The first step to determine a medical or surgical intervention is the clinical exam. The clinical exam is the paramount step to provide a treatment plan that can be modified and individualized accounting the patient preferences. During the consultation for facial rejuvenation, attention should be paid to understand the patient's motivation and expectations. A thorough understanding of the anatomy and the natural history of ageing will facilitate the analysis of the face. Not only the degree of ptosis but also the degree of volume loss will need to be assessed, as well as the influence of the facial muscles, the skin quality, and the different causes of rythids. The comprehensive age-related anatomical changes are often perceived and described as tiredness or sadness. Patients very commonly only point out a single anatomical region. During the consultation, the surgeon should provide the patient with the information of the comprehensive interplay of the different anatomical regions and their individual ageing process. Obtaining a harmonious, natural appearing outcome is the result of excellent surgical skills and applied knowledge. The clinical exam should also find out traps and technical difficulties. Although standardized photographs allow a static evaluation of one's result, video may deliver additional information about the postoperative result, and may contribute to the understanding of the technique used. Spending the additional time by performing a thorough facial analysis and preoperative planning is well-invested time. Having a good understanding of the possible surgical improvements and limitations will be beneficial for both, the patient and the surgeon. Managing the expectations of the patient and careful preoperative planning will increase patient's satisfaction. At the same time, the surgeon will able to critically assess his/her own result and taking pleasure improving their own technique. read more
Multicenter prospective studies assessing the safety and efficacy of silicone gel breast implants are relatively rare. Eurosilicone S.A.S. present their safety and efficacy data herein for the largest European silicone gel breast implant study published to date. read more
The authors report the results of a multicenter prospective study evaluating a novel technology: dermal suture using absorbable staples composed of polylactic and polyglycolic acids. From January to June 2009, 59 dermal sutures were performed with Insorb absorbable staples and 41 with absorbable thread. All patients in the study underwent abdominal dermolipectomy (N = 65) or surgery for breast hypertrophy (N = 35). The purpose of the study was to compare the closure time and healing quality obtained with the 2 methods. Ninety-five patients were reexamined by the surgeon after 1 year of follow-up to assess scar width, suppleness, inflammation, and hypertrophy. The overall results were good and quite similar for the 2 groups. Thus, the use of Insorb staples reduced closure time while ensuring good healing quality. read more
Vascular complications of the unipedicled TRAM flap pointed out the need for solutions to decrease such occurrences. The flap surgical delay before transfer has been advocated to improve the blood supply but, at the same time, it increases the risk of wound infection at the donor site and imposes a general anesthesia. The DIEP and the free TRAM flap are more complex procedures and need heavy structural resources. Preferential use of the ipsilateral muscular pedicle suggests a lower partial flap necrosis rate. Selective embolization of the deep inferior epigastric arteries prior to surgery realizes an alternative delay and brings a decrease in the vascular complication rate as shown in a study of 40 patients by Scheufler in 2000. We present a series of 69 patients who were reconstructed by means of a delayed pedicled TRAM flap with selective embolization and a predominant use of the ispsilateral pedicle. Sonographic studies performed in 48 patients prior to surgery showed no significative difference in the diameter of the superior epigastic arteries, with or without previous radiotherapy. The mean interval between embolization and surgery was 30 days; the embolization was performed bilateraly in five patients (4 %), and unilaterally in 64 patients (96 %). The mean age of patients was 54 years, radiotherapy was applied in 43 patients (62 %), smoking patients: 11 (16 %), obesity: five (7 %). The ispsilateral pedicled was used in 67 patients (97 %), controlateral pedicle in two patients (3 %). Postoperative flap complications were comprised of partial flap necrosis in two cases (2,9 %), fat necrosis in six cases (8,7 %), impaired wound healing in three cases (4,3 %), abdominal wall weakness in two cases (2,9 %). We compared the present study of ispsilateral delayed pedicled flap to a study from the same authors concerning controlateral pedicled flaps without delay. It has been demonstrated that the complications rate of partial necrosis was divided by four in the first study compared to the second. The preoperative selective embolization of the deep inferior epigastric artery in association with the use of ipsilateral pedicule in TRAM flap decrease the complications rate significatively compared to the controlateral pedicled flap in TRAM flaps. read more
read more
To identify a neck as difficult seems an easy thing. Nevertheless, we must admit that various clinical situations are represented under this single designation. A clinical and anatomical classification is proposed regarding the surgical strategy presented in this paper. Predominant tissue laxity and predominant fat accumulation are presented as progressive forms. Short platysma muscles and low hyoid bones are presented as constitutional. According to this classification, 145 patients among 438 facial rejuvenations were designated as difficult necks. The surgical strategy was intended, in each case, to address the underlying anatomical features, using a short incision system. A combination of wide skin undermining, fat removal under direct vision and corset platysmaplasty was performed in the 145 patients between November 2003 and May 2008. The average age was 59 years old and medium follow-up at 22 months. There was only 2% of secondary touch up for aesthetic reasons. Difficult necks, as described in this article, responded adequately to the present protocol. The postoperative results on the neck were consistent with the rest of the rejuvenated face and stood the test of time. read more
Transaxillary breast augmentation was described in the early 1970s. While the traditional blind operation continues to be advocated, the use of endoscopic assistance has been gaining acceptance since its first presentation about 12 years ago. read more
