Alveolar Cleft Size on Prenatal Two-Dimensional Ultrasonography Predicts Cleft of the Secondary Palate in Unilateral Cleft Lip.

SUMMARY: Prenatal diagnosis of cleft palate (CP) is challenging. The current study's objective was to investigate whether prenatal alveolar cleft width is associated with the likelihood of a cleft of the secondary palate in unilateral cleft lip (CL). The authors reviewed two-dimensional ultrasound (US) images in fetuses with unilateral CL from January of 2012 to February of 2016. Images of the fetal face were obtained with a linear and/or curved probe in the axial and coronal planes. Measurements of the alveolar ridge gap were taken by the senior radiologist. Postnatal phenotype findings were compared with prenatal findings. Thirty patients with unilateral CL met inclusion criteria; average gestational age was 26.67 ± 5.11 weeks (range, 20.71 to 36.57 weeks). Ten fetuses were found to have an intact alveolar ridge by prenatal US; postnatal examination confirmed intact secondary palate in all. Small alveolar defects (<4 mm) were noted in three fetuses; postnatal examination documented CP in a single patient. CP was confirmed in 15 of the remaining 17 fetuses who had alveolar cleft width greater than 4 mm. An alveolar defect of greater than or equal to 4 mm on prenatal US was associated with greater likelihood of a cleft of the secondary palate [c 2 (2, n = 30) = 20.23; P < 0.001]. In the setting of unilateral CL, prenatal US documentation of alveolar defects greater than or equal to 4 mm are highly predictive of the presence of a cleft of the secondary palate. Conversely, an intact alveolar ridge is associated with an intact secondary palate. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, II.

A Cross-Sectional Analysis of American Insurance Coverage of Prominauris Otoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Prominent ears affect up to 5% of the population and can lead to social and psychological concerns at a critical time of social development. It can be addressed with an otoplasty, which is often considered a cosmetic procedure. The authors assessed insurance coverage of all indications of otoplasty and their medical necessity criteria. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of 58 insurance policies for otoplasty. The insurance companies were selected based on their state enrolment and market share. A web-based search and telephone interviews were utilized to identify the policies. Medically necessary criteria were then abstracted from the publicly available policies. RESULTS: Of the 58 insurance policies assessed, 25 (43%) provide coverage of otoplasty. There were 2 indications for coverage: hearing loss (n = 20, 80%) and normal approximation (n = 14, 56%), which would encompass prominent ears. Normal approximation was a covered indication for significantly fewer insurers than hearing loss (56% versus 80%, P = 0.0013). Of all the otoplasty policies which covered normal approximation, 21% (n = 3) addressed protruding ears as an etiology. Prominent ears were not included in any policies which covered hearing loss. All policies inclusive of prominent ears required a protrusion of >20 mm from the temporal surface of the head (n = 3, 100%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a great discrepancy in insurance coverage of otoplasty. A greater proportion of policies cover hearing loss compared to normal approximation. The authors encourage plastic surgeons to advocate for the necessity and coverage of normal approximation by insurers.

Severity of Airway Obstruction May Not Correlate With Weight Gain or Failure to Thrive in Infants With Robin Sequence: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with Robin sequence (RS) can present with varying degrees of upper airway obstruction, difficulty maintaining adequate weight gain, and failure to thrive (FTT). Although inductive reasoning would suggest that these issues should be interrelated, the relationships between these factors have not been formally studied. This investigation explores the correlation between polysomnographic (PSG) findings, weight gain, and FTT in patients with RS. DESIGN: A prospective database for baseline PSG parameters and serial weight measurements in infants with RS who were admitted for airway obstruction was reviewed. The association between PSG variables and calorie intake with FTT was assessed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression. Categorical analysis of the PSG variables against FTT was explored with a Poisson regression, and linear regression was performed to evaluate the correlation between PSG parameters and percentage of weight gain. RESULTS: Univariate and multivariate logistic regression in RS patients with (n = 13) and without (n = 20) FTT showed no significant association between apnea-hypopnea index (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.99, P-value = 0.403), O2 nadir (aOR: 0.98, P-value = 0.577), time of O2 saturation below 90% (aOR: 1.03, P-value = 0.574), maximum end tidal carbon dioxide (aOR: 1.0, P-value = 0.977), and average calorie intake (OR:1.02; P-value = 0.984). Furthermore, no significant associations were identified between these variables and weight gain. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study questions the widely held and intuitively logical belief that poor weight gain and/or FTT should correlate with the severity of upper airway obstruction in patients with RS. Large prospective investigations should be initiated to better explore the authors' findings. Our results also underscore the importance of individualized treatment for these challenging patients.

