Classification of Breast Implant Malposition.

BACKGROUND: Implant malposition is a well-recognized complication when using prosthetic implants in the breast for both reconstructive and aesthetic indications. However, to date, no objective classification system has been described. OBJECTIVES: This study presents a prospective trial of an objective and reproducible classification system for implant malposition formulated using retrospective data from a large cohort of patients with implant malposition. METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed the degree of medial/lateral and inferior/superior implant malposition relative to their optimal position within the breast footprint in a series of 189 breasts (n = 100 patients). An objective classification system for implant malposition was devised and then applied to a prospective cohort of 53 breasts in 28 patients with implant malposition. RESULTS: The degree of malposition in a single or combination of axes was categorised according to the distance from the ideal breast footprint and measured in centimeters (cms). The classification system incorporated the axis of malposition and distance to generate a treatment decision-making guide. Cases of Grade 1 malposition did not warrant surgical intervention, whilst surgical correction was warranted in all Grade 3 cases.In the combined patient cohort (n = 242 breasts, 128 patients), lateral, inferior, medial and superior displacement ranged between grades 1-3. There was no inter-observer variability in the grades assigned to nine out of ten patients in the prospective group. CONCLUSIONS: We have created a simple and reproducible classification system for implant malposition that allows surgeons to objectively record the extent of malposition, guides surgical decision-making and can be used to document the results of any intervention.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) Gluteal Fat Grafting Safety Review and Recommendations.

Superficial gluteal lipofilling is a fat grafting procedure performed to correct a trochanteric depression and buttock deflation. Brazilian butt lift (BBL) is a gluteal lipofilling procedure traditionally associated with exaggerated appearance and intramuscular fat transfer. The risk of mortality from fat embolism in BBL was previously reported as being 1:2500. The actual risk was later estimated to be nearer 1:15,000, which is similar to the mortality risk in abdominoplasty. There is increasing evidence regarding the safety of subcutaneous gluteal lipofilling. This has principally been related to new technologies, surgical techniques, and training being developed to avoid intramuscular injection of fat. The efficacy and benefits of intraoperative ultrasound for guiding the subcutaneous placement of fat and avoiding inadvertent deep lipofilling have been demonstrated. Other serious risks and complications must be considered in addition to mortality. These include hypothermia, sepsis, skin necrosis, and poor aesthetic results, as well as the much-publicized risk of fat embolism. Complications are better controlled and managed in strictly regulated healthcare settings. Patients seeking surgery at unregulated facilities or via medical tourism are deemed to be at higher risk of being exposed to these serious complications and/or inadequate subsequent management.

A Novel Application of the Hemostatic Net in Aesthetic Breast Surgery: A Preliminary Report.

BACKGROUND: Obtaining optimum breast aesthetics can be challenging in secondary aesthetic breast surgery, particularly with poor-quality skin, when downsizing implants, and in cases where patients will not accept additional mastopexy scars. Most techniques described in these cases rely on internal suturing and capsulorrhaphy, which can lack precision in tailoring the skin over the internal pocket. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to present the authors' experience with utilizing the hemostatic net to help address a range of challenging breast cases in their practices. METHODS: A multicentre retrospective analysis of patients undergoing aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery between 2019 and 2021 was conducted. A database was established to record patient demographics, indications for surgery, surgical technique, and complications. Following capsulorrhaphy, the hemostatic net was applied in as many rows as required with monofilament sutures and removed 3 to 7 days postoperatively. RESULTS: Twenty-four women (aged 23-67 years) underwent aesthetic or reconstructive breast surgery with the hemostatic net. This approach optimized stabilization of the inframammary fold and redraping of lax skin or irregularities in the skin envelope. At follow-up review, only 1 instance of the net failing to successfully redrape the skin was seen. CONCLUSIONS: The application of the hemostatic net is an option for patients who might otherwise require mastopexy but refuse to accept the scars. The technique has now been extended to primary cases where implant malposition or skin tailoring issues are anticipated, thus securing its place as a part of the surgical armamentarium.

Lower Pole Mastopexy-Augmentation: Indications and Applications.

BACKGROUND: Breast augmentation in primary or secondary patients with long lower pole lengths but appropriately sited nipples is at high risk of "bottoming out" following surgery. The lower pole mastopexy-augmentation (LPMA) was developed to correct long lower pole lengths or preempt bottoming out in breasts deemed at risk, avoiding the requirement for periareolar and vertical breast scar as well as minimizing the requirement for the utilization of synthetic mesh. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this short report was to analyze outcomes in patients who underwent the LPMA to determine its application and limitations. METHODS: The author reviewed 12 consecutive cases of both primary and secondary situations over a 6-year period. Cases were objectively assessed according to the relationship of the nipple to the point of maximal breast projection on lateral view as well as the upper to lower pole breast proportions. RESULTS: All cases provided good outcomes, with improvements in both the position of the nipple in relation to the point of maximal breast projection and with respect to the upper to lower pole breast ratios. CONCLUSION: LPMA is a useful addition to the armamentarium in dealing with complex situations in breast augmentation.

