COVID Pandemic Aftermath: Changing Dynamics on Cosmetic and Aesthetic Surgery Demands.

BACKGROUND: After the WHO's announcement of the pandemic, the quarantine process started in the country. Suspension of elective surgeries was part of these measures. Having most of its cases as elective operations, plastic and aesthetic surgery became one of the branches most affected by the pandemic process. According to the annual statistical reports of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2020 has been the first year in which a decline was experienced in the number of plastic surgery cases performed since the early 2000s. However, presumably, an increase in demand that occurred in the period after the restrictions was reported as well. In this study, we aim to analyze the role of the pandemic on this increased volume of cosmetic surgeries. METHODS: Data about the number of cosmetic operations were collected from a multidisciplinary hospital, centrally located in Istanbul, Turkey. A prospective survey was conducted to question the sources of motivation of the patients who would undergo surgery. RESULTS: A total of 95 (out of 118) patients fully completed the questionnaires. The number of cosmetic operations in the plastic surgery department of the hospital increased by 49.4% in 2021, compared to 2020, and increased by 29.7% compared to 2019. The number of operations in all disciplines increased by 33.4% in 2021, compared to 2020, and increased by 13.3% compared to 2019. The six most marked motivations were evaluated separately according to the types of surgery. Despite the variation due to the type of the operations, "the desire to look better after the pandemic" was the leading reason for undergoing surgery with 46.3% (n = 44). It was also seen that the most significant motivation was "had cosmetic surgery before" with approximately 44.2% among the patients who had undergone cosmetic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: One of the branches most affected by the outcomes of COVID-19 in many aspects is plastic surgery. The wave of excessive demand following the great decline in the number of operations during the pandemic cannot be evaluated independently from the effects of the pandemic on individuals. Although some of the rules that the pandemic has brought to our lives have begun to lose their validity, social life virtualized and isolated by the 'new normal' will be affecting patients for years. At this point, it is of primary importance for plastic surgeons to understand the needs and concerns of patients in order to adapt to the changing patient demands. 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 .

Septum-Inferior-Medial (SIM)-Based Pedicle: A Safe Pedicle with Well-Preserved Nipple Sensation for Reduction in Gigantomastia.

BACKGROUND: Reduction in breasts with well-preserved nipple sensation and a viable nipple-areola complex (NAC) is one of the basic core concepts of reduction mammoplasty. Many techniques have been described with enthusiasm advocating full achievement of the aforementioned goals. The goal of this study is to introduce a novel technique that provides an intact neurovascular source to the nipple-areola complex for reduction in gigantic breasts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients operated on from December 2010 through April 2015 were included in the study. The reduction was performed by isolating Wuringer's septum and the inferior pedicle in continuity with the medial pedicle to save the neurovascular supply to the NAC and its accompanying breast parenchyma. This pedicle is called as septum-inferior-medial-based pedicle. Inclusion criteria, marking and planning with detailed description of the surgical procedure are presented. RESULTS: The overall satisfaction rate was high. Eighty percent of the patients rated their results. The results were as follows: 81% rated as 'very satisfied'; 19% rated as 'somewhat satisfied.' NAC sensation was intact in all cases at all time intervals even immediately after surgery. CONCLUSION: The united pedicle technique provides an intact neurovascular source to the nipple-areola complex. Reduction with this pedicle is a safe procedure. Remodeling the gigantic breast can be accomplished without any restriction because of the flexibility of this pedicle. The very early results are promising, but long-term results needed to be evaluated. 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 .

Anxiety and trauma perception and quality of life in patients who have undergone replantation.

The difficulty in keeping an amputated limb biologically alive is overcome day by day thanks to the successful replantation procedures applied in the early period. However, the reflections of this biological success on patients in functional and psychological terms may not be pleasing all the time. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the perceptual responses of patients to trauma after replantation and their possible effects on clinical results. We conducted a retrospective study of 43 patients who underwent replantation. The average age was 32.4 years and the average follow-up period was 38.6 months. When the results of the Short Form-36 (SF-36), Beck's Depression Inventory, and the assessment scores of the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand survey were evaluated, there was a negative correlation between the patients diagnosed with depression and all SF-36 subunits. A negative correlation between the severity of trauma and the average physical and mental values included in the SF-36 evaluations was observed (R = 0.48, R = 0.51, respectively),. These results revealed that the psychology of the patient was one of the important factors that could not be ignored in the success of replantation.

Single stage augmentation mastopexy: a novel technique using autologous dermal graft.