Global Burn Registry Perspective on Head and Neck Burns.

INTRODUCTION: As exposed regions of the body, the head and neck are at increased risk of burn injury. The cosmetic and functional importance of these anatomical regions means that burns can result in substantial morbidity and mortality. Our objective was to characterize predictive factors for surgery and discharge condition in patients with head and neck burns internationally. METHODS: We conducted an epidemiological study of all head and neck burns in 14 countries reported in the World Health Organization Global Burn Registry. Multivariate regression was used to identify variables predictive of surgical treatment and discharge condition. RESULTS: We identified 1014 patients who sustained head and neck burns; the majority were adults (60%). Both adults and children admitted to hospital with head and neck burn injuries were less likely to be treated surgically in lower-middle-income countries (LMIC) than in higher-income countries (P < 0.001). Increasing age and greater total surface body area (TBSA) were significant predictors of surgical intervention in children with head and neck burn injuries (P < 0.001). Total surface body area, associated injuries, ocular burns, female sex, and LMIC residency were all significant predictors of mortality in adult patients with head and neck burns (P < 0.050). Conversely, TBSA was the only variable that independently increased the risk of death in children with head and neck burns (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Certain groups are at increased risk of an adverse outcome after admission with a head and neck burn injury. Given the reduced incidence of surgical intervention and the elevated mortality risk in LMICs, global health initiatives should be targeted to these countries.

A Review of Insurance Coverage of Gender-Affirming Genital Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Despite the multiple benefits of gender-affirming surgery for treatment of gender dysphoria, research shows that barriers to care still exist. Third-party payers play a pivotal role in enabling access to transition-related care. The authors assessed insurance coverage of genital reconstructive ("bottom") surgery and evaluated the differences between policy criteria and international standards of care. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of insurance policies for coverage of bottom surgery was conducted. Insurance companies were selected based on their state enrollment data and market share. A Web-based search and telephone interviews were performed to identify the policies and coverage status. Medical necessity criteria were abstracted from publicly available policies. RESULTS: Fifty-seven insurers met inclusion criteria. Almost one in 10 providers did not hold a favorable policy for bottom surgery. Of the 52 insurers who provided coverage, 17 percent held criteria that matched international recommendations. No single criterion was universally required by insurers. Minimum age and definition of gender dysphoria were the requirements with most variation across policies. Almost one in five insurers used proof of legal name change as a coverage requirement. Ten percent would provide coverage for fertility preservation, while 17 percent would cover reversal of the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the medical necessity, legislative mandates, and economic benefits, global provision of gender-affirming genital surgery is not in place. Furthermore, there is variable adherence to international standards of care. Use of surplus criteria, such as legal name change, may act as an additional barrier to care even when insurance coverage is provided.

Reconstruction for axillary hidradenitis suppurativa using one-stage local tissue rearrangement: A retrospective analysis of 53 cases.

Wide local excision offers a potential cure for severe axillary hidradenitis suppurativa. However, the gold standard for reconstruction has yet to be defined. Here, we describe our rotation advancement flap technique, which allows for one-stage closure of large axillary defects, with minimal functional morbidity to the axilla. We performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent one-stage surgical management for axillary hidradenitis suppurativa at a single-centre tertiary care hospital from 2009 to 2018. We identified 34 patients, with a total of 53 operative sites. The majority were female (85%) with a mean age of 31 years and body mass index 35 kg/m2 . The median defect size was 84 cm2 and the majority were treated using the rotation advancement flap technique (86%). A quarter of operative sites experienced minor complications with only one requiring re-operation. At a median follow-up of 32 months, two (4%) sites showed decreased range of motion. However, all patients had achieved remission without any further recurrence of disease. We describe a one-stage rotation advancement flap technique for management of moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa that achieves a high local cure rate, minimal functional morbidity, and acceptable wound complication rates.

