Pitanguy Ligament Preservation in Structural Precision Rhinoplasty.

The Pitanguy ligament is a crucial structure in nasal tip support and in maintaining the integrity of the soft tissue envelope of the nose. In this cadaveric study, we dissected out the Pitanguy ligament on a series of fresh human cadaver specimens to better elucidate the structure of the ligament and its fate in open rhinoplasty. The Pitanguy ligament can act as a tethering force to the nasal tip when reshaping the nasal tip. Release of the Pitanguy ligament alleviated downward tension on the nasal tip, and tip shaping to a more appropriate position demonstrated that this ligament was displaced from its ideal position. In patients seeking rhinoplasty, this structure may require release and reconstruction to successfully alter tip position and avoid supratip deformity.

Revision Rhinoplasty Finesse with Digital Osteotomies.

SUMMARY: Revision rhinoplasty is a finesse procedure requiring careful consideration of all of its requisite steps. Lateral osteotomies are required in many cases and, in the setting of prior lateral osteotomies, can often be recreated with digital pressure alone, without the use of an osteotome. The advantages of doing so include decreased dead-space creation and preservation of attachments between the skeleton and overlying soft tissue.

Systematic Review of Capsular Contracture Management following Breast Augmentation: An Update.

BACKGROUND: Capsular contracture is one of the most frequent indications for revision following breast augmentation. Management goals focus on restoring breast aesthetics and minimizing subsequent recurrence of capsular contracture. As new data emerge, close review of the data are merited to build evidence-based clinical guidelines to inform surgical practice and management of capsular contracture. METHODS: A systematic review of the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews databases was conducted to characterize the surgical management of capsular contracture in revision breast augmentations. The primary endpoint was capsular contracture recurrence rate. RESULTS: The review was conducted in November of 2021. Primary search revealed 14,163 results. Initial screening by title left 1223 articles. Abstract review left 90 articles for full-text review, of which 34 were ultimately included and were all observational in nature. CONCLUSIONS: Capsular contracture management remains an important topic, with limited high-level evidence for establishing clear evidence-based treatment guidelines. Although more evidence is required to assess the effects of capsulectomy, implant exchange, and plane change, these appear to be useful mechanisms for reducing recurrent capsular contracture. There is more evidence regarding the use of acellular dermal matrix, although this still requires long-term follow-up studies. New developments regarding textured implants limit the revision breast augmentation surgeon to smooth devices.

Neuromodulator Finesse for Masseter Hypertrophy and Bruxism.

SUMMARY: A particularly prominent mandibular angle or a hypertrophied masseter muscle can result in an excessively wide facial appearance, which some individuals may find less aesthetically pleasing. Although normally a benign condition and strictly an aesthetic concern, a hypertrophied masseter can also cause pain, bruxism, and headaches. Neuromodulator for masseter reduction and treatment of bruxism has become first-line treatment. In this article, the authors present the senior author's (R.J.R.) anatomic approach to neuromodulator injection of the masseter, with a corresponding video of the injection technique.

Neuromodulator Injection for Gummy Smile.

SUMMARY: Neuromodulators have become a treatment of choice for the management of excess gingival show, or "gummy smile." There have been many proposed algorithms for the optimal placement and dosage of neuromodulator to inject in these locations. The authors aim to clarify these points and provide surgeons with a reliable way to manage the gummy smile that results from hyperactive muscles of the midface.

Management of the Post Hemangioma Nose - 5 Key Rhinoplasty Components.

Hemangiomas of the nasal tip are a relatively uncommon presentation of a common tumor. While optimal medical and surgical management of nasal tip infantile hemangiomas has been described and debated extensively in the literature, to our knowledge, there is no report of secondary aesthetic and functional rhinoplasty in these patients at skeletal maturity until now. This special topic provides an excellent example of the five key technical elements to revision rhinoplasty in the skeletally mature patient with history of nasal tip infantile hemangioma.

Differential Fat Grafting to Address Facial Asymmetry in Facelifting.

The modern facelift is a complex operation involving the repositioning of tissues and the refilling of volume atrophy. Preoperative analysis is key to the successful diagnosis of aging changes. Facial asymmetry is universal, and must be recognized and incorporated into surgical planning. In this paper, we address the role of fat grafting to manage facial aging in the setting of facial asymmetry.

Lip Lifting: The Missing Link in Central Facial Rejuvenation.

