BackgroundThe expectation for improved results by women undergoing postmastectomy reconstruction has steadily risen. A majority of these operations are tissue expander/implant-based breast reconstructions. Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) offers numerous advantages in these procedures. Thus far, the evidence to justify improved aesthetic outcome has solely been based on surgeon opinion. The purpose of this study was to assess aesthetic outcome following ADM use in tissue ...

BACKGROUND: Seroma formation is the most commonly occurring complication in plastic surgery abdominal procedures. Continuous local anesthetic pain pump delivery systems are often used to decrease postoperative pain. An unreported concern with use of these devices in abdominal procedures is the effect of continuous fluid infiltration of the surgical site and a possible increase in the incidence of seroma formation.

METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective chart review to evaluate ...

BACKGROUND: Breast ptosis can occur with aging, and after weight loss and breastfeeding. Mastopexy is a procedure used to modify the size, contour and elevation of sagging breasts without changing breast volume. To gain more knowledge on the health burden of living with breast ptosis requiring mastectomy, validated measures can be used to compare it with other health states.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the health state utility assessment of individuals living with breast ptosis who could ...

BACKGROUND: Microsurgery has developed significantly since the inception of the first surgical microscope. There have been few attempts to describe "classic" microsurgery articles. In this study citation analysis was done to identify the most highly cited clinical and basic science articles published in five peer-reviewed plastic surgery journals.

METHODS: Thomson/Reuters web of knowledge was used to identify the most highly cited microsurgery articles from five journals: Plastic and ...

Postoperative pain control after abdominal procedures can be an area of significant concern. Continuous local-anesthetic infusion pain pumps have been clearly documented in recent literature to provide effective early postoperative pain control, in addition to other benefits. Our goal was to evaluate any increase in the risk of infection with the use of pain pumps with aesthetic and reconstructive abdominal procedures. A retrospective chart review evaluated 159 patients who underwent ...

BACKGROUND: In aesthetic rhinoplasty, the described ideal nasolabial angle ranges from 90 to 120 degrees, with variable anthropologic differences. The authors sought to verify the most aesthetic nasolabial angle as specifically perceived by a random prospective sample of the general population and determine whether age, sex, race, and education were independent associated predictors.

METHODS: The authors prospectively recruited 98 random volunteers from the general population. They were ...

Minimally invasive or noninvasive procedures account for an overwhelming majority of cosmetic procedures. These procedures include botulinum toxin injections, soft tissue fillers, chemical peel, dermabrasion, and laser hair removal. This article reviews some of the principles involved in these procedures. Plastic surgeons need to be equally familiar with surgical and nonsurgical approaches to cosmetic medicine to provide a complete set of therapeutic options to their patients.