Boston Dermatologists

Open Wound on Forehead For Several Years, I'm Very Worried What's Causing This? (photo)

Hi, I'm a 35 yr old woman and I have had an unhealing wound on my forehead for almost 3 years. It started like a flesh colored pimple, and I picked at it. It would scab over, and I would pick at it again. It would heal, almost but I kept bugging it. Now I have a hole in my head about 2cm long...I am scared I am going to die! I made an appt but would like to know my options and get a professional opinion. It has hard edges. I have 2 little kids, I am scared to death. Thank you.

Your wound must be biopsied by a dermatologist.  The most likely cause is a basal cell cancer.  This type of skin cancer can cause a local wound and can get larger and larger but does NOT generally travel within the body to the other organs.  The only way to truly know what is causing your problem is to send a small piece of tissue to an appropriate laboratory.  Putting it off will only make the problem worse.  Please see a dermatologist as soon as possible.

Good luck.
Madeline Krauss, M.D.

Madeline Krauss, MD

Boston Dermatologic Surgeon

Zeltiq Demarcation on Upper Abs Near Rib Cage

I am 6wks post-zeltiq on my lower(lrg handpeice)& middle(med. handpeice) abs. I'm seeing a great result, however I have a line of demarcation on my upper abs near the rib cage. It feels like a shelf if I move my hands down it to my middle abs which is unsettling. I'm not oppossed to getting my upper abs done (rib cage/under breast area) but have some concerns about this line of demarcation area. Also, is it feasible to have the upper abs done, or will the smaller handpeice suck in breast tissue?

6 weeks is a bit early to tell your results.  It generally takes 4-6 months to see the full results, so you may feel that the appearance improves greatly over time.

The smaller handpiece is great for the upper abdomen and when placed by a well trained physician is very unlikely to get near any breast tissue.  Often we don't realize how much adipose there is in the upper abdomen until we stop focusing on the lower abdomen fat, so I often recommend to patients who treat their lower abs, that they strongy consider coming back for their upper abs after they see their results over time.

Madeline Krauss, MD

Boston Dermatologic Surgeon

Differences in Coolsculpting Machines?

Which coolsculpting machines are more effective based on the cost per session? Do some machines have better results on certain parts of the body?

Coolsculpting by Zeltiq does use 3 different handpieces.  2 are smaller, with slightly different sizes which may fit certain patients and areas better, and 1 larger head for the abdomen which treats twice the area.

The larger abdomen head is not for everybody.  It works best on a softer abdomen do to its narrow and long shape, and some patients do better with 2 cycles of the smaller heads (left and right abdomen) rather than the larger one to the entire abdomen.

I recommend finding a reputable center where the physician, not just technicians, are involved in the decision making process of whether CoolSculpting is right for you, and if so what heads and areas are best to treat.

Madeline Krauss, MD

Boston Dermatologic Surgeon