The lip lift is a powerful yet finesse operation in the realm of facial rejuvenation. In an era of booming non-surgical lip augmentation, the astute plastic surgeon must identify which patients will end up with a dreaded unnatural appearance should they receive volume enhancement alone in pursuit of central facial and perioral rejuvenation. In this paper, we review the ideal youthful lips, the characteristics of the aged lip and indications for lifting. We present our preferred surgical technique, the underlying principles that it respects, and adjunct procedures to optimize results in central facial rejuvenation.

Beyond Alar Base Resection: Contouring of the Alar Rim and Base.

SUMMARY: Alar base surgery is approached with hesitancy and is often avoided by many surgeons because of inexperience and a lack of understanding. However, with a thorough knowledge of the anatomy and dynamic nature of the lower third of the nose, alar base resection can achieve favorable and reproducible results. Beyond correcting alar flare, an appropriately diagnosed and performed alar base procedure serves to contour both the alar rim and the alar base. The following article presents a case series of 436 consecutive rhinoplasties from a single surgeon, 214 of which underwent alar base surgery. The outcomes demonstrate that the procedure is safe and yields desirable results without a single revision being required. As the third in a series of three articles on alar base surgery by the senior author (R.J.R.), this article unifies the management of the alar base. An intuitive approach to the classification and management of alar flare and the implications of alar base surgery on contouring of the alar base and alar rim is presented. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Refinements in Component Dorsal Reshaping in Primary Rhinoplasty.

SUMMARY: Dorsal reduction and reshaping is an essential part of many rhinoplasty procedures. The steps of component dorsal reduction have been well established. The authors describe refinement of the dorsal reshaping process to improve the quality and consistency of results.

Finesse Buccal Fat Pad Excision.

SUMMARY: The buccal fat pad has long been noted for its complex anatomy and its significance to facial aesthetics. Its bulk is mostly deep facial fat immediately superficial to the buccinator muscle. The buccal fat pad has a main body and four extensions: buccal, pterygoid, superficial temporal, and deep temporal. It can be removed in patients with round, heavy faces and anterior buccal fullness to slim the lower face and contour the jawline. This article describes the authors' technique for buccal fat pad removal, with a goal of conservative fat pad reduction.

Learners' Responses to a Virtual Cadaver Dissection Nerve Course in the COVID Era: A Survey Study.

Background Virtual education is an evolving method for teaching medical learners. During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, remote learning has provided a replacement for conferences, lectures, and meetings, but has not been described as a method for conducting a cadaver dissection. We aim to demonstrate how learners perceive a virtual cadaver dissection as an alternative to live dissection. Methods A virtual cadaver dissection was performed to demonstrate several upper extremity nerve procedures. These procedures were livestreamed as part of an educational event with multimedia and interactive audience questions. Participants were queried both during and after the session regarding their perceptions of this teaching modality. Results Attendance of a virtual dissection held for three plastic surgery training institutions began at 100 and finished with 70 participants. Intrasession response rates from the audience varied between 68 and 75%, of which 75% strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the virtual environment. The audience strongly agreed or agreed that the addition of multimedia captions (88%), magnified video loupe views (82%), and split-screen multicast view (64%) was beneficial. Postsession response rate was 27%, and generally reflected a positive perspective about the content of the session. Conclusions Virtual cadaver dissection is an effective modality for teaching surgical procedures and can be enhanced through technologies such as video loupes and multiple camera perspectives. The audience viewed the virtual cadaver dissection as a beneficial adjunct to surgical education. This format may also make in-person cadaver courses more effective by improving visualization and allowing for anatomic references to be displayed synchronously.

Longevity of ptosis correction in mastopexy and reduction mammaplasty: A systematic review of techniques.

Background: Mastopexy and reduction mammaplasty are commonly performed procedures in plastic surgery with many variations in incision pattern, pedicle design, and additional support maneuvers. Aesthetically pleasing on table results are widely accomplished; however, the longevity of the outcome and sustained correction of ptosis or pseudoptosis is not universal. A systematic review of mastopexy and reduction mammaplasty procedures was performed to investigate which techniques provided the greatest long-term correction of ptosis. Methods: A broad search of the literature was performed using the PubMed database from inception to December of 2021. Study characteristics, number of patients, number of breasts, technique, outcome, and average follow-up time were extracted for analysis. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale when applicable. Results: The primary search yielded 1123 articles. After two levels of screening, 24 articles were identified for analysis. This included 16 case series, seven cohort studies, and one randomized controlled study. From these studies, 1235 patients and 2235 breasts were analyzed. The majority of articles reported on a change in the nipple to inframammary fold and sternal notch to nipple distances. Conclusions: In the analytical studies, superior and superomedial pedicles tended to provide greater long-term stability than inferior pedicles. Mesh, dermal suspension flaps, and muscular slings showed promise in providing additional support over standard techniques. No single procedure is ideal for all patients; however, this systematic review provides a valuable description of techniques and long-term outcomes to guide surgical planning.

