Clinical Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy of Radiofrequency-Assisted Lipolysis on Breast Envelope and Nipple-Areola Complex Position.

BACKGROUND: Breast ptosis as a result of pregnancy and/or breastfeeding, age, genetics, and weight loss is a common complaint among women visiting a plastic surgeon. This study sought to evaluate the utility, efficacy, and safety of radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis on the breast and nipple-areola complex position in women with breast ptosis. METHODS: This was a single-center (i.e., Maxwell Aesthetics) study of women desiring tightening of the breast envelope and elevation of the nipple-areola complex. Each patient underwent one treatment with radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis in the operating room. Radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis was applied to each breast with a BodyTite Pro handpiece. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months by means of manual and three-dimensional computer-generated measurements (i.e., Vectra). RESULTS: Ten female patients were enrolled. Ages ranged from 23 to 54 years. Follow-up was 12 months. Data were captured for seven measurements from the nipple longitudinally at five time points. The sternal notch-to-nipple distance, the nipple-to-inframammary fold distance, and the nipple-to-nipple distance improved statistically at 6-week follow-up, which persisted through the 12-month follow-up ( p < 0.05). Patient questionnaires revealed moderate to excellent satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis with a bipolar device to deliver radiofrequency energy to the breast is an effective modality to moderately improve breast ptosis. This study demonstrates that this treatment improves breast measurements across time, regardless of measurement type (manual versus Vectra). This modality affords a minimally invasive, effective method to improve mild to moderate breast ptosis with minimal scarring and high patient satisfaction. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Expanding the Progressive Tension Suture Concept: A Study of Its Utility in Body Contouring Procedures.

BACKGROUND: Seroma is one of the most common complications following body contouring. Progressive tension sutures (PTSs) have been shown to decrease the seroma rate following abdominoplasty, component separation, and facelifts and following latissimus flap and deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap harvest. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of PTS techniques and their impact on the seroma rate in body contouring flap procedures. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of all patients undergoing a flap procedure (defined as any procedure that produces a dead space and subsequent susceptibility to seroma) by a single surgeon at a single institution over 3 years. All patients/procedures utilized PTS techniques, as is routine in the surgeon's practice. No drains were used. Patient demographics and complications, including seroma, were tracked. RESULTS: A total of 441 flap procedures were performed in 351 patients over the 3-year study period. These procedures comprised 305 abdominoplasties, 68 lower body lifts, 17 medial thigh lifts, 36 brachioplasties, and 15 torsoplasties. PTSs were used in all procedures. No drains were utilized. Complications occurred in 72 procedures (16.3%), with the most common complication being minor wound dehiscence without infection. There were no cases of seroma. CONCLUSIONS: PTSs represent an effective technique for reducing the seroma rate, eliminating the potential space and promoting tissue adherence in flap procedures for body contouring. This is the first study of its kind demonstrating the use and role of this technique in body contouring procedures beyond the scope of abdominoplasty.

Noncontact Speckle Contrast Diffuse Correlation Tomography of Blood Flow Distributions in Burn Wounds: A Preliminary Study.

INTRODUCTION: Tissue injuries are often associated with abnormal blood flow (BF). The ability to assess BF distributions in injured tissues enables objective evaluation of interventions and holds the potential to improve the acute management of these injuries on battlefield. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have developed a novel speckle contrast diffuse correlation tomography (scDCT) system for noncontact 3D imaging of tissue BF distributions. In scDCT, a galvo mirror was used to remotely project near-infrared point light to different source positions and an electron multiplying charge-coupled-device was used to detect boundary diffuse speckle contrasts. The normalized boundary data were then inserted into a modified Near-Infrared Fluorescence and Spectral Tomography program for 3D reconstructions of BF distributions. This article reports the first application of scDCT for noncontact 3D imaging of BF distributions in burn wounds. RESULTS: Significant lower BF values were observed in the burned areas/volumes compared to surrounding normal tissues. CONCLUSIONS: The unique noncontact 3D imaging capability makes the scDCT applicable for intraoperative assessment of burns/wounds, without risk of infection and without interfering with sterility of the surgical field. The portable scDCT device holds the potential to be used by surgeons in combat surgical hospitals to improve the acute management of battlefield burn injuries.

Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia after noninvasive radiofrequency treatment: A novel report and review.