Columella erosion secondary to nasal prongs in the neonate.

There is limited awareness of the risks of pressure necrosis to the columella when using nasal prongs in the neonate. Previous studies have found that signs of skin damage can occur rapidly-within days. This case report aims to illustrate a simple technique of prophylactically lowering the risk of septal injury (if prolonged use of nasal prongs is envisaged), as well as a way of conservatively treating already damaged skin areas. Routine daily skin inspections are also recommended.

Lateralising paraumbilical medial row perforators: dangers and pitfalls in DIEP FLAP planning: a systematic review of 1116 DIEP flaps.

BACKGROUND: The DIEP flap remains the gold standard for autologous breast reconstruction. Recently, the 'perforasome concept' has advanced our understanding of DIEP flap physiology and planning. This study highlights a patient sub-population that produces anomalies to the perforasome hypothesis: those with paramedian, paraumbilical perforators. METHODS: Operation notes and pre-operative CT angiograms from 1116 consecutive DIEP flaps were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with paramedian, paraumbilical perforators (n = 153) were contrasted against a control group whose perforators were not paraumbilical (n = 963). Further sub-group analysis was performed within the study group, comparing paraumbilical perforators that held a lateral course within the flap (n = 25) versus those that held a medial course (n = 128). RESULTS: Rates of post-operative DIEP flap partial necrosis was greater in the study population compared with the control group (6.54% vs. 3% p = 0.032). When analysis was made contrasting paraumbilical perforators that held a lateral course in the flap versus perforators that held a median course, flap necrosis was significantly greater in those with a lateral course (24% vs. 3.13%). CONCLUSION: The perforasome concept has improved our understanding of perfusion from perforators in DIEP flaps. However when the umbilicus presents a physical barrier to blood vessel passage resulting in lateralizing paraumbilical medial row perforators it appears an exception to the "perforasome" rule. Our experience suggests that when a paraumbilical perforator is harvested, a hemi-flap is safe but caution should be exercised when further volume is needed from the contralateral side.

Should we be analysing breast reduction specimens? A systematic analysis of over 1,000 consecutive cases.

BACKGROUND: Reduction mammoplasty (RM) continues to be popular. The reported incidence of occult breast carcinoma in these specimens varies between 0.05 and 1.8 %. Literature review reveals a wide discrepancy in study methodology, outcome measures, and even what is constituted as a "significant" result. We set out to identify RM patients at increased risk of occult significant pathological findings to engender a systematic improvement in efficiency of those specimens sent for histopathological examination. METHODS: A single-centre retrospective study of the pathology results for 1,388 consecutive RM patients was undertaken. Patients were divided into three groups according to indication for surgery: group 1, macromastia; group 2, developmental asymmetry; and group 3, symmetrising surgery after breast cancer reconstructive surgery. RESULTS: Nine cases of occult carcinoma were found among the 1,388 women (0.65 %), all in patients over 35 years of age. Forty percent of all patients were under 35 years old. Histopathological analysis of 59 % of patients revealed nonsignificant findings. Patients with a breast cancer history were 4.3 times more likely to have occult breast cancer. Patients under 30 years of age had a significantly higher chance of nonsignificant findings than those over 30 (relative risk = 2.5). CONCLUSIONS: Although the overall incidence of occult breast cancer in reduction mammaplasty patients remains low, specific subgroups with a higher risk are identified. It is recommended that histological analysis of specimens should be restricted to high-risk patients and those over 30 years of age as significant pathology is uncommon in younger patients. These results will promote health-care-related economic benefits and a reduction of the burden placed on histopathology departments. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article.

The safety of autologous fat transfer in breast cancer: lessons from stem cell biology.

Autologous fat grafting is versatile tool in plastic surgery and is increasing used for reconstruction following breast conserving surgery for breast cancer. Part of the reconstructive qualities of the transferred fat may be due to the presence of adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSC) playing an angiogenic and an adipogenic role. In this context it must be considered if autologously engrafted fat tissue could contribute to carcinogenesis following breast conserving surgery. In this article we review the current stem cell biology evidence on engraftment, transdifferentiation and potential carcinogenic contribution in the breast and other solid organ stem cell niches in an attempt to highlight possible areas of concern.

Refining trunk contouring with reverse abdominoplasty.

