Aesthetic Breast Surgery: What Do the Measurements Reveal? A Practical Visual Application of the Results.

BACKGROUND: The results of preoperative and 1-year postoperative measurements in aesthetic breast surgery were outlined in chart form in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal in 2020. Measurements were performed preoperatively and postoperatively, but the authors concentrated on 1-year follow-up because it was generally accepted as the minimum time to define a stable surgical result. Extensive statistical analysis was outlined in the previous paper. OBJECTIVES: This paper translates those results into a visual form so that the surgeon can see the changes that occur in breast reduction, breast augmentation, mastopexy, mastopexy-augmentation, and implant removal with mastopexy. METHODS: There were 548 patients in the breast augmentation group, 388 patients in the breast reduction group, 244 patients for mastopexy-augmentation, and 90 patients for mastopexy. Only primary surgeries that had a full year follow-up comparing preoperative and postoperative measurements were reviewed. Measurements were performed by E.H.F. preoperatively and at each postoperative visit. The measurements that were included in this study were clavicle to upper breast border, upper breast border to nipple, suprasternal notch to nipple, suprasternal notch to inframammary fold, and midline to nipple. RESULTS: The preoperative and postoperative measurement changes in aesthetic breast surgery were consistent, with minimal variation for each of the aesthetic breast surgery procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The visual interpretation of these results allows the surgeon to accurately plan preoperatively to achieve good, predictable results.

Temporal Fossa Atrophy in Aesthetic Medicine: Anatomy, Classification, and Treatment.

Hyaluronic acid fillers indisputably represent an important tool for face rejuvenation and volume restoration. The temporal area has recently been considered as a potential site of injection. As it happens in the middle face and in other regions of the face, the temporal fossa changes according to the aging process. In a young person, the temple profile has a fullness aspect, and this contributes to giving the face a beautiful and healthy appearance. With age, the loss of volume leads the bone prominences to be visible. The aim of this article is to classify the temporal fossa atrophy and get better into the anatomy, identifying the ideal plane to inject in, through the use of a safe and reliable technique. Cadaver dissections have been performed to specifically describe the anatomy of the temple layer by layer. The authors' preferred technique, called interfascial by cannula implantation, is discussed. All the treated patients reported a good improvement by survey according to the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale scale. No major complications were detected. No ecchymosis neither swelling were documented. Although further studies are necessary to broaden the casuistry and better verify the potentiality of this technique, the authors do believe that it could be considered a very reliable procedure with pretty consistent results, if supported by an adequate and imperative anatomical knowledge.

Aesthetic Breast Surgery: What Do the Measurements Reveal?

BACKGROUND: Do plastic surgeons really know what happens to the breast after surgery? We often think that we do, but we have very few measurements to show whether we are on the right track. OBJECTIVES: Only when the surgeon can predict the changes can she or he achieve consistent outcomes. Measurements lead to understanding; understanding what the measurements show allows us to refine our approach. METHODS: Consecutive patients in 4 categories were analyzed: breast reduction, mastopexy, augmentation, and mastopexy-augmentation. All procedures were performed by a single surgeon and all measurements were performed by the same surgeon. A standard measuring tape was utilized, and data were collected immediately preoperatively and at each follow-up visit. Only those patients with preoperative and complete 1-year postoperative measurements were included in this review. The parameters measured were clavicle to upper breast border (UBB), UBB to nipple, suprasternal notch (SSN) to nipple, SSN to inframammary fold (IMF), and chest midline to nipple. RESULTS: The changes were consistent. The borders of the breast footprint were expanded with the addition of an implant (UBB and IMF) and reduced with the removal of parenchyma (IMF). The existing SSN to nipple position was stretched when volume was added to the breast mound and it remained unchanged from the preoperatively marked position in a breast reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Although measurements are not necessary to achieve good aesthetic results in breast surgery, surgeons should understand what the measurements show and what happens to the different breast parameters.

Associated use of silicone-vitamin E gauzes and α-tocopherol acetate oil in healing of skin graft donor sites.

Split-thickness skin graft is one of the most used procedures in plastic surgery. This procedure involves numerous painful dressings at the donor site. α-Tocopherol acetate has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties and it can reduce the local bacterial growth, thereby promoting wound healing. We designed a prospective study to evaluate the effects of two different kinds of dressings at skin graft donor sites. A total of 30 patients were subjected to daily dressings with α-tocopherol acetate oil and traditional moist gauzes (group 1). Another 30 patients were subjected to dressings every 4 days with α-tocopherol acetate oil and silicone-vitamin E gauzes (group 2). Healing time, infection rate, patient's pain perception and costs were evaluated in both the groups. No statistically significant difference was found in terms of healing time. The infection rate was slightly different in the two groups. Significant reduction of pain perception was detected in group 2. In the same group, significant reduction in the total cost of the treatment was also observed. α-Tocopherol acetate oil and silicone-vitamin E gauzes may represent a safe, simple, painless and inexpensive method for improving skin graft donor site healing.

