Multimodal Facial Aesthetic Treatment on the Appearance of Aging, Social Confidence, and Psychological Well-being: HARMONY Study

Background

A global approach to facial rejuvenation involves multiple treatment modalities.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of multimodal facial aesthetic treatment on self-reported psychological and social outcomes.

Methods

HARMONY, a prospective, multicenter, 4-month study, enrolled patients aged 35 to 65 years to receive on-label treatment with a combination of hyaluronic fillers (VYC-20L, HYC-24L, and/or HYC-24L+), onabotulinumtoxinA, and bimatoprost. Fillers were injected on Day 1, with touch-ups performed on Day 14. OnabotulinumtoxinA was injected at Month 3 into glabellar lines and/or crow’s feet lines. Patients applied bimatoprost to eyelashes once daily for 17 weeks. Mean change from baseline on FACE-Q Psychological Well-being and Social Confidence Scales, FACE-Q Aging Appearance Appraisal Scale, and FACE-Q Age Appraisal Visual Analog Scale were assessed.

Results

Of 100 patients treated, 93 were evaluated at 4 months posttreatment. Significant improvement vs baseline was observed on the FACE-Q Scales for Psychological Well-being (mean change, −19.9; P < 0.00001), Social Confidence (mean change, −18.2; P < 0.00001), and Aging Appearance (mean change, −28.5; P < 0.0001). On average, patients’ self-assessed age was 0.1 years older than actual age at baseline and 4.5 years younger at Month 4 (P < 0.001 vs baseline). Forty-two patients experienced adverse events, all mild to moderate.

Conclusions

Multimodal, full facial aesthetic treatment improves patients’ self-reported psychological well-being, social confidence, aging appearance, and perceptions of chronologic age.

Level of Evidence: 4

Aesthetic Treatment Positively Impacts Social Perception: Analysis of Subjects From the HARMONY Study

BACKGROUND

The impact of facial aesthetic treatments not only enhances physical appearance but also psychological well-being. Accordingly, patient-reported outcomes are increasingly utilized as an important measure of treatment success. Observer-reported outcomes are a relevant yet often overlooked measure of treatment benefit.

OBJECTIVES

The authors aimed to evaluate the impact of panfacial aesthetic treatment on the perception of an individual in a variety of social contexts.

METHODS

A total 2000 men and women (aged 18-65 years) participated in an online study designed to capture the blinded observer's social perception of pretreatment and posttreatment patients who received panfacial aesthetic treatment in the HARMONY study. Perceptions relevant to character traits, age, attractiveness, and social status were evaluated. Observers were divided into 2 groups. Single image respondents (n = 1500) viewed 6 single, randomized patient images (3 pretreatment, 3 posttreatment), and paired image respondents (n = 500) viewed 6 pretreatment and posttreatment image pairs.

RESULTS

Single image respondents reported significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of agreement that posttreatment subjects appeared to possess more positive character traits (eg, healthy and approachable), were more socially adept, younger, more attractive, more successful at attracting others, and possessed a higher social status. Paired image respondents also reported a higher level of agreement for posttreatment images being aligned with positive character traits, representative of a younger and more attractive individual, and one with a higher social status.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that the positive impact of minimally invasive panfacial treatment extends beyond enhancing physical appearance and highlights the importance of social perception and observer-reported outcomes in aesthetic medicine.

OBSERVE-5, an Observational Post-Marketing Safety Surveillance Registry of Etanercept for the Treatment of Psoriasis: A Model for Studying New Psoriasis Therapies

Background

OBSERVE-5 is collecting safety data from real-world use of etanercept in the treatment of psoriasis per a post-marketing commitment of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Methods

This phase IV prospective, multicenter, 5-year observational registry was designed to enroll patients with plaque psoriasis for whom etanercept is indicated. Patients receive etanercept per standard medical care and can discontinue etanercept therapy at any time following receipt of the baseline dose. Visits occur at least twice yearly; follow-up will be up to 5 years.

Conclusions

Data from the OBSERVE-5 registry will complement safety data from clinical trials of etanercept.

Impact of Comprehensive, Minimally Invasive, Multimodal Aesthetic Treatment on Satisfaction With Facial Appearance: The HARMONY Study

BACKGROUND

Individuals seeking aesthetic treatment have concerns regarding multiple facial areas.

OBJECTIVES

Assess the aesthetic impact and satisfaction achieved with a multimodal approach to aesthetic treatment using a combination of minimally invasive treatments.

METHODS

Prospective, multicenter, rater-blinded, 4-month HARMONY study evaluated patient satisfaction and aesthetic impact of a combination of fillers (VYC-20L, HYC-24L, and HYC-24L+), onabotulinumtoxinA, and bimatoprost. Males and females aged 35 to 65 years received on-label, staged treatment with fillers, as needed per investigator assessment, on day 1, with touch ups allowed on day 14. Bimatoprost was self-administered once daily for 17 weeks. OnabotulinumtoxinA was injected into glabellar lines, crow's feet lines, or both at month 3. Primary effectiveness measure was mean change from baseline on the FACE-Q 10-item Satisfaction with Facial Appearance Overall Scale.

RESULTS

Of 100 patients treated, 93 underwent at least the 4-month posttreatment assessment and were assessed for efficacy. The FACE-Q Satisfaction with Facial Appearance Overall Scale total score increased from baseline (41.2) to month 4 (72.9; P < 0.00001; effect size, 2.7). Improvement following multimodal treatment was observed on FACE-Q individual items. Self-perceived age decreased from 0.2 years older than actual age at baseline to 4.6 years younger at month 4. Nearly all patients (99%) rated themselves as improved or much improved on the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale. Investigator assessments also demonstrated improvement. Mild to moderate adverse events occurred in 42 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Minimally invasive, multimodal treatment resulted in improvements in FACE-Q scores and perceived age, indicating a high degree of patient satisfaction and a younger facial appearance.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4

OBSERVE-5: observational postmarketing safety surveillance registry of etanercept for the treatment of psoriasis final 5-year results

BACKGROUND

OBSERVE-5 was a 5-year Food and Drug Administration-mandated surveillance registry of patients with psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to assess long-term etanercept safety and effectiveness.