Review of Insurance Coverage for Abdominal Contouring Procedures in the Postbariatric Population.

BACKGROUND: Following bariatric surgery, patients develop problems related to lax abdominal skin that may be addressed by contouring procedures. Third-party insurers have subjective requirements for coverage of these procedures that can limit patient access. The authors sought to determine how well third-party payers cover abdominal contouring procedures in this population. METHODS: The authors conducted a cross-sectional analysis of insurance policies for coverage of panniculectomy, lower back excision, and circumferential lipectomy. Abdominoplasty was evaluated as an alternative to panniculectomy. Insurance companies were selected based on their market share and state enrolment. A list of medical necessity criteria was abstracted from the policies that offered coverage. RESULTS: Of the 55 companies evaluated, 98 percent had a policy that covered panniculectomy versus 36 percent who would cover lower back excision (p < 0.0001), and one-third provided coverage for circumferential lipectomy. Of the insurers who covered panniculectomy, only 30 percent would also cover abdominoplasty. Documentation of secondary skin conditions was the most prevalent criterion in panniculectomy policies (100 percent), whereas impaired function and secondary skin conditions were most common for coverage of lower back excision (73 percent and 73 percent, respectively). Frequency of criteria for panniculectomy versus lower back excision differed most notably for (1) secondary skin conditions (100 percent versus 73 percent; p = 0.0030), (2) weight loss (45 percent versus 7 percent; p = 0.0106), and (3) duration of weight stability (82 percent versus 53 percent; p = 0.0415). CONCLUSIONS: For the postbariatric population, panniculectomy was covered more often and had more standardized criteria than lower back excision or circumferential lipectomy. However, all have vast intracompany and interpolicy variations in coverage criteria that may reduce access to procedures, even among patients with established indications.

Graduate perception of cosmetic surgery training in plastic surgery residency and fellowship programs.

BACKGROUND: As the demand for cosmetic surgery continues to rise, plastic surgery programs and the training core curriculum have evolved to reflect these changes. This study aims to evaluate the perceived quality of current cosmetic surgery training in terms of case exposure and educational methods. METHODS: A 16-question survey was sent to graduates who completed their training at a U.S. plastic surgery training program in 2017. The survey assessed graduates' exposure to cosmetic surgery, teaching modalities employed and their overall perceived competence. Case complexity was characterized by the minimum number of cases needed by the graduate to feel confident in performing the procedure. RESULTS: There was a 25% response rate. The majority of respondents were residents (83%, n=92) and the remaining were fellows (17%, n=18). Almost three quarters of respondents were satisfied with their cosmetic training. Respondents rated virtual training as the most effective learning modality and observing attendings' patients/cases as least effective. Perceived competence was more closely aligned with core curriculum status than case complexity, i.e. graduates feel more prepared for core cosmetic procedures despite being more technically difficult than non-core procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the variability in cosmetic exposure during training, most plastic surgery graduates are satisfied with their aesthetic training. Incorporation of teaching modalities, such as virtual training, can increase case exposure and allow trainees more autonomy. The recommended core curriculum is adequately training plastic surgery graduates for common procedures and more specialized procedures should be consigned to aesthetic fellowship training.

A Cross-sectional Analysis of Insurance Coverage of Extremity Contouring After Massive Weight Loss.

