Complications of fillers in the lips and perioral area: Prevention, assessment, and management focusing on ultrasound guidance

An ever-increasing interest in perioral rejuvenation with dermal fillers reflects the esthetic importance of this region. However, filler injections in the lips and perioral area have been associated with various complications. Such complications are classified according to severity (mild, moderate, severe) or by the time of onset: immediate (within 24 h after injection), early (24 h to 4 weeks post-procedure), and late or delayed (>4 weeks after injection). While most complications are mild and manageable, vascular compromise, infections, and the development of delayed-onset nodules may significantly undermine the ultimate esthetic outcome and cause substantial morbidity. These more serious complications often require more invasive treatment modalities. This article details the prevention and management of such adverse events and discusses safe filler injection principles, including safety recommendations for the lips. Lastly, we highlight the use of ultrasound guidance in complication prevention (vascular mapping, filler identification, location, and extent), assessment (identification of intravascular embolus or external vascular compression by the filler implant), and management (real-time imaging of hyaluronidase or other drug injection in the affected area). Esthetic practitioners should be versed in injection anatomy, and the prevention, recognition, and management of filler complications in the perioral area.

Virology and Etiopathogenesis of COVID-19 with Special Reference to Cutaneous Implications

Severe Acute Respiratory Virus Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has got its name Corona from Latin meaning “crown.” It has crown-like spikes present on the surface, which encloses the RNA, genetic material of this deadly virus. The virus attacks pneumocytes after binding with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) of the cell surface, which ultimately leads to chemotaxis followed by leukocyte infiltration, increased permeability of blood vessels and alveolar walls, and decreased surfactant in the lung leading to various symptoms. Skin provides a window to the internal changes of the body and also to mechanisms that are not readily visible. Commonly observed skin manifestations include vesicular lesions, maculopapular exanthema, urticarial eruptions, livedo or necrosis, and other forms of vasculitis, chilblain-like lesions. The skin lesions are attributed to either the virus directly affecting the skin or interferon dysregulation due to viral RNA or vascular involvement associated with alteration in coagulation or drug-induced skin manifestations. Observation of skin involvement and the vasculature due to SARS-CoV-2 illustrates the need for a precise stratification and differential diagnostic valuation so that the mechanisms of this novel virus are clearer for better management of the condition in the future. Vascular skin lesions are not seen in all the patients of COVID, but certain lesions should definitely alarm us to evaluate for coagulation abnormalities, complement levels, and skin biopsy, especially in critically ill patients. This review attempts to outline the pathogen briefly and the pathomechanism behind the development of various cutaneous manifestations.

Two-stage Ear Reconstruction with a Retroauricular Skin Flap after Excision of Trichilemmal Carcinoma

Trichilemmal carcinoma is a rare cutaneous tumor with a frequently good prognosis but without standard criteria for surgical treatment. We aimed to show the results of a two-stage surgical approach that preserves the anatomical features of the ear. We report a case of 82-year-old man with trichilemmal carcinoma of the ear that was treated with a two-stage surgical approach. We observed that 5 months after the surgeries, the ear appeared entirely healed and there were no signs of recurrence; hence, our two-stage surgical approach allowed the anatomy of the ear to be preserved after the complete excision of the tumor.