METHODS

Patients with moderate to severe psoriasis enrolled; a single baseline dose of etanercept was required. Key outcome measures included serious adverse events, serious infectious events, events of medical interest, psoriasis-affected body surface area, physician global assessment score, and Dermatology Life Quality Index score. Safety outcomes were assessed relative to data from the MarketScan database.

RESULTS

For 2510 patients, 5-year cumulative incidence was 22.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 20.3%-24.2%) for serious adverse events; 6.5% (95% CI 5.4%-7.7%) for serious infectious events; 3.2% (95% CI 2.3%-4.1%) for malignancies excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer; 3.6% (95% CI 2.7%-4.5%) for nonmelanoma skin cancer; 2.8% (95% CI 2.0%-3.6%) for coronary artery disease; 0.7% (95% CI 0.3%-1.2%) for psoriasis worsening; 0.2% (95% CI 0.0%-0.4%) for central nervous system demyelinating disorder; 0.1% (95% CI 0.0%-0.3%) for lymphoma and for tuberculosis; and 0.1% (95% CI 0.0%-0.2%) for opportunistic infection and for lupus; 55 fatal events were reported. Rates of malignancies, lymphomas, nonmelanoma skin cancer, and hospitalization-associated infections were not higher than expected relative to administrative claims data. The percentage of patients rated as clear/almost clear was 12% at baseline, which increased to 51% at month 6 and remained relatively stable throughout 5 years.

LIMITATIONS

No internal comparator group was included; rare events may not have been detected.

CONCLUSION

No new safety signals were observed with long-term, real-world etanercept use.

Consensus recommendations on the use of injectable poly-L-lactic acid for facial and nonfacial volumization

Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) was approved for use in Europe in 1999. In the United States, it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2004 for the treatment of facial lipoatrophy associated with human immunodeficiency virus, and in 2009 for cosmetic indications in immune-competent patients. The need for consistent, effective PLLA usage recommendations is heightened by an increased consumer demand for soft tissue augmentation and a shift toward a younger demographic. Over the past 14 years, considerable experience has been gained with this agent, and we have come to better understand the clinical, technical, and mechanistic aspects of PLLA use that need to be considered to optimize patient outcomes. These consensus recommendations regarding patient selection, proper preparation and storage, optimal injection techniques, and other practical considerations reflect the body of evidence in the medical literature, as well as the collective experience of this author group.

Intralesional methotrexate for keratoacanthoma of the nose

A 56-year-old woman developed a nodule on her nose. A shave biopsy of the enlarging lesion was performed after 2 weeks and showed a keratoacanthoma. During the subsequent 4 weeks, the lesion continued to grow rapidly, and she was referred for excision of the lesion using the Mohs microscopically controlled technique. A tender 10x12 mm (120 mm2) erythematous nodule with a keratin-filled central umbilication was present on her left nasal ala (Figure 1). Treatment options were discussed. The left nasal ala was locally anesthetized with 1% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine and the keratoacanthoma was circumferentially infiltrated with 10 mg of methotrexate (0.8 mL of 12.5 mg/mL methotrexate) using a 30-gauge needle. The total amount of methotrexate injected was divided among several injection sites: the peripheral shoulder of the lesion (such that there was blanching of the entire rim) and under the center of the lesion at a depth clinically judged to be the deepest area of involvement. Within the next 7 days, the tumor began to decrease in size and ulcerate centrally. Examination 2 weeks after the initial injection showed a 71% reduction in the area of the tumor, which now measured 35 mm2 (7.0x5.0 mm). The tumor was injected in a similar manner as before with 5 mg of methotrexate. After another 2 weeks, the tumor had continued to shrink. It was flat without nodularity and measured 12 mm2 (4.0x3.0 mm); the tumor area was 66% less than 2 weeks earlier and 90% less than its original size. The residual tumor was again injected with 4.5 mg of methotrexate. There was complete clinical involution of the tumor when the patient returned for evaluation 6 weeks after her initial injection of methotrexate (Figure 2). A biopsy of the lesional area to confirm histologic resolution of the keratoacanthoma was not performed since there was no visible residual tumor. Periodic follow-up examination has been performed and there has been no subsequent recurrence of the keratoacanthoma.

Primary hyperoxaluria in a 27-year-old woman

Primary hyperoxaluria is a rare autosomal recessive disorder resulting in precipitation of insoluble oxalate crystals in the joints, kidneys, heart, eyes, and skin. Two thirds of patients have calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis by age 5 years and 80% die of renal failure by age 20 years. Rarely, the disease will present in adulthood, with the onset of symptoms occurring as late as the sixth decade. We present a 27-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease who presented to the dermatology department for the evaluation of a reticular rash shortly after beginning peritoneal dialysis. Associated symptoms included arthralgias and episodic acral cyanosis. Previous kidney and skin biopsy specimens revealed crystalline deposition, however, the diagnosis of primary hyperoxaluria was not entertained until an atrial mass was found to have the same crystalline material. This report reviews primary hyperoxaluria and underscores the importance of recognizing the disease as a cause of renal failure in a patient with livedo reticularis and skin lesions resembling calciphylaxis. Early recognition of the disease is important because combined liver-kidney transplantation may achieve long-term survival.