European Survey Study Among Plastic/Breast Surgeons on the Use of and Opinion Toward Autologous Fat Transfer: With Emphasis on Breast Surgery.

Objective. The aim of this study is to examine the experience of European surgeons on autologous fat transfer (AFT) and highlight differences between countries and levels of experience. Background Data. The popularity of AFT causes an increase in sophisticated scientific research and clinical implementation. While results from the former are well-documented, important aspects of the latter are far less recognized. Methods. An international survey study about surgeon background, besides AFT familiarity, technique, and opinion, was distributed among surgeons from 10 European countries. The differences between countries and levels of experience were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Results. The mean respondent age, out of the 358 completed questionnaires, was 46 years. Ninety-seven percent of the respondents were plastic surgeons, who practiced AFT mostly in breast surgery and considered themselves experienced with the technique. The thigh and abdomen were less favored harvest locations by the Belgium and French respondents, respectively, and both the French and Austrian respondents preferred manual aspiration over liposuction in harvesting the fat. Despite minor differences between countries and experience, the intraglandular space was injected in all subgroups. Conclusions. The expanding use of AFT in Europe will lead to more experience and heterogeneity regarding the technique. However, despite an obvious adherence to Coleman's method, deviations thereof become more apparent. An important example of such a deviation is the ongoing practice of intraglandular AFT despite being a contraindication in various European guidelines. These unsafe practices should be avoided until scientific clarification regarding oncological safety is obtained and should therefore be the focus of surgeon education in Europe.

Autologous Fat Transfer After Augmentation and Reconstruction of the Female Breast: An International, Cross-Sectional Photo-Comparison Study Among Different Physician and Laymen Study Groups.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare the cosmetic evaluation of autologous fat transfer (AFT) for various indications between surgeons and different laymen groups. BACKGROUND DATA: Despite the upsurge in AFT scientific/clinical interest, objectifying satisfaction has only recently progressed beyond simple Likert-type/Visual Analog Scales. Furthermore, differences in satisfaction between laymen and surgeons has not been thoroughly studied. METHOD: A photo comparison study between European plastic surgeons and different laymen groups was conducted to investigate agreement on cosmetic evaluation of AFT. Three sets of preoperative/postoperative photographs illustrating patients treated with External Vacuum Expansion (EVE) + AFT for various indications in breast surgery were scored according to the Harris Scale, and the interrater agreement was analyzed using Cohen's κ. RESULTS: The overall agreement between the surgeons and the groups of former augmentation, control group, and deep inferior epigastric artery perforator patients was fair, moderate, and substantial, respectively. Interrater agreements among different laymen groups and surgeons from different countries among themselves was substantial to almost perfect. Finally, we found that laymen are generally more optimistic about postoperative results than surgeons. CONCLUSION: In our study, former augmentation patients showed the lowest agreement with surgeons, in the cosmetic appreciation of EVE + AFT and this group might benefit from a more thorough preoperative consultation regarding expectations when choosing AFT. However, overall laymen tend to be more optimistic about postoperative results and surgeon education in general does not seem influenced by surgeon nationality. The significant differences between surgeons and laymen in the cosmetic evaluation of EVE + AFT justifies further studies that focus on the qualitative aspects of these differences to further balance patients' and surgeons' expectations.

Cyclic and non-cyclic breast-pain: A systematic review on pain reduction, side effects, and quality of life for various treatments.

CYCLIC AND NON-CYCLIC BREAST-PAIN: A systematic review on pain reduction, side effects, and quality of life for various treatments. BACKGROUND: No clear systematic-review on all the various treatment regimen for (Non-) cyclical-breast-pain currently exists. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the various forms of therapy for treatment of breast-pain and the evidence for their effectiveness. SEARCH STRATEGY: Search-terms included 'mastalgia' and 'therapy' or 'hormones' or 'nsaid' or 'psychotherapy' or 'analgesia' or 'surgery', and synonyms. SELECTION CRITERIA: The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic-reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. RCT's and pro-/retrospective studies reporting on treatment of breast-pain were considered eligible. Minimal follow-up and sample-size criteria were 6 months and 10 patients respectively. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data was extracted using standardized tables and encompassed number of subjects, type of breast-pain and treatment, efficacy of treatment and clinical complications/side-effects. No pooling of data could be achieved due to heterogeneity amongst studies. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-three studies were included, that reported on 2100 patients in total. Topical-Diclofenac was found to reduce pain by 58.7 and 63.3 on a Visual-Analogue-Scale (VAS) in cyclical and non-cyclical-breast-pain respectively. Persistent cyclical-breast-pain can be treated with short courses (2-6 months) of either Bromocryptine (VAS↓=25.4) or Danazol (VAS↓=33.6) as long as benefits outweigh the side-effects. Last-resort options for unresponsive and severe debilitating breast-pain include surgery in the form of bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Pain reduction in patients with breast-pain can be achieved with analgesics, hormonal-regimen and possibly surgery as a last resort. Additional studies are needed with well-described patient-characteristics, robust study set-up, and longer follow-up times.

