Complete Hemifacial Paralysis Post-facelift: Making Sense of a Plastic Surgeon's Worst Nightmare.

BACKGROUND: Postrhytidectomy hemifacial paralysis is a frightening clinical condition affecting the proximal facial nerve and most often associated with Bell's palsy. Associated symptoms are common and include auditory, salivary, vestibular, and gustatory complaints. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to provide increased awareness of postrhytidectomy hemifacial paralysis secondary to Bell's palsy in the plastic surgery community. METHODS: Following a roundtable discussion with the senior author's (J.C.G.) plastic surgery colleagues located all over the world, 8 surgeons reported having had firsthand experience with hemifacial paralysis in patients following facelift. Descriptions of their cases, including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative courses were collected and reported. RESULTS: A total of 10 cases of postrhytidectomy hemifacial paralysis were analyzed based on results of a clinical questionnaire. Eight of the 10 cases involved all facial nerve branches, with 2 cases sparing the marginal mandibular branch. The vast majority of cases were referred to a neurologist and steroids initiated. Two patients were returned to the operating room for exploration. Associated symptoms reported included pain in the ear, hearing loss, ocular symptoms such as tearing or dryness, vestibular symptoms such as vertigo, changes in taste, and in 1 patient an electric-shock type sensation to the face. CONCLUSIONS: Hemifacial paralysis associated with Bell's palsy following rhytidectomy is a rare but known clinical entity that should be included in the preoperative informed consent process before facelift. Current management trends are neurology referral and steroid initiation.

The Functional Anatomy and Innervation of the Platysma is Segmental: Implications for Lower Lip Dysfunction, Recurrent Platysmal Bands, and Surgical Rejuvenation.

BACKGROUND: Despite the central role of the platysma in face and neck rejuvenation, much confusion exists regarding its surgical anatomy. OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to clarify the regional anatomy of the platysma and its innervation pattern and to explain clinical phenomena, such as the origin of platysmal bands and their recurrence, and the etiology of lower lip dysfunction after neck lift procedures. METHODS: Fifty-five cadaver heads were studied (16 embalmed, 39 fresh, mean age 75 years). Following preliminary dissections and macro-sectioning, a series of standardized layered dissections were performed, complemented by histology and sheet plastination. RESULTS: In addition to its origin and insertion, the platysma is attached to the skin and deep fascia across its entire superficial and deep surfaces. This composite system explains the age-related formation of static platysmal bands, recurrent platysmal bands after complete platysma transection, and recurrent anterior neck laxity after no-release lifting. The facial part of the platysma is primarily innervated by the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve, whereas the submandibular platysma is innervated by the "first" cervical branches, which terminate at the mandibular origin of the depressor labii inferioris. This pattern has implications for postoperative dysfunction of the lower lip, including pseudoparalysis, and potential targeted surgical denervation. CONCLUSIONS: This anatomical study, comprised of layered dissections, large histology, and sheet plastination, fully describes the anatomy of the platysma including its bony, fascial, and dermal attachments, as well as its segmental innervation including its nerve danger zones. It provides a sound anatomical basis for the further development of surgical techniques to rejuvenate the neck with prevention of recurrent platysmal banding.

Total Neck Rejuvenation, Harnessing the Platysma in the Lower Neck and Décolletage.

BACKGROUND: Efforts to rejuvenate the lower neck and décolletage have not been adequately addressed by neck lift techniques which predominantly focus on improving the cervicomental angle and correcting fullness in the submental and submandibular region. Disappointment with a lack of initial result in the lower neck and early relapse of laxity led the author (DJH) to adopt the Fogli/Labbé vertical neck lift with a fixation of the platysma muscles to Loré's fascia Fogli (Aesthet Plast Surg 32:531-541, 2008), Labbé et al. (Plast Reconstr Surg 117:2001-2007, 2006). Over the past 8 years, since the original "modified" Fogli description was published by Hodgkinson (Aesthet Plast Surg 36:28-40, 2012), the technique has evolved with a specific aim to improve the initial results of the neck lift in the lower half of the neck and have the result maintained in follow-up. METHODS: The clinical photographs of female patients who underwent face and neck rejuvenation utilising a modified Fogli vertical platysma advancement technique were evaluated as to the improvement of the rejuvenation in the lower neck and décolletage and compared with the photographs obtained by the original pexy technique. The review was restricted to patients operated on in the prior extant three-year period and compared with the results of patients having surgery in that preceding five years prior to the review period. RESULTS: The results of the recent technical modifications of the vertical lift by the platysma flap advancement were superior to the previous pexy technique and attributable to the advent of the surgical auricular-platysmal flap advancement. This flap, which in continuity with the distal platysma was affixed with permanent sutures to Loré's fascia after definitive release of the cervical retaining ligaments of the platysma. CONCLUSION: The modifications of the vertical platysma fixation to Loré's fascia after mobilisation of the distal platysma by detachment of the cervical retaining ligaments utilising an advancement of the platysma led to improvement in the rejuvenation of the lower neck and décolletage when compared to the pexy technique of the original Fogli/Labbé description. 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.