Mastopexy with augmentation is not an uncommon procedure in breast surgery. This combined procedure has been reported to result high rate of recurrent ptosis by several recent studies. The goal of this study is to introduce a novel technique that addresses the importance of 2 variables--breast position and inframammary fold location via autologous dermal graft, for an improved end results in augmentation mastopexy. Twenty-one patients operated over a period of 2 years from August 2005 through August 2007 were included in the study. The augmentation was performed first followed by adjusting the skin envelope and breast parenchyma to contour around the new breast volume. Augmentation/mastopexy with autologous dermal graft interpositioning, presented in this article, is a novel technique and the technique is described in detail. There were no major vital complications like death, major flap, or nipple necrosis. The most common complications seen were: inadequate circumvertical skin incision, inadequate transposition of nipple-areolar complex, overprojection of areola, and minor complications such as suture abscess. All complications were revised under local anesthesia. No recurrent ptosis was seen in any of the patients. Mean follow-up was 20.6 months (range, 14-36 months). Simultaneous augmentation mastopexy with autologous dermal graft interpositioning is a safe procedure. The dermal graft is easy to harvest. It is cost-effective. This technique ensures an improved breast appearance via securing the breast position and delineating the inframammary location. The very early results are promising but long-term results needed to be evaluated.

Correction of recurrent grade III inverted nipple with antenna dermoadipose flap: case report.

BACKGROUND: Numerous techniques have been reported for the correction of the inverted nipple. It was also reported that no single technique was appropriate for correcting all types of nipple deformities because different grades of inverted nipple have different levels of fibrosis, soft tissue bulk, and lactiferous ductus structure. In this article a novel technique for the repair of recurrent grade III inverted nipple is described in detail. METHODS: In this technique, dermoadipose flaps were generated within the area of de-epithelialization of mastopexy.The flap is called "antenna flap" because of its designing. RESULTS: No major vital complications such as necrosis of the major flap or nipple were seen. There was no recurrence of nipple inversion after 15 months. The shape and projection of the patient's nipple was deemed satisfactory. CONCLUSION: This technique yielded a satisfactory result without recurrence of inversion. It should be considered for use on any patient contemplating correction of inverted nipple and mastopexy. It should be emphasized that this technique also permits the performance of mastopexy in conjunction with the correction of inverted nipple.

Combination of fillet and triangular flaps for the web reconstruction in pollicization: a case report.

Thumb hypoplasia represents a major disability requiring sophisticated reconstructive procedures. One of the basic criteria of the pollicization to construct a functional thumb is scar free web reconstruction. In this article, a technique to avoid excessive scarring in the first web space reconstruction by filleting out the hypoplasic thumb combining with a triangular flap is presented. A 5-year-old girl was presented. She had a Back-Gramcko type IV thumb hypoplasia. A triangular flap was planned on radial border of the long finger. Floating thumb was filleted out with preservation of the neurovascular bundle and transferred to the first web space while cooperating with triangular flap. Patient was followed up for 18 months. No early or late major complication was seen. Flap healed without any necrosis. The ratio of active motion in pollicized finger was measured 60% after cerebral reorientation. A satisfactory grip and pinch were seen in pollicized finger. Patient as well as her parents was satisfied with the results. Filleting out the floating thumb and combining with a triangular flap harvested by a V-Y flap design is a good option to avoid excessive scarring in reconstruction of the first web space in pollicization. It is strongly recommended that floating thumb should be preserved for future pollicization, and any attempt to amputate it in early years of life should be postponed till the time of definitive surgery.

Transabdominal Breast Augmentation: A Review of 114 Cases Performed over 14 Years.

BACKGROUND: Abdominoplasty patients are frequently candidates for breast rejuvenation as well. Transabdominal breast augmentation permits insertion of breast implants through the abdominoplasty incision. This combined procedure is preferentially performed in an outpatient setting under monitored anesthesia care and nerve blocks. METHODS: This study was a 14-year retrospective review of a single surgeon's technique and outcomes using transabdominal breast augmentation through a low transverse abdominoplasty incision in select patients requesting simultaneous abdominoplasty and bilateral breast augmentation. Patients had minimal ptosis, smoking cessation a minimum of 4 weeks before surgery and indefinitely thereafter, and a lack of superior abdominal or significant breast surgery. RESULTS: The study's 114 patients had a mean follow-up of 19.2 months. The procedure was performed under monitored anesthesia care with intercostal nerve blocks for most patients [n = 107 (93.9 percent)] and general anesthesia [n = 7 (6.1 percent)] for a few. Seventy-nine patients [n = 74 (64.9 percent)] underwent additional procedures, with most (n = 48) undergoing suction-assisted lipectomy. Many patients underwent multiple procedures. Most complications occurred predictably along the central distal abdominoplasty flap and were minor (small wound breakdown, seroma, and mild skin infection). Major complications [n = 8 (7.0 percent)] included two patients with implant malposition requiring revision and one patient with a Baker grade III capsule; notably, this patient was a half-pack-per-day smoker with a body mass index of 27 kg/m. CONCLUSIONS: Transabdominal breast augmentation is a safe, reliable procedure in the appropriately selected, healthy patient and may be used in minimally to moderately ptotic patients who request concurrent breast augmentation and abdominoplasty. Morbidity compares favorably to reported abdominoplasty series in the appropriately selected patient. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Calf contouring with endoscopic fascial release, calf implant, and structural fat grafting.