INTRODUCTION: After bariatric surgery, patients often experience redundant skin in the upper arms and medial thighs as sequelae of massive weight loss. Insurance companies have unpredictable criteria to determine the medical necessity of brachioplasty and thighplasty, which are often ascribed as cosmetic procedures. We evaluated current insurance coverage and characterized policy criteria for extremity contouring in the postbariatric population. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of insurance policies for coverage of brachioplasty and thighplasty in January 2019. Insurance companies were selected based on their state enrolment data and market share. A web-based search and direct calls were conducted to identify policies. A comprehensive list of standard criteria was compiled based on the policies that offered coverage. RESULTS: Of the 56 insurance companies assessed, half did not provide coverage for either procedure (n = 28). No single criterion featured universally across brachioplasty and thighplasty policies. Functional impairment was the most commonly cited condition for preapproval of brachioplasty and/or thighplasty (94%). Conversely, minimum weight loss was the least frequent criterion within the insurance policies (6%). Only 5% of the insurance companies (n = 3) would consider coverage of liposuction-assisted lipectomy as a modality for brachioplasty or thighplasty. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a comprehensive list of reporting recommendations to help optimize authorization of extremity contouring in the postbariatric population. There is great intercompany variation in preapproval criteria for brachioplasty and thighplasty, illustrating an absence of established recommendations or guidelines. High-level evidence and investigations are needed to ascertain validity of the limited coverage criteria in current use.

Surgical Management of Pediatric Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic and physically debilitating condition. Achieving long-term remission is difficult and sometimes remains elusive despite use of multiple pharmacological agents. However, surgery remains underused in the pediatric population. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review for a 10-year period of all patients younger than 18 years who had undergone surgery for HS at a tertiary university hospital. In addition, we performed a literature review for English language articles related to the surgical management of pediatric HS patients. RESULTS: Eleven patients with a total of 23 operative sites were included in the study. The cohort was predominantly female (10:1) with an average age of 15.4 years and mean body mass index 31.9 kg/m. Lesion size ranged from 12.6 to 400 cm. Overall complication rate was 87% with a 7% reoperation rate to manage complications. Remission was achieved after a single procedure in 57% of sites. Three articles met our inclusion criteria for the literature review. CONCLUSIONS: Our article adds to the sparse literature and represents the largest study on surgical management of pediatric HS patients. Although surgery is not without its challenges, it presents a safe option and for pediatric HS patients with extensive scar or sinus tract formation.

Gender Surgery Beyond Chest and Genitals: Current Insurance Landscape.

BACKGROUND: Plastic surgery plays an essential role in the treatment of gender dysphoria. International standards of care currently consider genital and chest surgeries to be medically necessary. Ancillary procedures such as facial surgery, chondrolaryngoplasty, hair restoration/removal, and body contouring are considered cosmetic surgeries except in individual circumstances. OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to assess the frequency of coverage provision for ancillary transition-related surgeries through a cross-sectional analysis of US insurance policies. METHODS: The authors selected insurance companies based on state enrollment data and market share. Policies were identified through web-based search and telephone interviews. A list of eligible procedures was compiled and grouped into 5 categories: body masculinization, body feminization, facial procedures, hair restoration/removal, and chondrolaryngoplasty. Medical necessity criteria from publicly accessible policies were then abstracted. RESULTS: Sixty-one insurance companies held an established policy. One-third of these policies offered favorable coverage for at least 1 ancillary procedure. Chondrolaryngoplasty was the most covered category (26%, n = 16), whereas body masculinization was the least covered (8%, n = 5). Almost two-thirds of the companies with favorable policies listed coverage criteria. We identified 4 recurring requirements: age, hormone therapy, continuous living in a congruent gender role, and referral from a mental health professional. CONCLUSIONS: There is a low prevalence of US insurance coverage for ancillary gender surgeries and wide variability in coverage criteria. Reevaluation of ancillary transition-related procedures from cosmetic to medically necessary based on clinical judgement or establishment of defined coverage criteria may augment coverage and better address the needs of transgender patients.

Sex Disparity in Academic Rank and Industry Payments to Plastic Surgeons.

