A literature review from the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) suggests that dermatologists are innovators in 14 of 18 categories of noninvasive and minimally invasive cosmetic medical procedures.

The review appears in a recent issue of Dermatologic Surgery, the official journal of the ASDS.

Two scoring systems—a citations score and a weighted score—were used to compile the study’s data, which suggests that dermatologists have performed the overwhelming majority of innovation and pioneering research for noninvasive and minimally invasive cosmetic medical and surgical procedures, according to a media release from ASDS.

The highlights are as follows, per the release:

  • A citation score of 705.33 for dermatology in the use of botulinum toxin to treat skin aging, more than double the next closest specialty.
  • A citation score of 1,425 for dermatology in laser hair removal, with researchers the next highest score at 198.
  • A citation score of 1,316.33 for dermatology in chemical peels. The next closest specialty – plastic surgery – had a score of 190.
  • A citation score of 60 for dermatology in cryolipolysis followed by researchers at 9.33.

In addition, dermatology ranked highest for:

  • Calcium hydroxylapatite fillers for rhytides
  • Collagen fillers for rhytides
  • High-intensity focused ultrasound
  • Hyaluronic acid fillers for rhytides
  • Laser rejuvenation
  • Laser resurfacing
  • Laser tattoo removal
  • Microfocused ultrasound
  • Poly-l lactic acid fillers for rhytides
  • Tumescent liposuction

The other category winners were neurology for botulinum toxin to treat hyperhidrosis (dermatology placed second), plastic surgery for hair transplantation (dermatology placed second), plastic surgery for liposuction (dermatology placed second but placed first for the less invasive tumescent liposuction) and vascular surgery for sclerotherapy (dermatology placed third), the release explains.

“The more you know and understand about something, the better it is you can perform that procedure,” says ASDS member and study lead author Omar A. Ibrahimi, MD, PhD, who undertook the assignment as an ASDS Board-directed research project, in the release.

“Because dermatologists have innovated many of these treatments, [they’re] the ones at the forefront of knowing the best way to optimize outcomes of the procedures,” he adds.

[Source(s): American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, PRWeb]