Efficacy and Safety of Topical Pidobenzone 4% as Adjuvant Treatment for Solar Lentigines: Result of a Randomized, Controlled, Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: This study aims at the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of a combination therapy based on pidobenzone 4% and fractional CO2 laser or cryotherapy in the treatment of solar lentigines and the prevention of eventual posttreatment hyperchromia. METHODS: Efficacy was clinically evaluated by grading the pigmentation level with the Skin Tone Color Scale (STCS), and by grading patients' impression through a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). RESULTS: Our study shows that the associated treatment was safe and that it improves the therapeutic results on solar lentigines and prevents postiatrogenic hyperpigmentation compared with physical therapy alone. CONCLUSION: The combination of cryotherapy and pidobenzone 4% has been found to be the most useful treatment.

Primary angiosarcoma of the breast.

Primary angiosarcoma (AS) of the breast is a rare neoplasia that is not related to radiation exposure. It represents less than 0.05% of all malignant breast tumors. This lesion is characterized by aggressive patterns and poor prognosis and by the absence of typical features at radiologic examination. Currently there are not evidence-based guidelines regarding surgical and adjuvant treatment for this tumor even though wide surgical resection followed by chemo- radiotherapy appears to improve both disease free survival and overall survival. The aim of this study was to analyze the available series of AS patients suggesting the most reliable treatment options for this rare neoplasia.

Improving wound healing and preventing surgical site complications of closed surgical incisions: a possible role of Incisional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy. A systematic review of the literature.

Advances in preoperative care, surgical techniques and technologies have enabled surgeons to achieve primary closure in a high percentage of surgical procedures. However, often, underlying patient comorbidities in addition to surgical-related factors make the management of surgical wounds primary closure challenging because of the higher risk of developing complications. To date, extensive evidence exists, which demonstrate the benefits of negative pressure dressing in the treatment of open wounds; recently, Incisional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (INPWT) technology as delivered by Prevena™ (KCI USA, Inc., San Antonio, TX) and Pico (Smith & Nephew Inc, Andover, MA) systems has been the focus of a new investigation on possible prophylactic measures to prevent complications via application immediately after surgery in high-risk, clean, closed surgical incisions. A systematic review was performed to evaluate INPWT's effect on surgical sites healing by primary intention. The primary outcomes of interest are an understanding of INPWT functioning and mechanisms of action, extrapolated from animal and biomedical engineering studies and incidence of complications (infection, dehiscence, seroma, hematoma, skin and fat necrosis, skin and fascial dehiscence or blistering) and other variables influenced by applying INPWT (re-operation and re-hospitalization rates, time to dry wound, cost saving) extrapolated from human studies. A search was conducted for published articles in various databases including PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus Database from 2006 to March 2014. Supplemental searches were performed using reference lists and conference proceedings. Studies selection was based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria and data extraction regarding study quality, model investigated, epidemiological and clinical characteristics and type of surgery, and the outcomes were applied to all the articles included. 1 biomedical engineering study, 2 animal studies, 15 human studies for a total of 6 randomized controlled trials, 5 prospective cohort studies, 7 retrospective analyses, were included. Human studies investigated the outcomes of 1042 incisions on 1003 patients. The literature shows a decrease in the incidence of infection, sero-haematoma formation and on the re-operation rates when using INPWT. Lower level of evidence was found on dehiscence, decreased in some studies, and was inconsistent to make a conclusion. Because of limited studies, it is difficult to make any assertions on the other variables, suggesting a requirement for further studies for proper recommendations on INPWT.

Easy and cheap way to prepare skin extenders.

Skin extender is a very useful method to repair wounds when oedema and skin retraction make a direct suture impossible. We have developed a new, simple and cheap way to prepare skin extenders based only on elastic vessel loops and metal clips stapler commonly used for skin suture and available in any operating room. This simple method can be performed both in the operating room and at the patient bedside, even under local anaesthesia, causes no bleeding and appears to be inexpensive and rapidly usable and should be made readily available in any hospital.

Profunda Femoris Artery Perforator Propeller Flap: A Valid Method to Cover Complicated Ischiatic Pressure Sores.

