Trends in Top Surgery Patient Characteristics, Wound Complications, and CPT Code Use by Plastic Surgeons: A Decade-Long Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Gender-affirming top surgery is becoming increasingly common, with greater diversity in the patients receiving top surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine national trends in patient demographics, characteristics, wound complication rates, and concurrent procedures in patients receiving gender-affirming top surgeries. METHODS: Patients with gender dysphoria who underwent breast procedures, including mastectomy, mastopexy, breast augmentation, or breast reduction by a plastic surgeon between 2013 and 2022, were identified from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. These procedures were considered to be gender-affirming "top surgery." Univariate analyses were performed to examine trend changes in the patient population and types of additional procedures performed over the last decade. RESULTS: There was a 38-fold increase in the number of patients who received top surgery during the most recent years compared to the first 2 years of the decade. Significantly more individuals receiving top surgery in recent years were nonbinary (P < 0.01). There was a significant decrease in percentage of active smokers (P < 0.01) while there was an increase in percentage of patients with diabetes (P = 0.03). While there was a significant increase in the number of obese patients receiving top surgery (P < 0.01), there were no differences in postoperative wound complications between the years. Significantly more patients received additional procedures (P < 0.01) and had about a 9-fold increase in distinct number of additional CPT codes from 2013-2014 to 2021-2022. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that there has been (1) a significant increase in the number of top surgery patients from 2013 to 2022 overall and (2) a particular increase in patients with preoperative comorbidities, such as a higher body mass index and diabetes. Understanding current and evolving trends in patients undergoing surgical treatment for gender dysphoria can inform individualized care plans that best serve the needs of patients and optimize overall outcomes.

BREAST-Q Analysis of Reduction Mammaplasty: Do Postoperative Complications of Breast Reduction Surgery Negatively Affect Patient Satisfaction?

BACKGROUND: Reduction mammaplasty can provide symptomatic relief to patients suffering from macromastia, however complications such as dehiscence are common. It is unknown if the presence of complications may affect patient reported outcomes. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to (1) determine risk factors for development of complications, and (2) to examine the correlation between postoperative complications and patient reported outcomes in reduction mammaplasty. METHODS: A single-center retrospective chart review was performed on patients who received reduction mammaplasties (CPT19318) between 1/17-2/23 by thirteen surgeons. Breast cancer cases and oncoplastic reconstructions were excluded. Patients with >1 complication were grouped into the complications cohort. BREAST-Q-survey was used to assess satisfaction. RESULTS: A total of 661 patients were included for analysis, and 131 patients developed at least one complication. Patients in the complication group had significantly higher average ages and body mass indexes, and a higher likelihood of hypertension and diabetes (p<0.01). Among 180 BREAST-Q responders, 41 had at least one complication. There were no significant differences between the two groups across survey outcomes. Although obese patients were more likely to develop infection and require revisions (p<0.01), no significant differences in subgroup analysis of patient-reported outcomes focusing on obese patients were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity, hypertension, and diabetes were associated with postoperative complications of reduction mammaplasty. Patients with complications had similar postoperative Breast-Q satisfaction to patients without complications. While risk optimization is critical, patients and surgeons should be reassured that satisfaction may be achieved even in the event of a complication.

The Impact of Breast Implant Cohesivity on Rippling and Revision Procedures in 2-Stage Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Rippling remains one of the most common complications following prepectoral implant-based reconstruction (IBR). Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess how implant cohesivity, a measure of elasticity and form stability, affects the incidence of rippling in prepectoral IBR. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 2-stage prepectoral IBR performed between January 2020 and June 2022 at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, comparing outcomes in patients who received Allergan Natrelle least cohesive, moderately cohesive, and most cohesive silicone gel implants. Outcomes of interest were rippling and reoperation for fat grafting. Results: A total of 129 patients were identified, of whom 52 had the least cohesive implants, 24 had the moderately cohesive implants, and 53 patients had the most cohesive implants. The mean follow-up time was 463 (±220) days. A decreased incidence of rippling was seen with moderately cohesive (odds ratio [OR] 0.30, P < .05) and most cohesive (OR 0.39, P < .05) implants. Third stage reoperation for fat grafting was less frequent in patients with the most cohesive implant (OR 0.07, P < .05). In subgroup analyses, the patients with the most cohesive implant, who did not receive fat grafting at the time of initial implant placement, did not require reoperation for fat grafting (0%). Conclusions: The use of highly cohesive implants in prepectoral IBR is associated with decreased rippling and fewer reoperations for fat grafting.

Complications after gender-affirming chest masculinization surgery do not impact patient satisfaction.

Chest masculinization surgery is an increasingly common procedure and has offered significant benefits to the gender-diverse community. Although major complications are an infrequent occurrence in chest masculinization surgery, they may still impact surgical success. While the long-term success of chest masculinization surgery has been examined through patient-reported outcome measures, there is no study that has assessed the association between complications and patient-reported outcomes. In this study, patients who underwent double incision or periareolar mastectomies for chest masculinization by a single surgeon were surveyed. Demographic, operative, and postoperative variables were obtained from medical records. The BODY-Q and SCAR-Q modules (Q-Portfolio.org) were used to assess postoperative patient-reported outcomes. There were 151 survey responders (43% response rate), 132 without complications and 19 with complications. No significant differences in patient-reported outcomes were noted when comparing the groups with and without complications. While some providers may be reluctant to offer chest masculinization to patients they deem high risk for complications, patients and providers should be assured that complications do not significantly impact patient satisfaction. LAY SUMMARY: Gender-affirming chest masculinization surgery is increasingly common. We investigated the impact of complications on patient-reported outcomes in chest masculinization. Patients and providers should be assured that complications do not significantly impact patient satisfaction.