INTRODUCTION: Despite increasing representation in surgery, women continue to lag behind men in important metrics. Little is known on how industry funding may also contribute to this ongoing disparity. This article seeks to quantify industry payments to academic plastic surgeons (APSs) by sex and examine the relationship between funding and academic achievement. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of industry payments disbursed to APSs in 2017. Faculty were identified using departmental listings of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education plastic surgery residency programs. Payments were identified via the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services open payment database. Academic achievement was assessed using rank (eg, assistant professor), leadership designation (eg, division head), and Scopus H-index and then controlled for time in practice. RESULTS: Of the 805 APSs, the majority were male (82% male vs 18% female, P < 0.0001). Significant sex differences emerged in average yearly industry contributions (men, US $3202, vs women, US $707; P < 0.0001). Across all academic ranks, men received significantly higher payments than women (P < 0.0500). Men constituted 93% of full professors and were almost twice as likely to hold additional leadership positions compared with women (odds ratio, 1.82; P = 0.0143). After adjustment for time in practice, there was no difference in H-indices between male and female APSs, although payment disparity persisted (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Substantial sex-based disparities exist among APSs' academic rank and leadership attainment, which is not attributed to differences in academic qualifications or experience. To better elucidate the sources of this disparity, future studies should assess sexed differences in payment types. Furthermore, we urge for increased transparency in the selection process for industry payments.

Factors influencing the local cure rate of hidradenitis suppurativa following wide local excision.

Wide local excision is the gold standard and only potential curative therapy for recalcitrant hidradenitis suppurativa. However, high recurrence rates persist even post-surgery with little known on the influencing factors for remission. We evaluated the effect of patient, disease, and operative factors on local cure rate of moderate to severe hidradenitis following wide local excision. We performed a retrospective chart review for all patients who had undergone surgical excision of hidradenitis at a university hospital from 2012 to 2018. We identified 79 patients with a total of 220 operative sites. The majority were obese (mean body mass index [BMI] 32.5), female (71%), African-American (84%), and had a mean age of 31 years. A quarter of operative sites experienced a recurrence (n = 56). Patients who achieved remission had a significantly lower number of affected regions than those who experienced a recurrence (2.3 vs 3.6, P = .0023). Additionally, recurrence rate differed significantly between body locations (P = .0440). Smoking, BMI, Hurley grade, closure method, and excision size did not influence local cure rate. Surgical excision remains a worthy management option for hidradenitis patients with three quarters achieving remission after a single operation. Number of affected regions and location of hidradenitis may play a factor in recurrence.

Health Insurance Coverage of Gender-Affirming Top Surgery in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Despite the medical necessity, legislative mandates, and economic benefits of gender-affirming surgery, access to treatment remains limited. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) has proposed guidelines for transition-related surgery in conjunction with criteria to delineate medical necessity. The authors assessed insurance coverage of "top" gender-affirming surgery and evaluated the differences between insurance policy criteria and WPATH recommendations. METHODS: The authors conducted a cross-sectional analysis of insurance policies for coverage of top gender-affirming surgery. Insurance companies were selected based on their state enrollment data and market share. A Web-based search and individual telephone interviews were conducted to identify the policy. Medical necessity criteria were abstracted from publicly available policies. RESULTS: Of the 57 insurers evaluated, bilateral mastectomy (transmasculine) was covered by significantly more insurers than breast augmentation (transfeminine) (96 percent versus 68 percent; p < 0.0001). Only 4 percent of companies used WPATH-consistent criteria. No criterion was universally required by insurers. Additional prerequisites for coverage that extended beyond WPATH guidelines for top surgery were continuous living in congruent gender role, two referring mental health professionals, and hormone therapy before surgery. Hormone therapy was required in a significantly higher proportion of transfeminine policies compared with transmasculine policies (90 percent versus 21 percent; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the marked intercompany variation in criteria for insurance coverage that often deviated from WPATH recommendations, there are health care insurers who categorically deny access to top gender-affirming surgery. A greater evidence base is needed to provide further support for the medical necessity criteria in current use.

Surgical Management of Diastasis Recti: A Systematic Review of Insurance Coverage in the United States.

