The impact of post-mastectomy radiation timing on overall outcomes of autologous free-flap breast reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: The optimal timing of post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) in autologous breast reconstruction is controversial. Our study compares overall reconstructive outcomes in patients who received post-mastectomy radiation therapy either before or after the autologous flap. METHODS: A single-center retrospective review was performed for patients who underwent free flap breast reconstruction and post-mastectomy radiation from January 2004 through January 2021. Demographic, intraoperative, and post-operative variables were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 452 free flaps were identified, and 82 underwent PMRT. 59.8% were radiated with an expander prior to free flap surgery (PreFlap), and 40.2% flaps underwent PMRT (PostFlap). PostFlap patients were significantly younger (43.0 vs. 47.9 years, p = .016). There were no significant differences in free flap outcomes between the two cohorts including thrombosis, venous congestion, flap loss, takebacks, fat necrosis, seroma, or infection. Mastectomy skin flap necrosis was significantly higher in the PostFlap cohort (9.1% vs. 0%, p = .032), but nipple necrosis rates did not differ. There were no significant differences in number or need for revision surgeries, fat necrosis, or fat grafting between groups. However, there were significantly more total reconstructive complications, including infection and wound breakdown, experienced by the PreFlap cohort (46.9% vs. 24.2%, p = .038). CONCLUSIONS: Timing of PMRT did not impact free flap outcomes, but those who had the expander radiated experienced significantly more complications overall. For the 34.7% of patients in the preFlap group who planned for autologous reconstruction form initial consultation, radiation after the flap may have improved their overall outcomes. As added complications cause delays in cancer therapy and final reconstruction, our results suggest that PMRT of the flap when possible may improve the overall experience for breast cancer patients.

Nipple-Sparing Mastectomies in Patients over the Age of 60 Years: Factors Associated with Surgical Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) outcomes in the elderly have not been well characterized. The goal of this study was to evaluate NSM outcomes in patients over age 60. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A single-institution retrospective cohort study was performed for NSM patients over the age of 60 from January 2004 to January 2022. Demographic, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were collected. RESULTS: We identified 136 women who underwent a total of 200 NSMs at a mean age 65.2 years and with mean body mass index of 25. Most (56%) had invasive breast cancer, requiring neoadjuvant chemotherapy in 15%, and 17.5% had radiation prior to NSM. A total of 91% had immediate tissue expander placement. The infection rate was 19%, with 11.5% requiring expander explantation in the follow-up period. In binomial logistic regression analysis, prior radiation increased the odds of any complication by 2.9 (OR 2.93, CI 1.30-6.58, p = 0.009) and increased the odds of infection by 5.7 (OR 5.70, CI 1.95-16.66, p = 0.001), but no associations were seen for other covariates including age, comorbidities, prior chemotherapy, or presence of invasive disease. Diabetes increased the odds of wound breakdown specifically by 9.0 (OR 8.97, CI 2.01-39.92, p = 0.004). Local recurrence was 3% in mean 3.4-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support NSM in patients over the age of 60 years with acceptable outcomes within the standard of care. Locoregional recurrence was within the cited range of 0-5%, and only diabetes and prior radiation were associated with reconstructive complications. NSM should thus be offered when appropriate regardless of increased age to achieve oncologic and reconstructive goals.

