The reverse lip design: a design for safe and effective abdominoplasty

Conventional abdominoplasty includes the removal of an ellipse-shaped section of abdominal tissue between the umbilicus and mons pubis. However, this method can result in tension of the undermined flap, especially in the midline. To address this problem, we present reverse lip design as a modified method that also has aesthetic advantages. The reverse lip design entails a longer lower flap edge while preserving the triangular tissue in the vascularly stable pubis area. These markings create an image of a reverse lip shape with a cleft at the bottom of the lower markings. After typical lipoabdominoplasty is performed, redundant waist tissues can easily be pulled inward and downward. The reverse lip design abdominoplasty demonstrated no complications and required no further revisions after the procedure. Patients were generally satisfied with the aesthetic improvements in their body shape. They were also able to return to their routine activities approximately 1 week after the operation while wearing a supporting undergarment. This modified abdominoplasty using the reverse lip design reduces low midline tension of the undermined abdominal flap while enhancing body aesthetics with a slimmer waistline, leading to higher patient satisfaction.

How to get the Best Results in Transaxillary Breast Augmentation with Anatomic form Stable Implants: Pocket Shapes, Insertion, and Maintenance

Although IMF incision is known the best way for anatomic implant, most Korean doctors and patients hesitate IMF incision. Anatomic form stable implants have some benefits such as less prominent upper pole, less wrinkles and ripples, and less rupture rate than round cohesive type I implants. However more concern is necessory for placing the anatomic implants. The Korean Academic Association of Breast Surgery(KAABS) planned to support some tips for using anatomic form stable implants through axillary incision. The KAABS gathered and analyzed the concepts of Korean plastic surgeons who have experienced transaxillary breast augmentation with anatomic form stable implants. The KAABS requested them of their concepts of 9 basic categories: entrance dissection, pocket dissection, lubricant, inserting aids, skin protector, inserting direction, suction drainage, dressing, compression garment, and their key considerations. Eight expert surgeons suggested their own cutting edge methods of transaxillary breast augmentation with the anatomic form stable implant, however each surgeon should find his or her own method. Authors and KAABS hope that these developing and incomplete concepts help beginners to find their own concepts.

The Effect of Laser Assisted Liposuction

The 635-nm low-level laser therapy was reported to "liquefy" or release stored fat in adipocytes by causing a transitory pore in the cell membrane to open, which permitted the fat content to go from inside to outside the cell. But some data do not support the belief that low-level laser therapy treatment before lipoplasty procedures disrupts tissue adipocyte structure. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of low-level laser- assisted liposuction. The use of low-level laser-assisted lipoplasty was evaluated in a series of 90 cases. There were 2 treatment groups in the clinical study. Subjects in the test group(39 patients; 31 thighs and 17 abdomen) received only liposuction on one side and laser-assisted liposuction on the other side during early 1liter aspiration time. 51 patients in the operated group received laser-assisted liposuction on both side. After adequate infiltration was obtained in all targeted body areas, a 635-nm electric diode laser was applied to the targeted areas for 12 to 15 minutes to liquefy the fat which was extracted immediately after laser treatment. On the side which received laser-assisted liposuction of the 39 test-group patients, we could gain much fat component(71+/-7.2 vs 63+/-8.6%) and it took short time(26+/-5.7 vs 31+/-7.7 minutes). Postoperative recovery was rapid, and complications were minimal. Low-level laser-assisted lipoplasty can be a valuable adjunctive tool for the performance of lipoplasty.

Clinical Experiences and Considerations of Large-Volume Liposuction

A review of recent reports showed that many surgeons define large-volume liposuction as the removal of over 5000ml of total aspirate. However, no clinical reports of single procedures in Korean involving aspirate volume of 5000 ml or greater have been presented. From May 2002 to December 2004, 59 patients with age averaging 31.2 years old underwent large-volume liposuction. Liposuction was performed using the superwet technique and a Lipomatic(R) vibropneumatic system. Clinical data, which included; body weight changes and BMIs at a postoperative 2 months, hemoglobin and hematocrit at a postoperative 2 days, operative time, and volume of infiltrate and aspirate, were evaluated. The average volumes of infiltrate and aspirate were 6916.7+/-1665.8ml and 6549.6+/-1787.2ml, respectively. Mean patient weight had decreased from 62.96+/-14.21 to 58.61+/-13.43kg with an average weight loss of 4.35kg, and mean body mass index from 23.84+/-3.91 to 22.17+/-3.70kg/m2 with an average drop of 1.67kg/m2; equivalent to a fall in weight per liter of aspirated volume of 0.66+/-0.09kg/L. Falls in hemoglobin and hematocrit per liter of aspirate volume were 0.46+/-0.07g/dl/L and 1.70+/-0.35%/L, respectively. Mean operative time per liter of aspirate was 39.6+/-2.1min/L. Complications were palpable skin irregularity in 5 patients; hyperpigmentation scars occurred in 5 patients; 2 of the heaviest women required blood transfusions; and 1 patient experienced prolonged edema. One major complication of subclinical fat embolism occurred. Cosmetic results were generally good. In conclusion, if patients are properly selected and fluid resuscitations are performed adequately, single stage liposuction involving aspirations of greater than 5000ml can be undertaken safely in Korean.

