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. 2019 Aug:45 Suppl 1:S12-S21.
doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000001994.

Validated Assessment Scales for Skin Laxity on the Posterior Thighs, Buttocks, Anterior Thighs, and Knees in Female Patients

Michael S Kaminer  1 , Gabriela Casabona  2 , Wouter Peeters  3 , Rolf Bartsch  4 , Kimberly Butterwick  5 , Yates Yen-Yu Chao  6 , Joana Costa  7 , Joseph Eviatar  8 , Sabrina Guillen Fabi  5 , Thorin L Geister  9 , Kate Goldie  10 , Jenny Grice  11 , Doris Hexsel  12 , Paul Lorenc  13 , Mary Lupo  14 , Rainer Pooth  15 , Gerhard Sattler  16 , Heidi A Waldorf  17 , Yana Yutskovskaya  18 , Martina Kerscher  19
Affiliations

Validated Assessment Scales for Skin Laxity on the Posterior Thighs, Buttocks, Anterior Thighs, and Knees in Female Patients

Michael S Kaminer et al. Dermatol Surg. 2019 Aug.

Abstract

Background: The demand for noninvasive skin-tightening body procedures is increasing.

Objective: To develop a set of grading scales for the objective assessment of skin laxity and assess their reliability and validity.

Materials and methods: Two photonumeric grading scales were created and validated for skin laxity in female patients: Skin Laxity-Posterior Thighs/Buttocks, and Anterior Thighs/Knees. Fifteen aesthetic experts rated photographs of 50 women in 2 validation sessions. Responses were analyzed to assess inter-rater and intra-rater reliability.

Results: Overall inter-rater reliability according to intraclass correlation efficient (ICC) 2.1 and weighted kappa was at least "substantial" for both scales in both sessions, and "almost perfect" (≥0.81) for the Anterior Thighs and Knees scale in session 2. Intra-rater reliability was "almost perfect" for both scales (ICC 2.1) and "substantial" to "almost perfect" by weighted kappa. A correlation between the skin laxity scales and body mass index, age, weight, sun exposure, and cellulite severity was observed.

Conclusion: The skin laxity photonumeric grading scales are valid and reliable instruments for assessing laxity on the posterior thighs and buttocks, and anterior thighs and knees. The scales will be of value for standardizing clinical evaluations and quantifying outcome measurements in research and clinical practice.

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