Liz Meszaros

San Francisco - As facial implants come of age, aging faces look even younger. UltraSoft implants are part of the next generation of ePTFE facial implants designed to be softer, with a wider diameter than their predecessor, the SoftForm implant. Manufactured by Tissue Technologies Inc., San Francisco, the permanent facial implants offer dermatologic surgeons an alternative to injectable or temporary fillers for nasolabial folds or lip augmentation that Nicholas Lowe, M.D., FRCP, believes is safer and more effective.

San Francisco - Despite strong data to suggest otherwise, therapeutic footwear for patients with diabetes is often not part of routine care of these patients. The failure to provide for such care can have significant negative impact on a diabetic patient's ability to heal foot ulcers, as well on their quality of life, Gary Sibbald, B.Sc., M.D., F.R.C.P.C., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

San Francisco - Using a dermal skin substitute instead of skin grafting in children with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) speeds postoperative healing following surgical release of contracted and webbed hands (pseudosyndactyly). In addition to decreased healing times, children also reported decreased discomfort compared to previous surgeries using split thickness skin grafting, Gary Sibbald, B.Sc., M.D., F.R.C.P.C., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.