David A.F. Ellis, MD, FRCSC, Guest Editor

I would like to thank the authors sharing their expertise from both Canada and the United States for their contribution in making this issue as comprehensive as possible. This issue is fit for residents, staff, and practicing physicians in dermatology, facial plastic surgery, and general plastic surgery. The content of this issue is an excellent source of answers to questions that tend to show up in examinations. It is also useful for the early practicing surgeon and for ones that want to gain knowledge about the skin and its problems and to know about how lasers interface with the skin. Knowledge about skin is very important.

The surface of the skin is what we see when we look at people. The skin’s quality can be measured in texture, brown patches, broken capillaries, and wrinkles. Hyperpigmented brown patches are definitely one of the signs of aging as are broken capillaries, rough texture, and wrinkles. Each of these problems is discussed in great detail so that the reader will understand the physiology, presentation, and possible degrees of improvement with treatment. Lax skin or elastosis is another aging skin problem that can be treated with nonsurgical technology. There is also an intraoperative laser technology that tightens the residual following a facelift. Astoundingly, it can be performed at the same time as a facelift. This is like “shrink wrapping” the skin. Other skin problems such as acne scarring and hirsutism are discussed.

In one section of this issue, the use of lasers in non-Caucasian skin (“Using Lasers for Specific Skin Types”) is discussed. Many patients with Asian, Latino, and Black skin can have laser surgery to address their specific problems. Each of these three articles is very informative and gives the reader information on how to utilize lasers for ethnic skin problems.

The reader will have greater knowledge of the aging face, greater comprehension of how to improve common skin conditions, and additional skills to add to their surgical armamentarium—in hopes of providing his or her patients with the best possible outcome.