Dr. Fife publishes article on techniques for treating acne scars
Posted on 16. May, 2012 by Dr. Douglas Fife in Acne Scarring, Medicine
Dr. Fife, with Christopher B. Zachary, recently published an article in Current Dermatology Reports titled, Combining Techniques for Treating Acne Scars. The article explores treatment options for patients with acne scarring, and stresses that each type of acne scar responds to different types of treatments. Combining certain treatments creates a tailor-made treatment plan for each patient’s unique acne scar types. These combinations are most likely to improve the targeted acne scars.
Dr. Fife presents lecture to ASDS on acne scarring
Posted on 06. Nov, 2011 by Dr. Douglas Fife in Acne Scarring, Medicine
Douglas Fife, MD was invited to participate at the 2011 American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) Annual Meeting, which took place November 3-6. He presented a lecture on acne scarring to fellow dermatologists, and also collaborated with Gregory J. Goodman, MD and Christopher B. Harmon, MD to present a joint lecture on acne scarring. The lectures helped attendees:
- Understand how the facial rejuvenation paradigm of cohesive treatment of volume, surface, and movement relates to scarring
- Evaluate and classify acne scars of different morphologies
- Develop individualized treatment plans
- Identify patients who need combined methods of treatment
- Prepare the acne scar patient for expected outcomes and possible complications
- Properly perform the necessary procedures to treat the most difficult forms of scarring.
Dr. Fife publishes article on acne scarring
Posted on 15. Aug, 2011 by Dr. Douglas Fife in Acne Scarring, Medicine
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology published an article written by Douglas Fife, MD, entitled Practical Evaluation and Management of Atrophic Acne Scars: Tips for the General Dermatologist, found in vol. 4(8) of August 2011. The article speaks to general dermatologists who struggle to find a treatment solution for patients suffering from atrophic acne scars. Dr. Fife gives a practical, step-by-step guide for evaluating and treating patients with atrophic acne scars. He also warns of pitfalls to avoid, and provides details on certain procedures a general dermatologist may practice, such as filler injections, skin needling, and punch excision.
Dr. Fife featured in Skin & Allergy News
Posted on 10. Feb, 2011 by Dr. Douglas Fife in Medicine
Skin & Allergy News featured Dr. Fife’s lecture during the Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar sponsored by the Skin Disease Education Foundation (SDEF). The article summarizes several procedures Dr. Fife has found to be effective in treating acne scars, including dermabrasion, excisional techniques, and skin needling.
The article is titled, “Treating Acne Scars? Lasers Not Required,” by Lorinda Bullock. Click here to read the full article.
Dr. Fife presents lecture to Skin Disease Education Foundation on current treatment of acne scars
Posted on 27. Jan, 2011 by Dr. Douglas Fife in Medicine
Douglas Fife, M.D. was invited to present a lecture to Board Certified Dermatologists and Dermatology Residents at the Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar, sponsored by the Skin Disease Education Foundation. Along with reviewing the classification of acne scars, the lecture gave a practical step-by-step review of the most common techniques. Treatments were grouped into the following four categories: 1) Resurfacing procedures, 2) Lifting procedures, 3) Excisional techniques, 4) Other. The specific procedures reviewed by Dr. Fife included subcision, filler injections, skin needling, subtotal/staged excision, elliptical ecxcision, punch excision, punch elevation, chemical peels, CROSS technique, chemabrasion. A separate lecturer covered laser resurfacing, which Dr. Fife also performs routinely in the office. Dr. Fife stressed that Dermatologists who specialize in acne scar therapy should be familiar with all of the possible treatment options available to treat patients with acne scars. Acne scarring is a complex skin problem which can be extremely distressing to individuals affected by it. It is also is sometimes difficult to treat–multiple procedures are usually required over a period of time, and the improvement is unpredictable. Results can be maximized when the most appropriate procedures are selected to treat a patient’s specific scars.
