Subpectoral Implant Repositioning With Partial Capsule Preservation: Treating the Long-Term Complications of Subglandular Breast Augmentation.

BACKGROUND: Patients with long-term complications associated with subglandular breast augmentation are being seen in increasing numbers in the Southern California community. Late deformities include a characteristic "slide-down" deformity as well as capsular contracture, implant wrinkling, and nipple-areola complex enlargement. Repositioning the implant to a subpectoral pocket is a recognized revisionary technique to treat this problem; however, technical details of how this is accomplished are lacking in the literature. OBJECTIVES: To review our technique for treating long-term complications associated with subglandular implants using subpectoral repositioning with partial capsule preservation and mastopexy, without the need for an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) or mesh. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients undergoing subpectoral repositioning over the course of 6 years was performed. Patient data and long-term outcomes were assessed. A technique is presented utilizing a partial capsulectomy that preserves a portion of the capsule as an ADM/mesh equivalent, ensuring adequate implant coverage and preventing window shading of the pectoralis major muscle. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients with subglandular implants and slide-down deformity as well as other associated complications including capsular contracture, implant wrinkling, and enlarged areolas underwent revision surgery with a subpectoral site change. Often, patients presented many years after their initial augmentation (mean 18 years, range 4-38 years). The average patient follow-up was 3.1 years (range 1.0-6.8 years). Two patients required minor revisions with local anesthetic, while another 2 revisions required general anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term deformities associated with subglandular breast augmentation can reliably be corrected by subpectoral repositioning, mastopexy, and utilization of residual breast capsule in the place of an ADM or mesh.

The K-Wire Fixation Technique for Endoscopic Brow Lift: A Long-Term Follow-Up.

BACKGROUND: Many techniques have been presented for fixation during endoscopic brow lift, but no singular technique has become dominant. OBJECTIVES: The authors described a technique for fixation for endoscopic brow lift that is inexpensive, easy to use, and versatile and has minimal morbidity. METHODS: The charts of 284 patients who underwent the K-wire fixation technique between December 1996 and September 2018 were reviewed. This technique employs a transcutaneous K-wire to hold the brow in position until tissue adhesion creates a lasting elevation of the brow. RESULTS: A total of 284 patients underwent K-wire fixation for endoscopic brow lifting. Two patients had hematomas and 5 patients (1.8%) required a second unilateral brow lift procedure. Long-term elevation of the brow was maintained in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: K-wire fixation for endoscopic brow lift is a simple, safe, and effective technique for fixation during endoscopic brow lifting that provides long-term aesthetic results.

Reductive Augmentation of the Breast.

AIM: Although breast reduction surgery plays an invaluable role in the correction of macromastia, it almost always results in a breast lacking in upper pole fullness and/or roundness. We present a technique of breast reduction combined with augmentation termed "reductive augmentation" to solve this problem. The technique is also extremely useful for correcting breast asymmetry, as well as revising significant pseudoptosis in the patient who has previously undergone breast augmentation with or without mastopexy. METHODS: An evolution of techniques has been used to create a breast with more upper pole fullness and anterior projection in those patients desiring a more round, higher-profile appearance. Reductive augmentation is a one-stage procedure in which a breast augmentation is immediately followed by a modified superomedial pedicle breast reduction. Often, the excision of breast tissue is greater than would normally be performed with breast reduction alone. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients underwent reductive augmentation, of which 12 were primary surgeries and 23 were revisions. There was an average tissue removal of 255 and 227 g, respectively, per breast for the primary and revision groups. Six of the reductive augmentations were performed for gross asymmetry. Fourteen patients had a previous mastopexy, and 3 patients had a previous breast reduction. The average follow-up was 26 months. CONCLUSIONS: Reductive augmentation is an effective one-stage method for achieving a more round-appearing breast with upper pole fullness both in primary breast reduction candidates and in revisionary breast surgery. This technique can also be applied to those patients with significant asymmetry. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Extracellular Matrix Modulation: Optimizing Skin Care and Rejuvenation Procedures.