Reviewing the Impact of Topical and Intravenous Tranexamic Acid Use in Breast Plastic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Topical and intravenous uses of tranexamic acid (TXA) have been shown to reduce bleeding and ecchymosis in various surgical fields. However, there is a lack of data evaluating the efficacy of TXA in breast surgery. This systematic review evaluates the impact of TXA on hematoma and seroma incidence in breast plastic surgery. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed for all studies that evaluated the use of TXA in breast surgery including reduction mammoplasty, gynecomastia surgery, masculinizing chest surgery, or mastectomy. Outcomes of interest included rate of hematoma, seroma, and drain output. RESULTS: Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria with a total of 3297 breasts, of which 1656 were treated with any TXA, 745 with topical TXA, and 1641 were controls. There was a statistically significant decrease in hematoma formation seen in patients who received any form of TXA compared with control (odds ratio [OR], 0.37; P < 0.001), and a similar tendency toward decreased hematoma with topically treated TXA (OR, 0.42; P = 0.06). There was no significant difference in seroma formation with any TXA (OR, 0.84; P = 0.33) or topical TXA (OR, 0.91; P = 0.70). When stratified by surgery, there was a 75% decrease in the odds of hematoma formation with any TXA compared with the control for oncologic mastectomy (OR, 0.25; P = 0.003) and a 56% decrease in nononcologic breast surgery (OR, 0.44; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: This review suggests that TXA may significantly reduce hematoma formation in breast surgery and may also decrease seroma and drain output. Future high-quality prospective studies are required to evaluate the utility of topical and intravenous TXA in decreasing hematoma, seroma, and drain output in breast surgery patients.

Evaluation of Microvascular Autologous Breast Reconstruction in Patients Older Than 60 Years.

BACKGROUND: While free-flap breast reconstruction becomes more common, it is still approached with caution in older patients. Outcomes in the elderly population have not been well characterized, especially with regard to donor-site sequalae. This study compares microvascular autologous breast reconstruction outcomes in patients older and younger 60 years. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective review was performed for microvascular autologous breast reconstruction from January 2004 through January 2021. Demographic, intraoperative, and postoperative variables, including breast flap and donor-site complications, were evaluated. RESULTS: Five hundred forty-five breast free flaps were identified, of which 478 (87.8%) were performed on patients younger than 60 years (mean, 46.2 years) and 67 (12.2%) older than 60 years (mean, 64.8 years; P = 0.000). Hyperlipidemia was significantly higher in older patients (19.4% vs 9.6%, P = 0.016). Mean operative time was 46.3 minutes faster in the older cohort ( P = 0.030). There were no significant differences in free-flap loss, venous congestion, takeback, hematoma, seroma, wound healing, or infection. Interestingly, there were significantly more total breast flap complications (28.5% vs 16.4%, P = 0.038) and higher rates of fat necrosis (9.6% vs 1.5%, P = 0.026) in the younger cohort. Significantly more abdominal donor-site complications (43.3% vs 21.3%, P = 0.000) were seen in the older people, with increased wound breakdown ( P = 0.000) and any return to the operating room (20.9% vs 9.8%, P = 0.007). Older patients were also significantly more likely to require surgical correction of an abdominal bulge or hernia (10.4% vs 4%, P = 0.020). The mean follow-up was 1.8 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed no worsening of individual breast flap outcomes in the older people. However, there were significantly more abdominal complications including surgical correction of abdominal bulge and hernia. This may be related to the inherent qualities of tissue aging and should be taken into consideration for flap selection. These results support autologous breast reconstruction in patients older than 60 years, but patients should be counseled regarding potentially increased abdominal donor-site sequelae.