BACKGROUND: The reverse abdominoplasty is an effective technique for selected patients seeking treatment for upper abdominal tissue excess and laxity. Specifically, the procedure is particularly effective in patients who have previously undergone conventional abdominoplasty or liposuction and have residual upper abdominal contour problems. It is a versatile technique that may be combined with a number of adjunctive procedures, notably autologous breast augmentation with the excess upper abdominal tissue. METHODS: The authors reviewed their experience with the reverse abdominoplasty in a series of 14 consecutive patients who underwent surgery over a five-year period. Patient case notes, as well as and pre- and postoperative clinical photographs, were analyzed. Furthermore, patients were directly questioned to assess their surgical result. RESULTS: The mean age of the cohort was 56.6 years and the majority of patients had undergone previous abdominal or breast aesthetic surgery. A mean of 6 cm of upper abdominal tissue was excised, weighing a mean of 326 g. There were no major complications and only three patients had to undergo minor revisional surgery postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The authors present their surgical outcomes and discuss the indications, benefits, and lessons they have learned from their experience with this useful technique in relation to the published literature. The ideal candidate for this procedure appears to be a patient who is older, presents with excess upper abdominal skin, has had a previous conventional abdominoplasty, and who has existing inframammary scars.

A solution to the high-riding nipple-areola complex.

There are limited techniques described in the literature on how to lower the nipple-areola complex following surgery to the breast. We present a case of successful correction of a high-riding nipple using a Z-plasty technique with an 8-year follow-up in a breast reconstruction patient. The technique described may also be applicable to cases of high-riding nipples following aesthetic breast surgery such as reduction mammaplasty.

Correction of senile drooling using the nasolabial sling.

BACKGROUND: Facial aging, resulting in lower facial ptosis often leads to downward angulation of the oral commissure, which may lead to troublesome angular chelitis. In this paper we present a treatment pathway for management of such patients. METHODS: Treatment initially involves a combination of hyaluronic acid injection into the marionette lines and botulinum toxin A to the depressor anguli oris. If this treatment is unsuccessful patients then undergo the creation of a nasolabial sling, using bilateral superiorly-based nasolabial flaps tunnelled through the lower lip with transection of the depressor anguli oris on each side. In addition, two passes of the CO(2) laser are used to resurface the areas of chelitis and to tighten the tissues. Five patients have undergone treatment for their angular chelitis using one or a combination of these methods. RESULTS: All cases were successfully treated and no recurrences occurred. Furthermore, all patients were satisfied with their outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Little is available in the literature on the management of this disorder. In this paper we detail our surgical technique, discuss the issues encountered and review the current recommended treatment for this difficult problem.

Incidence of 'Incidentalomas' in over 100 consecutive CT angiograms for preoperative DIEP flap planning.

The gold standard in breast reconstruction is the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps, although muscle-sparing tranverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flaps are still being performed due to variations in the abdominal vasculature and to reduce flap complications. Recently, there has been a rise in interest in preoperative imaging, in particular, by means of computer tomography angiogram (CTA). CTA has been shown to delineate the vascular anatomy, improve preoperative decision making and possibly reduce operating time and constitutes a routine preoperative investigation in our unit. Of the 104 consecutive patients who had undergone CTA prior to breast reconstruction, we have found a 13% incidence of unexpected findings or 'incidentalomas' in otherwise asymptomatic women. None were malignant, but changes to the initial operative plan included deferring immediate breast reconstruction, further surgery and further investigations for these incidentalomas. We recommend that all women are counselled of the possibilities of incidentalomas prior to CTA. Furthermore, clinicians need to be receptive to the possibility of a delayed or alternative reconstruction, and closely liaise with other specialties to avoid damage to the deep inferior epigastric vasculature.

The dorsalis pedis fascial flap.

The dorsalis pedis fasciocutaneous flap has been used successfully in soft tissue reconstruction both as a pedicled and a free flap. The long-term donor site problems associated with this dorsalis pedis flap prompted us to look at the use of the dorsalis pedis fascial flap in soft tissue reconstruction. We describe the results of our anatomic study and clinical series of the use of the dorsalis pedis fascial flap both as a free flap and a pedicled flap. An anatomic study was performed on a fresh cadaver by injecting India ink into the anterior tibial artery and the fascial and cutaneous staining pattern was documented. Soft tissue reconstruction was performed in six patients, using the dorsalis pedis fascial flap as a free flap in four patients and a pedicled flap in two. The donor site was closed primarily in all cases. The donor and recipient wounds healed well with good aesthetic and functional results. There were no major complications in our series. The dorsalis pedis fascial flap allows us to retain the essential benefits of the dorsalis pedis flap while avoiding donor site morbidity. It provides a useful source of vascularized fascia with a potentially long pedicle.