Autologous Fat Transfer for Facial Rejuvenation: A Systematic Review on Technique, Efficacy, and Satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Parallel to the steady decline in surgical aesthetic procedures to the face, dermal fillers seem to have gained a more prominent place in facial rejuvenation over the last couple of years. As a dermal, facial filler, autologous fat transfer (AFT) seems to have real potential because of the biocompatibility of adipose tissue besides being a procedure with few and primarily minor complications. This systematic review aims to evaluate the available evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of AFT for facial rejuvenation. METHOD: A systematic review after the Preferred-Reporting-Items-for-Systematic-Reviews-and-Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement was conducted. MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched up to December 2016, with no language restrictions imposed. Case series, cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting on relevant outcomes were included. RESULTS: Eighteen clinical articles were included, reporting on 3,073 patients in total over a mean follow-up period of 13.9 months. Meta-analysis showed an overall complication rate of 6% (95% CI 3.0-14.0), with hematoma/ecchymosis (5%), fat necrosis/oil cysts (2%), and irregular fat distribution and scars (both 2%) being among the most reported. No major complications were reported, and the overall patient satisfaction rate was 81%. CONCLUSION: Although the evidence in this systematic review is still limited and plagued by heterogeneity between studies, AFT seems to be a promising method in facial rejuvenation with fewer complications than other fillers and high patient satisfaction rates. Further large-cohort, preferably multicenter, RCTs should substantiate these results through quantifiable volumetric assessment tools and validated patient questionnaires, while adhering to predetermined nomenclature in terms of complications.

Autologous Fat Grafting in Cosmetic Breast Augmentation: A Systematic Review on Radiological Safety, Complications, Volume Retention, and Patient/Surgeon Satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Autologous fat grafting (AFG) is increasingly used in cosmetic surgery. However, its efficacy and safety are still ambiguous. Both a comprehensive overview and recapitulation of the relevant literature provide current evidence on the efficacy and outcomes of AFG in cosmetic breast surgery. OBJECTIVES: This review provides an up-to-date overview of the literature on AFG in cosmetic breast augmentation. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature on AFG used for cosmetic breast augmentation was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. This study included selected studies that were published between January 1996 and February 2016 and reported on 10 patients or more who had a minimal mean follow-up period of 1 year. RESULTS: In this study, 22 articles that reported on 3565 patients with follow-up periods ranging from 12 to 136 months were included. A complication rate of 17.2% (95% CI 15.9-18.5) was seen. Indurations were the most frequent complication (33.3%, 95% CI 20.4-46.3), followed by persistent pain (25%, 95% CI 0.5-49.5), and hematoma (16.4%, 95% CI 14.5-18.4). Mammograms revealed micro-calcifications (9.0%, 95% CI 6.4-11.5) and macro-calcifications (7.0%, 95% CI 3.8-10.2). The mean volume retention was 62.4% (range, 44.7-82.6%), with a satisfaction rate of 92% in patients and 89% in surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: AFG is a promising method in achieving autologous cosmetic breast augmentation with satisfactory volume retention and satisfaction rates in eight and six studies, respectively. Complications and radiological findings are comparable to those after implant augmentation. Future studies should focus on cancer occurrence and detection to further substantiate AFG safety. In addition, grafting methods and the use of auxiliary procedures to identify factors leading to better outcomes in terms of volume retention should be investigated. Finally, objective questionnaires are needed to represent patient satisfaction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Therapeutic.

The Use of Autologous Fat Grafting for Treatment of Scar Tissue and Scar-Related Conditions: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Scar tissue can cause cosmetic impairments, functional limitations, pain, and itch. It may also cause emotional, social, and behavioral problems, especially when it is located in exposed areas. To date, no gold standard exists for the treatment of scar tissue. Autologous fat grafting has been introduced as a promising treatment option for scar tissue-related symptoms. However, the scientific evidence for its effectiveness remains unclear. This systematic review aims to evaluate the available evidence regarding the effectiveness of autologous fat grafting for the treatment of scar tissue and scar-related conditions. METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed using MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science. No language restrictions were imposed. RESULTS: Twenty-six clinical articles were included, reporting on 905 patients in total. Meta-analysis was not performed because of the heterogeneous methodology demonstrated among the articles. Main outcome measures were scar appearance and skin characteristics, restoration of volume and/or (three-dimensional) contour, itch, and pain. All publications report a beneficial effect of autologous fat grafting on scar tissue. There is statistical significant improvement of the scar appearance, skin characteristics, and pain. Itch and restoration of volume and three-dimensional contour also improved. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous fat grafting is used to improve a variety of symptoms related to scar tissue. This systematic review suggests that autologous fat grafting provides beneficial effects with limited side effects. However, the level of evidence and methodological quality are quite low. Future randomized controlled trials with a methodologically strong design are necessary to confirm the effects of autologous fat grafting on scar tissue and scar-related conditions.

After total knee arthroplasty, many people are not active enough to maintain their health and fitness: an observational study.

QUESTIONS: What proportion of people after total knee arthroplasty adheres to the physical activity regimen recommended for maintenance of health (moderate intensity physical activity for at least 30min on 5 days/week)? What proportion adheres to the activity regimen recommended to improve fitness (vigorous intensity physical activity for at least 20min on 3 days/week)? What factors are associated with adherence to these recommendations? DESIGN: An observational study. PARTICIPANTS: 830 adults who underwent a total knee arthroplasty between 2002 and 2006 at University Medical Center Gronigen or Martini Hospital Gronigen, the Netherlands. OUTCOME MEASURES: The Short Questionnaire to Assess Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (SQUASH) was used to measure the physical activity behaviour of the participants. These data were analysed as adherence to each recommendation. RESULTS: The health recommendation was adhered to by 51% of the participants. The fitness recommendation was adhered to by 53% of participants. Almost half (46%) of the participants fulfilled both recommendations, and 42% did not fulfil either recommendation. Males and more educated participants had higher odds of meeting the health, fitness, and both recommendations. Respondents living with family had higher odds of meeting the fitness recommendation. CONCLUSION: After total knee arthroplasty, 42% of people are not active enough to maintain their health and fitness. Physiotherapists should encourage people with a total knee arthroplasty to undertake the recommended exercise regimens to maintain health and fitness, with particular attention to those people with characteristics known to be associated with poor adherence to the recommendations.