Innovation in Delivering a Live, Virtual Cadaver Dissection Course.

SUMMARY: The availability of advanced telecommunication technology and the social restrictions introduced by a global pandemic have compelled the medical community to explore new avenues of surgical education. Although cadaver courses have long been a fundamental method for learning surgical anatomy and improving operative preparedness, the COVID-19 pandemic has made traditional dissections less practical. The need for quality virtual learning experiences motivated the authors to design and assess the feasibility of organizing a live, virtual upper extremity peripheral nerve cadaver dissection course. Three phases were critical when developing the course: preplanning, planning, and execution. The success of the live, virtual cadaver dissection depended not only on a detailed curriculum, but the technological audio-video-internet needs to effectively communicate and interact with the viewers. Virtual learning mitigates the risks of in-person dissection courses during a global pandemic and can be enhanced with interactive media (e.g., illustrations and schematics) to augment learning experiences.

Opioid Prescribing Habits and Pain Management Among Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

BACKGROUND: The opioid epidemic continues to worsen in the USA. Post-operative opioid prescriptions contribute to development of opioid use disorders, with studies showing 6% of plastic surgery patients developing new persistent use. Prescribing by surgeons is often excessive, and plastic surgery patients only consume about half of their opioid prescriptions. To date, most studies that investigate post-operative opioid prescribing rely on examining patterns of opioid fills after surgery using administrative claims data, which exclude the overwhelming majority of aesthetic surgeries. The purpose of this study is to investigate opioid prescribing habits amongst aesthetic plastic surgeons. METHODS: A 20-items survey were sent out to the Aesthetic Society. The survey focussed on general pain management techniques, as well as specific opioid prescribing patterns for several common aesthetic surgeries. RESULTS: A total of 291 completed surveys were returned. Respondents were asked about opioid prescribing patterns for several common aesthetic surgeries. Surgeons were most likely to prescribe opioids for post-operative pain control for abdominoplasty (91%). Opioids were least likely to be prescribed for blepharoplasty (58%). For studied surgeries, the number of pills prescribed ranged from 2 to 120 pills per procedure. 45% of respondents reported being concerned that the opioid prescriptions they provide contribute to the development of an opioid use disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Aesthetic plastic surgeons vary widely in their opioid prescribing. Additionally, a significant number are concerned that prescriptions they provide contribute to development of opioid use disorders. This study demonstrates the need to work towards optimizing and standardizing pain management techniques in aesthetic patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: 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 .

Traditional Anthropometrics versus Computerized Photograph Manipulation in Rhinoplasty Planning.

BACKGROUND: Rhinoplasty planning requires meticulous forethought and is a source of challenge to surgeons. Traditional anthropometric analyses aim to use measurements and ideal ratios to determine the appropriate changes in nasal measurements such as length and tip projection. More recently, computerized photograph manipulation has been adopted as a means to demonstrate to patients the planned changes in a rhinoplasty and improve communication and patient confidence. It remains undetermined if the changes recommended using traditional anthropometric rhinoplasty planning are similar to those done by an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon manipulating preoperative photographs to an aesthetic ideal. METHODS: Preoperative photographs obtained for clinical use were analyzed from 97 consecutive patients seen in clinic for rhinoplasty or septorhinoplasty by the senior author (R.H.G.). Facial and nasal anthropometric measurements were performed on the preoperative photographs. The analysis prescribed by Byrd and Hobar was used to then calculate their prescribed "ideal" nasal anthropometrics. Separately, these patients had their preoperative photographs manipulated using computer manipulation software by the senior author, with an eye toward creating an aesthetically pleasing nose. Nasal anthropometrics were measured from the manipulated photographs. The changes prescribed in traditional anthropometrics were compared to those obtained from computer manipulation using univariate analyses. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 35.4 years, and the population was 68% female. Average nasal proportions from the computer manipulation were a nasal length 76.1% of the midfacial height, tip projection of 57.7% of nasal length, and radix projection of 24.3% of nasal length. Computerized manipulation minimally changed nasal length relative to Byrd's analysis which decreased nasal length on average (100.3% of the original nasal length versus 88.2%, p<0.01). It prescribed a greater decrease in tip projection than Byrd's analysis (97.7% of original projection versus 99.9% of original projection, p=0.05). Computer manipulation also prescribed a lesser increase in radix projection than Byrd's analysis (100.5% of original radix projection versus 109.3% of original radix projection, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Byrd's analysis remains an excellent tool for guiding the changes in nasal dimensions in rhinoplasty. However, computerized manipulation may help patients and surgeons communicate a common goal. Their desired nasal dimensions may differ from those traditionally prescribed. Specifically, some patients may seek lesser decreases in nasal length or lesser increases in radix projection than Byrd's analysis prescribes. Further research in this topic is warranted, and ultimately the surgeon's judgment and patient goals should drive surgical planning. 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 .