Normal aging and photoaging of the skin are chronic processes that progress gradually. The extracellular matrix (ECM), constituting over 70% of the skin, is the central hub for repair and regeneration of the skin. As such, the ECM is the area where changes related to photodamage are most evident. Degradation of the ECM with fragmentation of proteins significantly affects cross talk and signaling between cells, the matrix, and its constituents. The accumulation of collagen fragments, amorphous elastin agglutinations, and abnormal cross-linkages between the collagen fragments impedes the ECM from its normal repair and regenerative capacity, which manifests as wrinkled, non-elastic skin. Similar to how the chronic wound healing process requires wound bed preparation before therapeutic intervention, treatment of chronic aging of the skin would likely benefit from a "skin bed preparation" to optimize the outcome of rejuvenation procedures and skin maintenance programs. This involves introducing agents that can combat stress-induced oxidation, proteasome dysfunction, and non-enzymatic cross linkages involved in glycation end products, to collectively modulate this damaged ECM, and upregulate neocollagenesis and elastin production. Agents of particular interest are matrikines, peptides originating from the fragmentation of matrix proteins that exhibit a wide range of biological activities. Peptides of this type (tripeptide and hexapeptide) are incorporated in ALASTIN™ Skin Nectar with TriHex™ technology (ALASTIN Skincare, Inc., Carlsbad, CA), which is designed to target ECM modulation with a goal of optimizing results following invasive and non-invasive dermal rejuvenating procedures.

Capsulorrhaphy for revisionary breast surgery.

BACKGROUND: Despite more than 3 million breast implant surgeries performed to date, the common sequela of implant malposition is a problem to which little attention has been paid in the literature. It can be treated predictably and relatively simply with capsulorrhaphy and mirror-image capsulotomy. Additionally, capsulorrhaphy can be used to reduce the size of the implant pocket when changing to a smaller implant. METHODS: Several capsulorrhaphy techniques have emerged that allow a more precise result with less effort. In almost all cases of implant malposition, a mirror-image capsulotomy was performed to decrease the tension on the capsulorrhaphy repair. Silicone gel-filled implants were placed in all cases. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients underwent capsulorrhaphy for implant malposition or implant size reduction between May 2002 and March 2006. Of these patients, just under half (49%) had an accompanying mastopexy. Excision of capsular tissue and prolonged taping of the breasts were found not to be necessary. Average follow-up was 21 months; no complications were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The current technique of capsulorrhaphy and mirror-image capsulotomy has demonstrated satisfactory improvement in implant malposition, without the need for excision of capsular tissue or prolonged taping. Patients did report that their postoperative discomfort was greater than anticipated.

The history of injectable silicone fluids for soft-tissue augmentation.

BACKGROUND: The debate over the legitimacy of silicone as a safe tool for soft-tissue augmentation has spanned well over half a century. Proponents concede that injections of questionable purity and/or of massive quantities have produced unfavorable outcomes. They assert that in experienced hands with "injectable-grade" silicone, there are very few problems. Despite these claims, the literature is replete with disastrous outcomes following silicone fluid injection, often many years after the initial treatment. METHODS: An extensive review of the English-language literature was conducted using MEDLINE. RESULTS: A comprehensive review of injectable silicones was completed, revealing the origins, misuses, early clinical trials, and support for and against the injection of silicone fluids for the augmentation of soft tissues. CONCLUSIONS: A better understanding of the history of injectable silicone fluids for soft-tissue augmentation can give insight into the pitfalls and complications surrounding its use. There has been an evolution in the technique and type of products used for soft-tissue augmentation. In its current use, silicone oil for permanent soft-tissue augmentation could be a very powerful tool. There is some literature that supports the use of a small amount of purified, high-viscosity silicone oil; however, there has not been a single longitudinal study to date with appropriate follow-up data. The unanswered question remains: Are the risks worth the potential benefits of silicone oil as a permanent filler?

Breast capsulorrhaphy revisited: a simple technique for complex problems.

Implant malposition without capsular contracture is a common problem that has received little attention. Malposition of the implant in the inferior, lateral, or medial direction can be corrected predictably and relatively simply with capsulorrhaphy and mirror-image selective capsulotomy. In addition, capsulorrhaphy can be used to create a smaller pocket to preserve anterior projection and prevent lateral and inferior displacement when changing to a smaller implant. Eleven patients underwent capsulorrhaphy for either implant malposition or implant size reduction. Improved appearance and symmetry of the breast was accomplished in all patients without increased complications.