The past decade has experienced a surge in the frequency of nonsurgical procedures, including injectables, skin rejuvenation, and nonsurgical fat reduction. Nonsurgical fat reduction methods include cryolipolysis (Coolsculpting), ultrasound (Vaser Shape), laser (Liposonix), and radiofrequency (Vanquish). These methods generally produce good results, with cryolipolysis gaining much popularity over the past few years. Multiple reports of paradoxical adipose hyperplasia have been reported with Coolsculpting, with an incidence of 0.025% to 1%. This entity has never been reported with other methods of nonsurgical fat reduction, including noninvasive radiofrequency (Vanquish). We present a case of paradoxical adipose hyperplasia in a 57-year-old male following treatment with noninvasive radiofrequency (Vanquish) to the abdomen. He was treated with power-assisted liposuction to the abdomen and flanks. This is the first case in the literature of paradoxical adipose hyperplasia in a patient treated with this form of noninvasive fat reduction.

Cleft Rhinoplasty Study and Evolution.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with a cleft lip will have a cleft lip nasal deformity. The nasal deformities are complex and are difficult to surgically correct as a result of the anatomical issues and deficiencies. In this study, the authors analyzed and reviewed nasal pathology and surgical maneuvers in patients with cleft lip nasal deformity treated by the senior author over the past 15 years. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on patients who underwent a rhinoplasty for a cleft nasal deformity from the years of 2002 to 2017. Patients were stratified by unilateral and bilateral cleft lip. For each variable, comparisons were made between unilateral and bilateral cases. RESULTS: 39 patients had a unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity, while 17 had a bilateral cleft lip nasal deformity. Patients with a unilateral cleft nasal deformity had a significantly higher incidence of vestibular stenosis and septal deviation. Regarding surgical maneuvers, unilateral cleft lip patients had a relatively higher utilization of septoplasty, spreader grafts, and alar grafts compared to bilateral cleft lip patients. Bilateral cleft lip patients had a relatively higher utilization of dorsal hump reduction, columella strut grafts, and nasal tip grafts. These differences were not statistically significant. Unilateral cleft lip patients had a statistically significant higher use of alveolar support at the time of rhinoplasty. CONCLUSIONS: The rhinoplasty operation in patients with cleft lip nasal deformity is uniquely challenging and rewarding. This operation has undergone an evolution in our own practice and has led to improved outcomes for these patients.

Abdominal Etching: Past and Present.

Since its inception in the 1980s, liposuction has undergone a tremendous paradigm shift from the simple removal of excess subcutaneous fat to a procedure of extreme sophistication and elegance where we as surgeons are able to mold and shape a patient's figure. Plastic surgeons have modified this procedure with the overall goal of improving the aesthetic results while focusing on maximizing safety and minimizing complications. These modifications include advanced liposuction technology and techniques, the increasing use of subdermal superficial liposuction, differential liposuction, the advent and introduction of a wide range of cannulas, and the use of fat grafting simultaneously with liposuction for targeted contour and fat repositioning. In this article, the authors discuss in detail the introduction and progression of abdominal etching, a procedure first introduced by the senior author (H.A.M.) in the early 1990s. The authors also present their experience over the past 4 years. In this procedure, the technique of differential liposuction is employed to enhance the detail of abdominal musculature. The literature on abdominal etching is fairly scarce. Thus, the authors hope that this review will not only give the provider a thorough review and understanding of liposuction and its evolution over the years but will also provide an overview of the indications, patient selection, technique, expectations, and complications of abdominal etching as well.

Anatomic Implants in Breast Reconstruction: A Comparison of Outcomes and Aesthetic Results Compared to Smooth Round Silicone Implants.

BACKGROUND: Direct comparison studies of outcomes and aesthetic satisfaction of anatomic implants compared to other implants are scarce in the literature. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare outcomes and aesthetic satisfaction of patients who underwent breast reconstruction with anatomic implants vs other implants (smooth round silicone). METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients who underwent implant-based breast reconstruction over 3 years. Outcomes including complications, number of surgeries, need for revisions, and aesthetic satisfaction of patients were tracked and compared. RESULTS: A total of 156 patients met inclusion criteria for this study. A total of 123 underwent reconstruction with a round implant, and 33 underwent reconstruction with an anatomic implant. Of the 156 patients, 38 underwent a 1-stage direct-to-implant reconstruction and the remainder underwent a 2-stage implant reconstruction. The round and anatomic implant groups did not differ with regards to number of surgeries, revisions, utilization of contralateral symmetry procedures, implant-related reoperations, complications, implant loss, infection, capsular contracture, and seroma. The Breast Q survey had a response rate of 27%. On all parameters, the round and anatomic implant groups did not significantly differ. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences among round and shaped implants in regards to complications, revision surgeries, and overall outcomes. Furthermore, patients showed no differences regarding satisfaction and well-being when surveyed on the Breast Q survey. The decision of implant choice in breast reconstruction should be based on surgeon comfort and the patient's needs/body type.Level of Evidence: 4.