BACKGROUND: Curved lower legs cause psychological stress for women. In evaluating the shape, if thickness is the main contributing factor of leg aesthetic, then lipoplasty or calf reducing procedures will be the option. If the legs are slender and have no muscle hypertrophy but still have some indentation or bulges on both sides and lack an aesthetic shape what will be the options? The answer to the question is discussed in detail in this article. METHODS: Twenty-two patients, operated over a period of 5 years from 2007 to 2012, were included in the study. A novel technique has been introduced. This method requires release of fascia covering muscles of the inner leg bulge via endoscopic approach and simultaneous calf augmentation with calf implant, liposuction, and structural fat grafting to optimize the results. RESULTS: Patients were followed on a regular basis with a mean follow-up of 31 months. The procedure was well tolerated with minimal discomfort during the postoperative period. Increase in diameter of proximal and distal lower legs was measured at least 6 months after surgery. Mean diameter change of proximal lower legs was 2.16 cm and 1.77 cm in distal lower legs. CONCLUSIONS: A novel endoscopic approach for lower leg contouring is discussed. Endoscopic fasciotomy technique with calf implant and structural fat grafting for improved lower leg aesthetics is a simple, effective, reliable, and predictable technique for calf contouring.

Augmentation mammaplasty by reverse abdominoplasty (AMBRA).

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this article is to describe a novel technique of providing autologous tissues for breast augmentation and simultaneously rejuvenating the abdomen. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients underwent augmentation mammaplasty by reverse abdominoplasty (AMBRA) between 1997 and 2006. The upper abdominal pannus present in women whose lower abdomen was typically less aesthetically compromised was harvested as deepithelialized adipofascial flaps, maintaining their connection to and thus blood supply from the attached breast parenchyma. These flaps are transposed subglandularly, creating autologous tissue breast implants, and reverse abdominoplasty accomplishes donor-site closure and aesthetic improvement. If previous surgery or inadequate inframammary fold tissue thickness renders the superior circulation unfavorable, the upper abdominal tissues can be used as advancement flaps vascularly supplied by their attachment to the abdominal skin apron. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (62 percent) had simultaneous mastopexy and 16 (43 percent) had simultaneous panniculectomy. Complications in the superior pedicle group were minimal. In the inferior pedicle group, complications were more extensive because of the premorbidity of this group of patients and the limitations of this technique, where the resuspension of the abdominal wall apron is less facile and generally weaker than closure with superiorly based flaps. CONCLUSIONS: Augmentation mammaplasty by reverse abdominoplasty is a versatile procedure that in the carefully selected patient can successfully address two aesthetic concerns simultaneously, providing durable autologous tissue that can obviate or enhance the outcome provided by prosthetic implants and rejuvenating the abdomen. It also shows promise as a significant adjunct to the techniques available to the breast reconstructive surgeon.

Perforator-based reverse radial forearm flap to reconstruct multiple third-degree burn defects of the fingers.

Adequate soft-tissue coverage is a cornerstone for successful hand reconstruction in burn patients allowing for hand mobilization and rehabilitation. Multiple finger injuries that involve separate soft-tissue defects with complex wounds challenge the reconstruction dilemma. In this case report, a modified application of reverse radial forearm flap for the simultaneous reconstruction of multiple separate finger defects for burn cases is presented. A 23-year-old heavy industry worker is presented with a history of third-degree electrical burn of left index and middle fingers. The proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint of the both fingers were exposed. A distally based radial forearm flap with a dimension 7.5 x 6 cm was planned. The flap was transposed to the distal defect and splitted. The bilobed flap was inset. A tendon graft is used to span the gap of extensor apparatus before insetting the flaps in both fingers. The donor defect was closed primarily. A satisfactory coverage is observed in the recipient areas. Finger functions including full range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal and PIP joints of the index and PIP and distal interphalangeal joints of long fingers were observed. The technique presented here is advantageous as it is easy to perform, covers multiple finger defects simultaneously, avoids long-term immobilization, saves the operative time, avoids microsurgery. Donor site is closed primarily and finally this approach ensures a simultaneous repair of complex wounds with multiple vital anatomical structures i.e. bone, tendon, joint, and soft tissue.