A New Technique for Surgical Correction of Nipple Hypertrophy in Male Patients

Nipple hypertrophy in male patients is a very rare condition but still requires surgical correction regardless of its rarity. It is important to consider two factors during surgical correction of nipple hypertrophy in male patient. First, the size of men's nipple is quite smaller than that of female's. Therefore, diameter as well as vertical height should be reduced simultaneously to achieve more satisfactory aesthetic result. Second, it is not required to preserve ductal function as long as nipple sensory is kept intact. Our new technique can reduce the diameter of the hypertrophic nipple as well as the vertical height efficiently and safely. No complication including nipple necrosis or sensory loss were found after 2 months of folllow-up.

Immediate One-Stage Breast Reconstruction Including Nipple-Areolar Complex

As surgical trend for breast cancer changes, the method for breast reconstruction is also changing. Due to improved diagnostic techniques and public awareness, more and more patients with breast cancer are diagnosed at earlier stage and the number of patients who undergo skin sparing mastectomy is also increasing. Skin sparing mastectomy has several advantages for immediate breast reconstruction over modified radical mastectomy. Its preservation of breast skin envelope and inframammary fold made it possible to provide more natural breast mound shape without any evidence of increased local recurrence of malignancy. Furthermore, in case of immediate breast reconstruction after modified radical mastectomy, procedures for nipple-areolar reconstruction was deferred for fear of postoperative deformation and vascular problem of the flap. This interval made patients less satisfied with the result and postoperative adjuvant treatment had to be sometimes postponed. To avoid these limitations, "one-stage" breast reconstruction including nipple-areolar complex was performed after skin sparing mastectomy. From December 1998 to March 2000, a total of 12 patients with breast cancer underwent skin-sparing mastectomies, which were followed by immediate reconstruction using our new technique. After long-term follow-up, no major complication including flap necrosis or asymmetry was found and all patients were satisfied with the results. With careful patient selection and adequate intra-operative flap tailoring, this new technique could offer lots of advantages to both surgeons and patients.

Immediate One-Stage Breast Reconstruction Including Nipple-Areolar Complex

As surgical trend for breast cancer changes, the method for breast reconstruction is also changing. Due to improved diagnostic techniques and public awareness, more and more patients with breast cancer are diagnosed at earlier stage and the number of patients who undergo skin sparing mastectomy is also increasing. Skin sparing mastectomy has several advantages for immediate breast reconstruction over modified radical mastectomy. Its preservation of breast skin envelope and inframammary fold made it possible to provide more natural breast mound shape without any evidence of increased local recurrence of malignancy. Furthermore, in case of immediate breast reconstruction after modified radical mastectomy, procedures for nipple-areolar reconstruction was deferred for fear of postoperative deformation and vascular problem of the flap. This interval made patients less satisfied with the result and postoperative adjuvant treatment had to be sometimes postponed. To avoid these limitations, "one-stage" breast reconstruction including nipple-areolar complex was performed after skin sparing mastectomy. From December 1998 to March 2000, a total of 12 patients with breast cancer underwent skin-sparing mastectomies, which were followed by immediate reconstruction using our new technique. After long-term follow-up, no major complication including flap necrosis or asymmetry was found and all patients were satisfied with the results. With careful patient selection and adequate intra-operative flap tailoring, this new technique could offer lots of advantages to both surgeons and patients.

