Eyelid sagging is a frequent concern among aging patients, yet achieving noticeable improvement with noninvasive methods remains challenging. This prospective cohort study evaluated the efficacy and safety of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for improving upper and lower eyelid sagging. Thirty-four Korean women (aged 31–67 years) with mild to moderate eyelid laxity underwent a single session of HIFU (ULTRAFORMER MPT) using a 2.0-mm, 4-MHz probe, delivering 120 shots to the periocular region. Outcomes were assessed at 12 weeks via a four-point scale rated by blinded clinicians and patients. Eyelid length was measured using standardized photography. Mean eyelid length decreased by 0.94 ± 0.34 mm (p < 0.0001). Clinical improvement was reported by 76 % of patients and recognized by clinicians in 59 % of cases. The mean scores for overall improvement, eyelid tightening, and crow’s feet reduction were 2.25 ± 0.3, 2.10 ± 0.4, and 1.95 ± 0.3, respectively. Mild pain and erythema were the only reported side effects, resolving within 3–4 days. HIFU is a safe and effective noninvasive option for improving both upper and lower eyelid sagging, with high patient satisfaction and minimal adverse effects.

Background: The application of sunscreen after light and laser facial treatments is vital for optimizing patient outcomes and minimizing complications. This review aims to highlight the importance of sunscreen use in post-procedural care within aesthetic medicine. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using keywords related to sunscreen application after light and laser treatments. Relevant studies involving human subjects and their effects on skin recovery were included. Results: The review found that early initiation of broad-spectrum sunscreen significantly enhances skin recovery and reduces inflammation following laser procedures. Sunscreens containing physical blockers, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, were identified as the most effective in preventing sensitization and irritation. Patient education regarding sun protection practices was emphasized, revealing a gap between knowledge and adherence among patients. The inclusion of specialized formulations with anti-inflammatory properties showed promise in mitigating post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Conclusions: While the current literature underscores the critical role of sunscreen in post-laser care, further research is necessary to explore long-term effects and develop innovative formulations. Clinicians should prioritize patient education and adherence to sunscreen protocols to maximize the benefits of light and laser treatments and enhance overall patient satisfaction.

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) injection for “lip flip” is used to achieve subtle upper lip eversion by partially relaxing the pars marginalis of the upper orbicularis oris. This short communication describes the anatomical rationale, injection approach, and early clinical observations in three consecutive patients treated with LetybotulinumtoxinA. BoNT was reconstituted to 4 U/0.1 mL and injected superficially along the upper vermilion border, with 1 U per site, avoiding the oral commissures and deeper muscle layers. At two weeks, all patients showed subtle upper lip eversion and reduction of vertical rhytides, with satisfaction ranging from “Satisfied” to “Very Satisfied.” No patient reported speech disturbance, difficulty with oral movement, asymmetry, or oral incompetence during the short follow-up. These findings should be interpreted as preliminary because of the very small sample size, lack of control group, absence of blinded assessment, and short follow-up.

Autologous septal, auricular, and costal cartilage remain the reference materials for structural and aesthetic rhinoplasty, yet each source is constrained by finite availability, donor-site morbidity, variable geometry, and the risks of warping, resorption, or revision. Nasal cartilage regeneration therefore represents more than a conventional tissue-engineering problem: a clinically useful product must recreate region-specific extracellular matrix, survive in a diffusion-limited environment, tolerate suturing and cyclic deformation, preserve the nasal airway, and maintain patient-specific contour under a thin soft-tissue envelope. This narrative review evaluates next-generation biopharmaceutical and biomaterial strategies for meeting those requirements. Direct evidence from human nasal chondrocytes and engineered nasal constructs is integrated with mechanistic evidence from broader cartilage regeneration, with explicit separation of nasal, auricular, and articular data. Chondrogenic proteins and small molecules, including transforming growth factor-beta, bone morphogenetic proteins, fibroblast growth factor 18, and kartogenin, can initiate matrix-forming programs but require spatial and temporal control to avoid fibrocartilage, hypertrophy, or mineralization. Polydeoxyribonucleotide and polynucleotide formulations have plausible anti-inflammatory and matrix-supportive actions, but evidence remains predominantly in vitro or articular; no direct clinical proof currently supports injection-only regeneration of structural nasal cartilage. Extracellular vesicles provide a cell-free signaling platform, whereas expanded nasal chondrocytes presently have the strongest tissue-specific translational lineage. Injectable collagen, fibrin, alginate, hyaluronic-acid, chitosan, gelatin-methacryloyl, and decellularized-matrix systems can localize these cargos, although biologic permissiveness often conflicts with immediate mechanical strength. Three-dimensional bioprinting and reinforced hybrid constructs offer patient-specific geometry, but clinical translation requires validated potency assays, suture retention, flexural testing, orthotopic safety, Good Manufacturing Practice-compatible production, and long-term objective assessment of shape and airflow. The most credible near-term applications are biologic enhancement of existing grafts, repair of small contained defects, and patient-specific partial-framework replacement rather than minimally invasive reshaping by regenerative injection alone. A stage-gated translational framework is proposed to align molecular potency, material performance, surgical usability, aesthetic precision, and durable nasal function.

Background/Objectives: Facial atopic dermatitis (AD) is burdensome, and facial skin is vulnerable to steroid-related adverse effects. This study describes the clinical use, tolerability, and photographic response to topical 2% chitosan gel in a consecutive case series. Methods: Twenty patients applied the gel to affected facial areas twice daily for 4 weeks alongside standardized gentle skin care. Clinical and patient-reported outcomes were collected, and two independent physicians assessed paired photographs using the Photographic Atopic Improvement Scale (PAIS). An additional ultrasound-based imaging record was considered separately from the cohort analysis. Results: The chitosan-containing regimen was associated with improvement in overall facial appearance and the available clinical and patient-reported outcomes. Photographic responses varied, with residual inflammatory lesions in some examples. Mild transient stinging occurred in 3 of 20 patients (15%) and resolved spontaneously; no serious adverse events were recorded. The additional imaging record was descriptive and did not provide an independently validated measure of skin-quality improvement. Conclusions: Topical 2% chitosan gel was feasible and generally well tolerated in this hypothesis-generating series. The uncontrolled design, concomitant moisturization, and rescue treatment in two patients preclude attribution of improvement solely to chitosan. Controlled studies are needed to establish efficacy and validate the photographic and device-based outcomes.

The nasolabial fold (NLF) is a key aesthetic concern in facial aging. Thread lifting offers a minimally invasive alternative to surgery but requires precise anatomical planning to ensure safety and efficacy. To describe an anatomically informed, multi-vector thread lifting technique for NLF correction and evaluate clinical outcomes in 22 patients. Between March 2020 and December 2022, 22 patients (17 female, 5 male; mean age 47.2 years) underwent NLF correction using barbed threads for structural lifting and monofilaments for superficial volumization. Thread types and vectors were selected based on NLF subtype, skin thickness, and facial anatomy. Outcomes were assessed using standardized photographs and the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) over a follow-up period of 6–18 months. The number and type of threads used in each patient were determined individually based on anatomical assessment and fold characteristics, rather than a fixed protocol, to allow personalized optimization of outcomes. At 6 months, 90.9% of patients showed "improved" or "much improved" results. At 12 months, this remained in 77.8% of those followed. Type II NLFs showed strong initial results but greater regression over time, while Type III folds demonstrated better long-term stability. Complications were minor and self-limiting, with no serious adverse events. This technique offers a safe, tailored, and effective approach for minimally invasive NLF correction when guided by anatomical principles. Evidence level: V