Implant-based breast reconstruction with allograft.

BACKGROUND: Reconstructive breast surgeons often prefer autologous tissue for those patients who can tolerate it. However, reconstruction with implants is technically easier, quicker, less traumatic, and less costly. Nevertheless, inherent problems associated with implants present some limitations to their use in reconstruction. In this study, a multipurpose application of allogenic dermal grafts to solve the problems seen in immediate breast reconstruction with implants was examined. METHODS: After skin-sparing mastectomy, a subpectoral pocket is created for the implant. After the origins of the pectoralis major muscle are released, AlloDerm is sewn to the lower pole of the released muscle. Grafts are tailored according to the dimensions of the defect. AlloDerm, an allogenic dermal graft, is fixed to the pectoralis major superiorly, to the chest wall inferiorly and inferomedially, and to the serratus anterior flap laterally. A postoperative adjustable implant is placed into the pocket that has bene created. RESULT: Allografts were used to reconstruct 30 breasts in 24 patients immediately after skin- or nipple-sparing mastectomy. There was no complication related to simultaneous allograft application. No rippling, symmastia, or bottoming-out deformity was seen. CONCLUSIONS: Breast reconstruction with implant and AlloDerm enables the surgeon to create a submuscular pocket large enough to place a fully inflated breast implant. Interposition of a lower-pole internal sling, to increase the capacity of the pectoralis major pocket while providing immediate ability to achieve full or subtotal prosthetic fill and optimal aesthetic breast contouring and to maintain thicker muscle coverage in the upper and medial pole areas and stronger lower pole support, would obviate many of the current disadvantages to implant reconstruction.

Does sustained epinephrine release trigger a hypoxia-neovascularization cascade?

BACKGROUND: Recent data regarding the long-term local administration of epinephrine to soft tissues for the purpose of inducing prolonged vasoconstriction have yielded promising results. These studies postulated that long-term release of epinephrine by a microsphere/drug delivery system caused continuous vasoconstriction and subsequent vascular augmentation. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that epinephrine induces a hypoxia-neovascularization cascade and plays a primary role in vascular proliferation within soft tissues. METHODS: Thirty male New Zealand White rabbits were randomly grouped as follows: group I, control (n = 10); group II, saline-loaded microsphere/drug delivery system injection (n = 10); and group III, epinephrine-loaded microsphere/drug delivery system injection (n = 10). A 2 x 1-cm rectangle was marked on the dorsal surface of the left ear of each rabbit. No solutions were injected in the control group, whereas 1 ml of saline-loaded and epinephrine-loaded microspheres was injected into groups II and III, respectively. A laser Doppler device was used to measure tissue blood volume and tissue blood flow. RESULTS: Laser Doppler monitoring in tissue blood flow yielded a distinct difference between the epinephrine-loaded microsphere-injected group and the other two groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The ability of epinephrine-loaded microspheres to augment the vascular network in vivo is the result of sustained vasoconstriction with consequent tissue hypoxia and subsequent neovascularization. Data extracted from the present study, first, might be applied to improve hemostasis for operations typically plagued by serious intraoperative blood loss. Second, the ability to intentionally augment the vascularity of certain flaps before elevation should result in their increased survival. Radiation-injured tissues may also derive great benefit from this treatment.

The role of recipient sites in fat-graft survival: experimental study.

The survival of fat grafts depends on many factors, 1 of the major being early revascularization. Early studies showed that adipose tissue has a low tolerance to ischemia. Some methods have been described to increase the tolerance of adipose tissue to ischemia. This study was designed to compare volume maintenance of the transplanted fat graft in different recipient sites of the rabbit face. Three groups of 5 New Zealand white rabbits were studied. Fat grafts harvested from the right inguinal fat pad were transplanted to the buccomandibular area of the rabbit's face. Three different recipient sites (subcutaneous, supramuscular, and submuscular) were dissected on each side of the face, and groups were formulated based on this difference of recipient sites. Morphometric, as well as histopathologic, analyses were done, and the results revealed a statistically significant increase of fat graft survival in supramuscular layer (81.95% +/- 4.40%) than in subcutaneous (41.62% +/- 3.29%) and submuscular layer (37.31% +/- 5.77%) (P<0.05). This study demonstrates that selection of an "appropriate recipient site" should enhance ultimate fat-graft survival.

