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Purpose: Minimally invasive aesthetic procedures are widely popular among the youth. Despite their prevalence, there is a significant gap in the research concerning the relationship between these procedures and psychological wellbeing, as well as an insufficient exploration of the barriers and motivators influencing their adoption, this study aims to address these gaps. Methods: This cross-sectional study has utilized a secure online survey directed at Saudi university students as the target population. The survey was consisting of 18-item electronic questionnaire including of 4 parts (demographical data, history of psychological illness and screening of current psychological wellbeing using WHO-5 well-being tool, history of doing cosmetic procedure, or willingness to do in the future, barriers and motivators to do cosmetic procedures), and it was distributed across multiple social media platforms. Results: A total of 8443 college students completed the study questionnaire. Exactly 1096 (13%) of the students underwent a cosmetic procedure. The most reported procedures were laser hair removal (9.1%), filler (5.3%), skin boosters (2.8%), and Botulinum toxin A injections (Botox) (2.6%). The most ranked motivators were being painless, with no side effects (8.8 out of 10), followed by being free (8.0 out of 10) and enhancing self-confidence (7.4 out of 10). Conclusion: No significant difference recorded at the overall psychological well-being score between who underwent cosmetic procedures and who did not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thread lifting involves the use of slender materials, reminiscent of threads, for aesthetic procedures. These materials are distinct from traditional sutures and vary in composition, purpose, and performance. The introduction delves into the literal and material significance of threads, establishing the broad concept of thread lifting materials. The article revisits the evolution of thread lifting materials, emphasizing the preexistence of cog threads for tissue manipulation before their widespread adoption in plastic surgery. Observations regarding the efficacy and longevity of absorbable versus non-absorbable threads are discussed, stressing the efficiency of high-quality absorbable cog threads. The conclusion underlines the proliferation of thread lifting materials beyond PDO, highlighting the importance of considering multiple factors beyond duration when selecting threads for lifting procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Multiple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been described, including an increase in concerns about one's facial appearance resulting in greater interest in cosmetic procedures. However, additional research is required to examine the impact of the pandemic on patients' overall stress levels and whether this reported stress is associated with an interest in facial aesthetic procedures. We aimed to describe perceived stress and to identify factors associated with increased stress among patients seeking aesthetic treatments during the pandemic. Patients and Methods: Patients coming to a Singapore-based clinic and who completed a questionnaire over a one-month period were included. Stress was evaluated using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS); additional questions sought to understand factors associated with perceived stress and future interest in aesthetic procedures. Results: Two hundred and thirteen respondents participated in the study. Separation from family and inability to travel for leisure were major stressors in 54% and 55%; getting COVID-19 was less frequently a stressor (11%). Patients reported greater concern with appearance (increased worry in 32%, comparison to others in 41%). Ninety-one percent of patients continued aesthetic procedures despite the pandemic and 75% reported interest in proceeding with treatments not previously tried before. PSS scores were higher than published norms. Factors associated with increased scores included residency status, job insecurity and markers of increased concern about appearance. Finally, higher stress scores were observed in patients with greater likelihood of receiving future aesthetic treatments, although this was not statistically significant after applying the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Conclusion: Significantly higher stress scores were seen in patients seeking aesthetic treatments. We identified factors associated with increased stress with a suggested association between increased likelihood of proceeding with any aesthetic procedure and higher levels of stress. These highlight the importance of caution in treating patients given their increased stress levels and potential vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Minimally invasive aesthetic procedures such as filler injections and thread lifts have gained popularity recently. Complications from these aesthetic procedures are difficult to avoid. This increasing public health concern requires a combination of effective therapeutic modalities. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has generated favorable results in treating a diversity of wounds, inflammation, and infection. Case Presentations: Three cases with complications arising from aesthetic procedures were described in this report. The patients were all female, with ages ranging from the late-twenties to mid-fifties. Two patients experienced complications from filler injections, one of which progressed to a parotid gland infection due to a placental extract filler while the other was caused by a hyaluronic acid filler. The third patient had notable excoriations and inflammation on both cheeks following a thread lift procedure. Alongside antibiotics and other symptomatic therapies, the patients received multiple, 90-minute HBOT sessions at 2.4 ATA over the course of one to two weeks. The wounds were frequently monitored to evaluate the healing progress. Discussion: Complications from facial rejuvenation procedures can be disastrous. They expose the patient to the risk of developing vascular occlusions and skin infections that require prompt and effective treatment. Multiple treatment options (eg, frequently massaging the affected area, warm compresses, aspirin, and antibiotics) have been used to treat these complications. HBOT serves a valuable purpose in restoring adequate tissue perfusion in cases of filler-induced vascular occlusion and infection. Moreover, HBOT assists in restoring tissue injury and reducing inflammation following thread lift procedures. Conclusion: HBOT has proven helpful as a treatment adjunct toward counteracting the effects of minimally invasive aesthetic procedures in several cosmetic-related cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]