How to Host a Virtual Educational Conference.

SUMMARY: Virtual education is a promising tool for expanding surgical training and continuing education. The authors present their preferred platforms for virtual surgical education, and discuss security and privacy concerns. Maintaining communication and keeping sessions engaging require special consideration when education is done virtually. The limitations to virtual education may soon be mitigated by new technologies. In this article, the authors aim to describe the benefits, current modalities, tips for use, and future directions for virtual education as it pertains to plastic surgeons and trainees during the current coronavirus pandemic.

The Effect of Obesity, Bariatric Surgery, and Operative Time on Abdominal Body Contouring Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal body contouring procedures are associated with the highest rates of complications among all aesthetic procedures. Patient selection and optimization of surgical variables are crucial in reducing morbidity and complications. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this single-institution study was to assess complication rates, and to evaluate BMI, operative time, and history of bariatric surgery as individual risk factors in abdominal body contouring surgery. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients who underwent abdominoplasty, circumferential lower body lift, fleur-de-lis panniculectomy (FDL), and circumferential FDL between August 2014 and February 2020. Endpoints were the incidence of venous thromboembolism, bleeding events, seroma, infection, wound complications, and reoperations. Univariate statistical analysis and multivariate logistic regressions were performed. Covariates in the multivariate logistic regression were BMI, procedure time, and history of bariatric surgery. RESULTS: A total of 632 patients were included in the study. Univariate analysis revealed that longer procedure time was associated with infection (P = 0.0008), seroma (P = 0.002), necrosis/dehiscence (P = 0.01), and reoperation (P = 0.002). These associations persisted following multivariate analyses. There was a trend toward history of bariatric surgery being associated with minor reoperation (P = 0.054). No significant increase in the incidence of major reoperation was found in association with overweight or obese patient habitus, history of bariatric surgery, or prolonged procedure time. BMI was not found to be an individual risk factor for morbidity in this patient population. CONCLUSIONS: In abdominal body contouring surgery, surgery lasting longer than 6 hours is associated with higher incidence of seroma and infectious complications, as well as higher rates of minor reoperation.

Perception of Risk Among Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

BACKGROUND: With continuous innovation in plastic surgery, new procedures are constantly being introduced. A number of these procedures are generally safe but have the potential for rare yet serious complications. Many surgeons steer clear of these procedures due to safety concerns. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper was to survey the membership of The Aesthetic Society to elicit perception of risk of several novel or less mainstream procedures. METHODS: A 24-item survey was sent out to members of The Aesthetic Society. The survey focused on surgeon experience and attitude towards 3 procedures: filler rhinoplasty, gluteal augmentation with fat grafting, and submandibular gland excision. RESULTS: In total, 189 completed surveys were returned. Of the responders, 50%, 49%, and 89% of surgeons said they do not perform filler rhinoplasty, gluteal augmentation with fat grafting, or submandibular gland excision in their practices, respectively. The majority of those who do not perform the procedures selected "danger to the patient" as the primary concern for each of the 3 procedures. Surgeons overwhelmingly reported not learning these procedures in training. Additionally, surgeons perceive the risks of more common procedures such as abdominoplasty and breast augmentation-mastopexy to be significantly lower and more acceptable than those of the studied procedures. CONCLUSIONS: When comparing the perceived complication rates with data published in the literature, particularly when looking at rates of serious or life-threatening complications, plastic surgeons overestimate the risks of procedures with which they are less familiar. This perception of risk, accompanied by the lack of exposure to novel techniques in training, may contribute to surgeons avoiding these procedures.