Hyperbaric oxygen for the treatment of early-phase Dupuytren's contracture.

Dupuytren's disease (DD) is a proliferative disorder of autosomal-dominant inheritance, with variable penetrance of gene expression. The treatment of DD is challenging. Both operative and nonoperative approaches were reported for treatment of the disease, but no perfect approach has gained popularity as the best choice of treatment. Most of the emphasis has been placed on surgical techniques, but outcomes were reported to be dependent on some variables such as case selection, timing of surgery, and the surgeon's training and experience. In this paper, we report on a hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment for early-phase DD. HBO treatment was applied to a female aged 23 years who had a mild form of DD. Physical findings and complaints before and after HBO treatment were compared. Total relief of symptoms as well as physical findings were obtained with HBO treatment. HBO for the treatment of DD is a novel concept. Having treated only one case is not enough to conclude that HBO is the only effective mode of treatment for DD. HBO should also be tried to treat early-phase or mild contractures of DD. Unfortunately, HBO has a disadvantage, i.e., cost. But HBO is not invasive, and because of the nature of HBO treatment, most of the complications seen after surgeries, e.g., wound-healing problems, damage to the digital nerves and vessels, buttonholing of the skin, and tendon sheath opening, are not seen.

Effect of long-term application of epinephrine on rat skin vasculature: experimental study.

As a potent vasoconstrictor, epinephrine is used ubiquitously in plastic surgery. It is typically delivered subcutaneously in very low concentrations over a brief time interval. We are aware of no reports describing the long-term release of epinephrine as an independent agent to the soft tissues for the purpose of causing prolonged local vasoconstriction. This study was designed to address two goals: first, to investigate the effect of long-term local release of epinephrine from a drug delivery system on rat abdominal skin vasculature; secondly, to evaluate the pharmacological properties of this drug delivery system (DDS). Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 300-400 g, were included in the study. Animals were subdivided into two groups of 15 each. Group A (control group) and Group B (experimental group) were treated with saline and epinephrine-loaded microspheres (msps), respectively. The manufacturing process and formulation studies of the DDS are described. In vivo assays revealed a 7-day sustained release of epinephrine. After 7 days, neither residual nor supraphysiologic release of epinephrine was shown with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Histological studies with hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid Schiff revealed a statistically significant increase in number of vessels as well as their diameter and wall thickness (P <0.05). Epinephrine release via this msp/DDS predictably induces local vasoconstriction over a time sequence known to be optimally associated with hypoxia and promotion of vascular augmentation. This model can be valuable in sustaining hemostasis during long-lasting (more than a few hours) surgical procedures by its long-acting vasoconstructive effect. The system's ability to intentionally cause vascular augmentation also bodes great potential in flap and graft surgery.

Chemical delay: an alternative to surgical delay experimental study.

The delay phenomenon has long been recognized as a powerful adjunct to flap surgery. Currently, delay procedures remain a reliable method of maximizing flap survival. Although delay yields successful results, the necessity of an additional surgical procedure is a persistent disadvantage from both clinical and economic perspectives. The authors' purpose is to demonstrate the usefulness of a novel chemical delay technique that obviates the need for a surgical delay procedure. This technique contains an epinephrine-loaded microsphere delivery system. In this study, 30 rats were subdivided into three groups of 10 animals. In group I, transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flaps were delayed surgically 1 week before formal elevation. Group II (sham chemical delay) animals were injected with saline-loaded microspheres into the entire undersurface of the proposed TRAM flaps, which were elevated 1 week later. In group III rats, epinephrine-loaded microspheres were injected into the undersurface of the TRAM flaps to initiate a chemical delay 1 week before surgical elevation. Groups were compared via TRAM flaps 1 week after elevation. There was a significant difference between groups I and III in favor of surface area viability and angiographic assessment (p < 0.05). Surgical delay has traditionally been accepted to be the most reliable method of enhancing flap viability. Statistically similar results were obtained by chemical delay initiated by epinephrine-loaded microspheres. Chemical delay is less invasive, less time-consuming, and far more cost-effective compared with its surgical alternative. The chemical delay model lends further support to the role of relative hypoxia as the primary promoter of the delay phenomenon.