Correcting Nipple Inversion Simultaneously with Implant Augmentation of the Breast, Using "Pirelli" Technique.

Most techniques of isolated nipple inversion correction are well published. Simultaneous breast augmentation with nipple inversion correction is less often found in the literature. Previously, nipple inversion correction was thought to be performed as a staged procedure after other breast operations. We present a study of 19 patients and 34 breasts who had concomitant breast augmentation and nipple inversion correction treated with a "Pirelli" technique to assess the complication rates and the rate of recurrence of inversion. METHODS: The Pirelli technique was used, involving division of lactiferous ducts and deep closure of breast tissue before closure. An external "Pirelli tire" was then applied and secured circumferentially around the nipple-areolar complex, which helped to maintain eversion of the nipple after 1 week. Patients were then followed up with specific postoperative instructions to ensure wound healing and maintenance of eversion. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were included where 34 breasts were involved. Eighteen patients had primary breast implants. The recurrence rate was 5.9%, involving 2 patients who had unilateral recurrences. These patients were managed with the same technique and had no further recurrences. Two patients successfully breastfed at a median time of 10 years postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous breast mammoplasty with nipple inversion correction using the Pirelli technique is safe with low complication rates and high long-term patient satisfaction.

Plastic Surgery Pioneers of the Central Powers in the Great War.

Plastic surgical techniques were described in antiquity and the Middle Ages; however, the genesis of modern plastic surgery is in the early 20th century. The exigencies of trench warfare, combined with medical and technological advances at that time, enabled pioneers such as Sir Harold Gillies to establish what is now recognized as plastic and reconstructive surgery. The physicians of Germany, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire were faced with the same challenges; it is fascinating to consider parallel developments in these countries. A literature review was performed relating to the work of Esser, Lanz, Joseph, Morestin, and Filatov. Their original textbooks were reviewed. We describe the clinical, logistical, and psychological approaches to managing plastic surgical patients of these physicians and compare and contrast them to those of the Allies, identifying areas of influence such as Gillies' adoption of Filatov's tube pedicle flap.

The Fate of Fogli's Lore's Fascial Platysma Fixation Optimalising the Results of Fogli's Neck Lift Procedure.

The author has modified previously described techniques of the superior suspension of the platysma muscle to Lore's fascia by developing an auriculoplastysmal fascial flap, which detaches the posterior platysma from its retaining ligaments to the sternomastoid muscle. Anterior to this flap, the platysma muscle is undermined and suture captured with three throws of a permanent 2.0 Tevdek suture. This suture and its three throws are fixed anterior to the tragus, which includes Lore's fascia and on tightening elevates the whole of the anterior neck as well as defines the cervicomental angle. A separate submental dissection may be required to assess and deal with pathology and resect excessive laxity of the platysma which has not been adequately addressed by the lateral superior traction suturing technique. Follow-up of fifteen cases of secondary facelift surgery with recurrent neck laxity demonstrated the fate of the suturing to Lore's fascia. The permanent knot at the pre-tragal fixation point descended approximately 3 cm from the original position at the pre-tragal region. Secondary surgery is facilitated by capture of the knot and re-suturing it to its original primary position, restoring the neck to the approximate pre-operative condition and avoiding excessive dissection including return to the submental incision.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 .

The Versatile Posterior Auricular Fascia in Secondary Rhinoplasty Procedures.

BACKGROUND: Secondary rhinoplasty often involves the addition of autogenous graft material to add volume, structure, support and to camouflage cartilage and bone grafts. A variety of fascias have been used to camouflage, wrap and give "fill" in secondary rhinoplasty. The posterior auricular fascia is a source of material ideal for such purposes, and its quantity, anatomical structure and ease of harvest with minimal donor site morbidity make it a versatile and attractive autogenous graft. METHODS: The clinical records of patients receiving autogenous posterior auricular fascial grafts were reviewed. There were two main uses of this graft material, one was to cover the tip reconstruction in secondary rhinoplasties under thin tip skin. This is a camouflage graft. The second use is for fill and augmentation, especially for the nasal dorsum and as an interpostitional graft between the dorsum and the tip. CONCLUSION: The posterior auricular fascial graft has many potential uses in secondary rhinoplasties and is readily harvested as a generous graft concurrent to conchal cartilage harvest and with a concealed scar behind the ear. 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 .

Total Nasal Reconstruction for Extruded, Pending Extrusion and Severely Displaced Silicone Nasal Implants in Asian Patients.

The Australian population is 10% of Asian origin, and many of our Asian patients have had nasal augmentation using prosthetic material prior to immigration or as medical tourists back in their country of origin. Insertion of nasal prostheses is the most common way to augment the nasal dorsum in the Asian patient and although there is a trend towards autogenous primary augmentation still, the vast majority of patients seen in clinical practice have had augmentation by the insertion of foreign material generally silicone. 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 .