Correction of Alar Cartilage Malposition

The alar cartilage malposition is defined as any displacement of lateral crura from the usual parallel alignment with nostril rims. It has several characteristics including parentheses deformity, notches in alar rims, flat nasal tip, square basal perimeter. It tends to be misdiagnosed as cartilaginous hump or bulbous tip because of its longitudinally prominent lobule. But, exact diagnosis can be easily attained with careful examination and recognition in the clinical diagnosis of bulbous or ambiguous tips. It is confirmed by the resistless collapse of lateral alar rim when light compression is applied by cotton stick. Its incorrect diagnosis can bring about inappropriate tip graft, soft tissue resection, rasping, humpectomy and secondary nasal deformity may develope as a result. Authors performed open approach followed by meticulous dissection of displaced alar cartilages. Each medial portion, corresponding to the cephalic portion of normal lateral crus, was resected. Then, each lateral crus was symmetrically rotated in the infero-lateral direction along the axis of the medial crura. If needed, autocartilage on-lay graft and dorsal augmentation were done for optimal aesthetic result. We believe accurate evaluation of the anatomical variation should be checked out preoperatively and recommend out method for the effective correction of unusual bulbous or broad tips.

Treatment of Palatal Fracture According to the Fracture Pattern

The palatal fracture results in deformity of the midface, as well as change in occlusion. However, no report was found on the incidence, treatment and results of palatal fracture in Korea. A retrospective review was done over 6 years and 11 patients(6.5%) with palatal fracture were determind out of 168 patients who had midfacial bone fractures without nasal bone fracture. According to the Hendrickson's classification, the number of patients with specific types of palatal fracture was described as follows; sagittal (2 cases), parasagittal (2 cases), para-alveolar (3 cases), transverse(3 cases) and complex(1 case). Le Fort I (6 cases), Le Fort II (7 cases) and mandible (6 cases) fractures were also associated. Open reduction and internal fixation was applied to all patients. Internal fixation consisted of pyriform or alveolar ridge stabilization and maxillary buttress stabilization. The rigid palatal vault stabilization was applied in one patient with midline split of the palate. The duration of intermaxillary fixation was shortened to less than 3 weeks from 4 to 6 weeks with rigid fixation. The palatal splint was used temporarily before internal fixation. All the patients showed good bony union and satisfactoryocclusion postoperatively. Open reduction and internal fixation showed satisfactory results from the aspects of stability, occlusion, patient convenience and final aesthetics. The following treatment model for palatal fracture according to the fracture type is proposed; 1) Alveolar type - close reduction or open reduction and selective alveolar ridge fixation and selective application of palatal splint, 2) Sagittal type - open reduction and internal fixation of the alveolar ridge, maxillary buttress and palatal vault. 3) Parasagittal type - open reduction and internal fixation of the pyriform aperture and maxillary buttress, as well as selective fixation of the palatal vault. 4) Para-alveolar type - open reduction and internal fixation of the alveolar ridge and maxillary buttress. 5) Complex type - open reduction and internal fixation of the alveolar ridge, maxillary buttress, pyriform aperture and continuous use of a palatal splint to bony union. 6) Transverse type - open reduction and internal fixation of the alveolar ridge and maxillary buttress.

Reconstruction and Optic Never Decompression Following the Removal of Fibrous Dysplasia in the Orbit and Cranial Base

Fibrous dysplasia in the orbit and cranial base may involve the optic canal. Although fibrous dysplasia is benign, it may produce a mass effect along the course of the optic nerve which can then induce visual disturbance as well as contour deformities of the skull and facial bone. The treatment of fibrous dysplasia in the orbit and cranial base is to resect the lesion as much as possible and then reconstruct immediately. As well, if there is any evidence of optic canal involvement and disease progression, the treatment of fibrous dysplasia may include optic nerve decompression. It is generally understood that some patients experience improvement of visual function after optic nerve decompression. We performed radical excision and reconstruction by means of autogenous calvarial bone graft and methylmethacrylate in 7 cases. The autogenous calvarial bone was used to reconstruct the orbit. The methylmethacrylate was used to reconstruct bony defect in the temporal area. The orbit was reconstruced into one block which was made of autogenous calvarial bone with a microplate and screw. This method is superior compared to the previous multifragment wiring method with regard to stability, operation time, and appearance. The patients in our series showed satisfactory appearance. In 6 cases, we performed optic nerve decompression. Therapeutic optic nerve decompression was done in 3 cases and prophylatic optic nerve decompression was done in the others. Following therapeutic optic nerve decompression, visual acuity was improved in 2 cases while the others showed a decrease in visual acuity. There was no change of visual acuity and visual field in 1 case after prophylactic optic nerve decompression. However, the others showed decrements in visual acuity or visual field. Therefore, we believe that more attention should be paid during optic nerve decompression procedure and strict indications to that procedure should be applied.