BACKGROUND: As elective surgery becomes more popular, the stringency of insurance coverage policies has increased exponentially. Many patients with diastasis recti (DR) are denied coverage of the corrective surgery that has been shown to improve function and quality of life in this patient population. Plastic surgeons are frustrated by the lack of guidelines and sparsity of coverage for surgical correction of DR. METHODS: Fifty-four US insurance companies and Medicare were reviewed to determine their policies of coverage. These policies were compared with the guidelines set forth by the American Society of Plastic surgery and current literature on DR. RESULTS: Insurance company policy for DR repair is not clear nor well established. Of the 55 policies reviewed in this study, 51 had an established policy. Forty of these companies would not cover abdominoplasty to repair DR under any circumstances. Eleven companies required preauthorization to ensure that the patient met the requirements of medical necessity. These requirements differed from company to company. A comprehensive list was compiled of details required for preauthorization. CONCLUSIONS: Insurance company policies do not recognize the spectrum of patients with DR and the necessity of abdominoplasty to relieve symptoms of patients with severe debilitation. The current Common Procedural Terminology coding classifies abdominoplasty to repair DR solely as a cosmetic procedure. Policies for DR repair should be amended to include a functional procedure reimbursement for severe DR and include detailed guidelines for coverage requirements to simplify the reimbursement process.

Outcomes of complex abdominal wall reconstruction at the time of CRS and HIPEC.

INTRODUCTION: Cytoreduction Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) is a treatment option for patients with peritoneal metastatic cancer. This procedure has been shown to improve survival, however, patients are often left with abdominal wall and soft tissue defects requiring further surgical correction. We aim to assess the safety and clinical outcomes of abdominal reconstruction performed concurrent with CRS/HIPEC. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review on patients with peritoneal metastases who received CRS/HIPEC therapy and abdominal wall reconstruction at tertiary center from 2012 to 2018. Records were evaluated for the patient characteristics, oncologic history, operative details, and postoperative course. Complications were graded with the Clavien-Dindo classification. RESULTS: Five patients aged 29-54 years old met the inclusion criteria. The most common type of cancer within this cohort was colorectal cancer. To close the abdomen, four patients underwent component release, biologic mesh placement, and primary fascial closure. The last patient was closed with adjacent tissue transfer. Two patients experienced Grade I complications: deep vein thrombosis and leukocytosis (both self-resolved). Three patients experienced Grade II complications: atrial fibrillation, anemia, and a wound infection which required readmission. No patients experienced grades III, IV or V complications. The follow up period was a median of 5.3 months [r: 2.6-21.9 months]. CONCLUSION: The patients benefitted therapeutically from combined abdominal reconstruction and CRS/HIPEC with minimal complications and good long-term survival. We advocate for the coupling of these procedures as the benefits outweigh the risks, and allows wound closure at the time of surgery.

An Update on Measures of Preoperative Glycemic Control.

Glycemic control represents a modifiable preoperative risk factor in surgery. Traditionally, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and plasma glucose are utilized as measures of glycemic control. However, studies show mixed results regarding the ability of these conventional measures to predict adverse surgical outcomes. This may be explained by the time window captured by HbA1c and serum glucose: long-term and immediate glycemic control, respectively. Fructosamine, glycosylated albumin, and 1,5-anhydroglucitol constitute alternative metrics of glycemic control that are of growing interest but are underutilized in the field of surgery. These nontraditional measures reflect the temporal variations in glycemia over the preceding days to weeks. Therefore, they may more accurately reflect glycemic control within the time window that most significantly affects surgical outcomes. Additionally, these alternative measures are predictive of negative outcomes, even in the nondiabetic population and in patients with chronic renal disease and anemia, for whom HbA1c performs poorly. Adopting these newer metrics of glycemia may enhance the value of preoperative evaluation, such that the effectiveness of any preoperative glycemic control interventions can be assessed, and adverse outcomes associated with hyperglycemia better predicted. The goal of this review is to provide an update on the preoperative management of glycemia and to describe alternative metrics that may improve our ability to predict and control for the negative outcomes associated with poor glycemic control.

A Review of National Insurance Coverage of Post-bariatric Upper Body Lift.