We report the case of a 50-year-old paraplegic man with a complicated grade III/IV ischiatic pressure sore treated with a propeller flap based on the first perforator of the profunda femoris artery. Our aim was to surgically reconstruct an ischiatic pressure sore in a patient with ankylosis using a fasciocutaneous perforator propeller flap obtained from the posterior region of the thigh. Our decision to perform a profunda femoris artery perforator propeller flap reconstruction was mainly due to the anatomical contiguity of the flap with the site of the lesion and the good quality of the skin harvested from the posterior region of the thigh. The use of the perforator fasciocutaneous flap represents a muscle-sparing technique, providing a better long-term result in surgical reconstruction. The choice of the 180-degree propeller flap was due to its ability to provide a good repair of the pressure ulcer and to pass over the ischiatic prominence in the patient in the forced decubitus position. The operatory course did not present any kind of complication. Using this reconstructive treatment, we have obtained complete coverage of the ischiatic pressure sore.

[An example of a hub and spoke network system in Plastic Surgery: the Regional reference center for non-healing wounds in Ancona (Italy)]. / Esempio di sistema in rete Hub & Spoke in Chirurgia Plastica: il Centro di Riferimento Regionale "Ferite Difficili" di Ancona.

Chronic wounds cause morbidity due to local infections, sepsis, osteomyelitis, but also increase mortality in the most severe cases and in patients with multiple comorbidities. Their increasing prevalence, associated disabilities and relevant health costs make chronic wounds a real social disease. At a time in which we hear more and more about spending reviews and reduction of health care costs, the natural evolution of Medicine and Health Care is increasingly directed towards the achievement of high quality standards while at the same time, reducing costs. It is in this framework that a hub and spoke model was used for organizing Plastic Surgery services in Ancona (Italy). In order to ensure appropriate clinical and organizational management of services, the activities of reference centres need to be widely integrated, by functional interconnections with activities of peripheral hospitals and local centres. Through a careful analysis of the Regional Reference Center for non - healing wounds in Ancona, the authors make some considerations regarding appropriate diagnostic-therapeutic-healthcare pathways and the correct use of human, material and technological resources in the area of wound healing.

The enhanced healing of a high-risk, clean, sutured surgical incision by prophylactic negative pressure wound therapy as delivered by Prevena™ Customizable™: cosmetic and therapeutic results.

According to the literature, incisional closure complications may range from postoperative surgical site infections, representing 17-22% of health care-associated infections, surgical wound dehiscence and formation of haematomas or seromas, and can lead to delayed or impaired incision healing. These kinds of situations are more common when wounds are closed under tension or in specific patient morbidities. Obesity, in particular, is associated with an impaired blood flow to tissues, predisposing the patient to increased risk of wound complications by various mechanisms. Incisional complications can become relevant economic burdens for health care systems because of an increase in the average length of hospital stay and readmissions, and additional medical and surgical procedures. Thus, a preventive therapy may have a critical role in the management of healing. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) technology as delivered by Prevena™ Customizable™ (Kinetic Concepts Inc., San Antonio, TX) has recently been the focus of a new investigation, as a prophylactic measure to prevent complications via immediate postoperative application in high-risk, clean, closed surgical incisions. The authors present a 62-year-old class II obese female, who underwent bilateral inguinal dermolipectomy. Prophylactic NPWT as delivered by Prevena™ was performed successfully over surgical incisions. Cosmetic and therapeutic results are shown.

The response of breast cancer cells to mesenchymal stem cells: a possible role of inflammation by breast implants.

BACKGROUND: Breast implants are widely used and at times might cause inflammation as a foreign body, followed by fibrous capsule formation around the implant. In cancer, the inflamed stroma is essential for preservation of the tumor. Mesenchymal stem cells can be recruited to sites of inflammation, and their role in cancer development is debated. The authors assessed the effects of inflammation caused by breast implants' effects on tumor. METHODS: Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from the fibrous capsules of women who underwent a second operation after 1 year (presenting inflammation) or after 20 years (not presenting inflammation) since initial surgery. After characterization, cells were co-cultured with MCF7, a breast cancer cell line. The expression of genes involved in oncogenesis, proliferation, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition was investigated, followed by Western blot analyses. RESULTS: After co-culture with mesenchymal stem cells from the inflamed capsule, MCF7 induced a dose- and time-dependent increase in proliferation. Polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed a dysregulation of genes involved in oncogenesis, proliferation, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. The subsequent evaluation by Western blot did not confirm these results, showing only a modest decrease in the expression of E-cadherin after co-culture with mesenchymal stem cells (both derived from inflamed or control capsules). CONCLUSION: These data indicate that inflammation caused by breast implants partially affects proliferation of MCF7 but does not influence key mechanisms of tumor development.