Dr. Fife chairs Comprehensive Acne Scar Therapy course at the ASDS in Chicago
Posted on 01. Dec, 2010 by Dr. Douglas Fife in Medicine
Douglas Fife, M.D. was invited to chair a course covering all of the current and most effective treatments for acne scars at the 2010 joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) and American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery (ASCDAS) October 21-24. In planning the course, he invited guest speakers Greg Goodman, M.D. from Victoria, Australia and Christine Lee, M.D., East Bay Laser Institute to be co-presenters. The goal of the course was to teach dermatologists in the U.S. and abroad tips and techniques for treating patients with acne scars. As part of the course, all aspects of acne scar treatment were covered, including setting appropriate expectations, grading and classifying acne scars, “lifting” procedures such as punch elevation subsicion, focal and volumizing fillers, laser resurfacing, (including fully ablative, fractional CO2 and fractional non-ablative lasers), and how to modify treatments for patients of different skin pigmentation. Dr. Fife specifically covered the topics of focal dermabrasion, CROSS chemical peels, punch excision, other excisional surgery, skin needling, and newer techniques such as ReCell and botulinum toxin for the treatment of scars. The session, which required a separate tuition from the conference admission, was the most well-attended early morning course of at the ASDS meeting. The ASDS/ASCDAS annual meeting is the premier academic meeting for Dermatologic Surgeons and Procedural/Cosmetic Dermatologists.
Total Fx fractional CO2 laser treatment for acne scars
Posted on 09. Mar, 2010 by Dr. Douglas Fife in Medicine
Surgical Dermatology and Laser center is now offering Total Fx laser treatment of acne scars. The total FX laser by Lumenis is a fractional CO2 laser, which drills small holes into the skin in order to remove scar tissue, induce collagen remodeling, and smooth out the skin surface. The Total Fx laser is a part of the comprehensive acne scar therapy offered by Douglas Fife, M.D., an acne scar treatment physician. To treat an acne scar optimally, a physician needs to have the tools, knowledge, and experience to perform multiple different types of procedures. Mild acne scarring can be improved by one or more fractional laser resurfacing procedures alone, but more significant scarring (where there are visible depressions or atrophy of deeper tissues under the scar) requires “lifting” or “preparatory” procedures such as subscision, punch elevation, or fillers prior to laser resurfacing. All of these procedures are offered by Dr. Fife at the Surgical Dermatology & Laser Center in Las Vegas, NV.
The Total FX acne scarring procedure includes two different laser treatments. The first is called “Deep Fx” in which hundreds of microscopic laser columns are pulsed on the skin to the depth of almost 1mm. This is followed immediately by another entire facial laser treatment called “Active Fx,” in which wider but more shallow spots of laser columns are delivered onto the skin. The Active plus the Deep Fx equals “Total Fx.” It is a revolutionary procedure which treats acne scarring with less downtime and side effects when compared to complete CO2 laser resurfacing. Because only 25-50% of the skin surface is treated by the laser, the untreated skin allows for faster healing with less risk of infection, prolonged pain, and scarring.
Dr. Fife organizes Las Vegas Chapter of The National Melanoma Awareness Project.
Posted on 22. Jan, 2010 by Dr. Douglas Fife in Medicine
The National Melanoma Awareness Project (NMAP) is an educational outreach program dedicated to educate middle school and high school students about sun safety and skin cancer, with an emphasis on self-screening for earlier detection and prevention of melanoma. The Las Vegas Chapter was recently organized by Douglas Fife, M.D. of the Surgical Dermatology & Laser Center. Dr. Fife previously worked with the NMAP in Orange County while Dr. Fife was in Dermatology Residency at University of California, Irvine and lectured to students at Tustin High School in Orange County.
The goals of the NMAP (from www.spotaspot.org) are:
- To provide a network for collaboration on national skin cancer educational outreach efforts
- To educate the community about the realities of skin cancer, with emphasis on prevention and early detection of melanoma through sun protection and frequent self-screening
- To leave students with an interest in teaching their friends and loved ones about melanoma
- To increase awareness, knowledge, and suspicion of melanoma in future physicians across medical specialties
- To personalize teaching about melanoma and to connect those affected by it through sharing of real-life stories
The Las Vegas Chapter of the NMAP will be visiting high schools and middle schools to educate students starting in the Spring of 2010. If you are interested in having lectures at your school or if you are interested in joining the NMAP, please contact Dr. Fife at dfife@surgical-dermatology.com or visit www.spotaspot.org.