ABPS Aesthetic Procedures & Patient Safety 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which laser wavelength is most selectively absorbed by oxyhemoglobin and therefore most appropriate for treating facial telangiectasias?
- Pulsed dye laser (585–595 nm) (Correct answer)
- CO2 laser (10,600 nm)
- Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm)
- Erbium:YAG laser (2940 nm)
Correct answer: Pulsed dye laser (585–595 nm)
The pulsed dye laser wavelength is selectively absorbed by oxyhemoglobin in superficial vessels, making it the gold standard for treating telangiectasias with minimal surrounding tissue damage.
Question 2: A post-bariatric patient with a BMI of 32 requests a body contouring panniculectomy. Which preoperative nutritional marker most affects wound healing risk?
- Serum albumin below 3.5 g/dL indicating protein malnutrition (Correct answer)
- Total cholesterol above 200 mg/dL
- Fasting glucose of 95 mg/dL
- Vitamin D level of 28 ng/mL
Correct answer: Serum albumin below 3.5 g/dL indicating protein malnutrition
Serum albumin below 3.5 g/dL reflects significant protein malnutrition and is strongly associated with poor wound healing and increased infection risk after body contouring.
Question 3: During a rhinoplasty, the surgeon inadvertently disrupts the upper lateral cartilages' attachment to the nasal bones. The long-term functional consequence most likely to develop is:
- Internal nasal valve collapse causing nasal obstruction (Correct answer)
- External valve incompetence from alar retraction
- Loss of tip projection requiring revision grafting
- Septal deviation worsening over time
Correct answer: Internal nasal valve collapse causing nasal obstruction
Disruption of the scroll area and upper lateral cartilages narrows the internal nasal valve angle, leading to functional nasal obstruction often requiring spreader grafts.
Question 4: A patient develops a seroma 2 weeks after abdominoplasty. Initial management should be:
- Aspiration under sterile technique with compressive dressing application (Correct answer)
- Immediate surgical re-exploration and drain placement
- Oral antibiotics and watchful waiting for 4 more weeks
- MRI of the abdomen to characterize the fluid collection
Correct answer: Aspiration under sterile technique with compressive dressing application
Seromas after abdominoplasty are initially managed with serial aspiration under sterile conditions and compressive garments, reserving surgical intervention for refractory cases.
Question 5: The 'safe zone' for injecting botulinum toxin in the forehead to preserve brow position requires injecting at least how far above the brow?
- At least 2 cm above the brow (Correct answer)
- At least 0.5 cm above the brow
- At least 4 cm above the brow
- Directly at the brow crest
Correct answer: At least 2 cm above the brow
Injecting at least 2 cm above the orbital rim prevents diffusion into the brow depressors or levators, reducing the risk of brow or lid ptosis.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the 'dual plane' technique in breast augmentation?
- The implant is partially beneath the pectoralis major superiorly and subglandular inferiorly after partial muscle release (Correct answer)
- The implant is placed entirely beneath both the pectoralis major and minor muscles
- Two separate implants are placed in different planes on each side
- The implant pocket is created through dual incisions—periareolar and inframammary
Correct answer: The implant is partially beneath the pectoralis major superiorly and subglandular inferiorly after partial muscle release
In the dual-plane technique, the lower origin of the pectoralis is released so the upper implant is submuscular while the lower pole sits subglandular, optimizing lower pole expansion.
Question 7: A patient on isotretinoin requests a chemical peel. The minimum recommended waiting period after stopping isotretinoin before performing a medium-depth peel is:
- 6–12 months (Correct answer)
- 2 weeks
- 1 month
- No waiting period is necessary
Correct answer: 6–12 months
Isotretinoin impairs sebaceous gland function and wound healing; most guidelines recommend waiting 6–12 months after cessation before performing medium or deep resurfacing procedures.
ABPS Aesthetic Procedures & Patient Safety 5
Which laser wavelength is most selectively absorbed by oxyhemoglobin and therefore most appropriate for treating facial telangiectasias?