sildenafil and nifedipine. After the start of these treatments, the pain, numbness and discoloration of the skin persisted. Because of dermal ischemia and to improve healing she was referred for HBO2. Treatment consisted of 10 sessions of 100% oxygen for 90 minutes in a multiplace chamber at 2.5 atmospheres absolute pressure. During HBO2 the discoloration resolved, pain and numbness disappeared, and the tissue healed completely. After a six-month follow-up she had an excellent cosmetic outcome. Given the pathophysiologic mechanisms of vascular complications after dermal filler injection, HBO2 should be considered when treating these complications.

Propranolol in a case series of 174 patients with complicated infantile haemangioma: indications, safety and future directions

BACKGROUND

Infantile haemangioma (IH) is a benign, common and self-limiting tumour of infancy; only a minority of cases need active treatment. Currently, propranolol appears superior to classic treatments.

OBJECTIVES

To document in a prospective study indications and side-effects of propranolol for complicated IH in a large patient group.

METHODS

Analysis of prospectively collected data was performed on 174 patients with IH treated with propranolol in a tertiary referral centre from September 2008 to January 2012.

RESULTS

The group consisted of children with a potentially threatening and/or complicated IH; the girl/boy ratio was 123/51, and the mean age at the start of treatment was 4·8 months. In 173 cases (99·4%), treatment was successful, as assessed nonquantitatively by clinical observation. This striking effect was characterized by immediate cessation of growth, softening, fading of the erythema and rapid induction of regression. The mean duration of treatment was 10·7 months. The most important adverse effects were hypotension (3·4%), wheezing (9·2%), nocturnal restlessness (22·4%) and cold extremities (36·2%). In one patient, propranolol was stopped. In 15 patients it was necessary to reduce the dose, although the lower dose was still effective.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, propranolol was effective and safe in almost all patients with complex IH. Administration of systemic medication to an infant with a benign condition requires careful consideration, as only a minority of patients with IH require an active medical intervention. A shift of the indication of propranolol for IH is evident, expanding its application for life-threatening situations or severe functional impairment to early prevention of disfigurement or cosmetically permanent sequelae. However, the indication for such an active approach should be determined by experienced physicians.

Pulsed dye laser treatment, a review of indications and outcome based on published trials

INTRODUCTION

Pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatment is based on the principle of selective photothermolysis and is widely considered to be the treatment of choice for a variety of cutaneous vascular lesions.

OBJECTIVE

To review the indications and outcome of PDL treatment and summarise new developments.

METHOD

A literature-based study has been conducted entailing the review of publications over the period January 1993-December 2003 using the databases Medline and Cochrane CENTRAL.

RESULTS

The PDL was found to be effective in port wine stain, facial telangiectasia, leg telangiectasia <0.5 mm, scars, hypertrophic scars and ulcerated haemangioma.

DISCUSSION

Essential characteristics of lesions suitable for PDL treatment are discussed and guidelines are presented for future research.

Percutaneous removal of a knotted pulmonary artery catheter using a tracheostomy dilator

STATEMENT OF FINDINGS: This case report describes removal of a knotted, subclavian, pulmonary artery catheter using a tracheostomy dilator. With this simple method an invasive procedure might be averted.

"Impossible" reversed radial forearm free flap in microsurgical reconstruction

The reversed radial forearm free flap is described and patient histories are presented to illustrate its unique reconstructive versatility. The valvular orientation of the deep and superficial forearm veins should theoretically oppose the reversed flow in this flap, but the venous flow is not compromised. In comparison to the anterograde forearm free flap the vascular pedicle is longer and the donor defect generates less functional and cosmetic complications because it is located on the proximal forearm. In a review of the literature anatomical details of the venous drainage are presented. Different opinions on reverse flow in forearm flaps are discussed and a new theory is proposed.