INTRODUCTION: Recent years have seen an increased utilisation of upper body lift following massive weight loss. Although it is typically considered cosmetic, the recurrent skin conditions and decline in quality of life may warrant medical necessity. We evaluated current insurance coverage and characterised policy criteria for upper body lift in the post-bariatric population. METHODS: We defined upper body lift as a combination of mastopexy and upper back excision (UBE) and conducted a cross-sectional analysis of US insurance policies. Insurance companies were selected based on their enrolment data and market share. A web-based search and telephone interviews were conducted to identify the policy. Criteria were abstracted from the publicly available policies that offered coverage. RESULTS: Of the 56 insurance companies assessed, 5% would consider coverage of both procedures. Although fewer companies held established policies for UBE than mastopexy in the post-bariatric population (79% vs 96%, p = 0.0081), there were significantly more policies that offered pre-approval for UBE than for mastopexy (30% vs 5%, p = 0.0017). Three medical necessity criteria were common to both procedures: evidence of functional impairment, secondary skin conditions, and medical photographs. CONCLUSION: Policy criteria for coverage of mastopexy or UBE differ greatly between companies. Further evaluation of medical necessity criteria for post-bariatric mastopexy and UBE with the establishment of a standardised guideline is needed. We propose a comprehensive list of reporting recommendations to help optimise authorisation of upper body lift in the post-bariatric population, and we urge plastic surgeons to challenge current definition of "cosmetic" by insurance companies. 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 .

Panniculectomy at the time of living donor renal transplantation: An 8-year experience.

Panniculectomy can be performed as a prophylactic procedure preceding transplantation to enable obese patients to meet criteria for renal transplantation. No literature exists on combined renal transplant and panniculectomy surgery (LRT-PAN). We describe our 8-year experience performing LRT-PAN. A retrospective chart review of all patients who had undergone LRT-PAN from 2010 to 2018 was conducted. Data were collected on patient demographics, allograft survival and function, and postoperative course. Fifty-eight patients underwent LRT-PAN. All grafts survived, with acceptable function at 1 year. Median length of stay was 4 days with a mean operative duration of 363 minutes. The wound complication rate was 24%. Ninety-day readmission rate was 52%, with medical causes as the most common reason for readmission (45%), followed by wound (32%) and graft-related complications (23%). Body mass index, diabetes status, and previous immunosuppression did not influence wound complication rate or readmission (P = .7720, P = .0818, and P = .4830, respectively). Combining living donor renal transplant and panniculectomy using a multidisciplinary team may improve access to transplantation, particularly for the obese and postobese population. This combined approach yielded shorter-than-expected hospital stays and similar wound complication rates, and thus should be considered for patients in whom transplantation might otherwise be withheld on the basis of obesity.

A Two-step Technique for Neo-umbilicoplasty in the Abdominal Reconstructive Population.

The umbilicus is the centerpiece of the abdomen and an important cosmetic landmark. Secondary intention healing can be used to create the illusion of an umbilicus in reconstructive surgery. However, there is a sparsity of literature on the role of neo-umbilicoplasty in this subset of patients and how they perceive their new umbilicus. We conducted a retrospective review of patients who received a neo-umbilicus during an abdominal reconstructive operation in 2016-2018. The umbilicus was amputated intraoperatively and tacking sutures were placed to create an indentation in the soft tissue; an inverted-V incision was sutured to create the illusion of an umbilicus. Postoperatively, patients were asked to rate their satisfaction with umbilicus appearance on a 5-point Likert scale. Of the 10 patients included; the majority were female (9:1), with a mean age of 37 years (range: 26-50) and mean BMI 29 (range: 21-38). The most common procedure performed at time of neo-umbilicoplasty was hernia repair (80%). There were no wound complications associated with the neo-umbilicus. Satisfaction was high (median 5, range: 1-5) and independent of time since surgery. Three patients gave scores below 5 and cited reasons of "lack of indentation" (n = 3, scores 4, 4, and 1), and "insufficiently notable scar" (n = 1, score 1). We hereby describe a simple surgical technique for neo-umbilicoplasty in patients undergoing reconstructive abdominal surgery that leads to long-lasting cosmetic satisfaction. Further studies of patient-reported outcomes and refinement of the technique will maximize the aesthetically pleasing results.