Evaluating mesh use for abdominal donor site closure after deep inferior epigastric perforator flap breast reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Despite improvement in abdominal morbidity with deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction compared to prior abdominally-based free flap breast reconstruction, abdominal bulge, and hernia rates have been cited anywhere from 2% to 33%. As a result, some surgeons utilize mesh or other reinforcement upon donor-site closure, but its benefit in preventing abdominal wall morbidity has not been well-defined for DIEP flaps. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate DIEP donor-site closure techniques and the impact of mesh type and plane on abdominal-wall morbidity including hernia and bulge, relative to primary fascial closure. METHODS: MEDLINE, PubMED, Cochrane Library, and SCOPUS were systematically reviewed for studies evaluating DIEP flap breast reconstruction abdominal-donor site closure, where any mesh reinforcement or primary fascial closure was specified, and postoperative outcomes of hernia and/or abdominal bulge were reported. Analysis was performed in Review Manager (RevMan) evaluating mesh use, type, and plane relative to primary fascial closure, using the Mantel-Haenszel method to calculate odds ratios (ORs) of significance level p < .05, and a random effects model to account for inter-study heterogeneity. RESULTS: Of the 2791 DIEP patients across 11 studies, 1901 patients underwent primary closure and 890 were repaired with mesh. When hernia and/or bulge were combined into a single complication, the use of any mesh did not significantly reduce its odds compared to primary closure (OR = 0.69, p = .20). Similarly, the use of any mesh did not significantly reduce the odds of bulge alone compared to primary closure (OR = 0.62, p = .43). However, the odds of hernia alone were significantly reduced by 72% with any mesh use (OR = 0.28, p = .03). CONCLUSION: Mesh use was significantly associated with decreased odds of hernia alone with DIEP flap surgery, but there was no difference in bulge or combined hernia/bulge rates. As bulge is the more common abdominal morbidity after DIEP flap harvest in a patient with no prior abdominal surgery or risk factor for hernia, mesh use is not indicated in abdominal closure of all DIEP patients. Future prospective studies are warranted to characterize the specific indications for mesh use in the setting of DIEP flap surgery.

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Techniques for Management of Postoperative Lymphatic Leaks After Groin Surgery.

PURPOSE: Plastic surgeons are often consulted to manage postoperative groin lymphatic leaks that may lead to serious sequelae if not promptly treated. Because there are no standardized guidelines for best treatment practices, this systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the outcomes of multiple management modalities to ultimately guide decision making for surgeons. METHODS: Literature surrounding lymphatic leaks in the groin was reviewed from PubMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library from January 1, 2000, to December 1, 2020 according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines. The inciting procedure, postoperative lymphatic complication, used management, and days to resolution were recorded. Pairwise comparisons using the Wilcoxon rank sum test with Bonferroni continuity correction were used to determine which treatment modalities differed significantly and accounted for multiple hypothesis testing. RESULTS: A total of 1468 total studies were initially found, which narrowed to 267 unique articles after duplicates were removed. Twelve articles ultimately met the inclusion criteria and were included in the data analysis. There were 264 groin complications, of which 217 were initially treated with conservative management, 81 with a minimally invasive procedure, and 125 with surgery. More than 95% of all cases had an inciting procedure of a vascular nature.For vascular surgery-induced lymphatic leak treated by minimally invasive and surgical techniques, a significantly higher number of cases resolved compared with those treated conservatively (100% and 96.7% compared with 29.5%, respectively, P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the proportion that resolved between the minimally invasive and surgical cases ( P = 0.11). Vascular cases that were only managed with surgery had significantly shorter days to resolution compared with cases that first attempted conservative management ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Both minimally invasive and surgical options have increased odds of resolution and lower failure rates compared with conservative management alone. The odds of resolution were higher when treated with more invasive procedures compared with conservative-only management, but the mean days to resolution was longer. This meta-analysis depicts successful resolution with procedural management and supports an initial trial of minimally invasive techniques.

The Incidence of Breast Cancer After Gender-Affirming Mastectomy in Transmen.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of breast cancer in transmale patients and their continued risk after gender-affirming mastectomy (GAM) has not been well established. Plastic surgeons who offer GAM are often one of the few medical professionals sought out by this population, placing them in a unique position to not only deliver surgical care but also improve access to preventative cancer care. METHODS: We reviewed the senior author's experience with GAMs over the past 5 years for any incidence of breast cancer noted after or at time of surgery. We subsequently performed a thorough review of the literature for cases of breast cancer in transmen, to provide a comprehensive overview of screening, therapy, and postoperative surveillance practices. RESULTS: We identified 2 cases of breast cancer (ages 49 and 54 years) found on routine examination of pathology specimens after GAM at our institution. Both patients had been taking hormone therapy for the past 1 year. Pathology specimen revealed low-grade estrogen receptor-/progesterone receptor-positive ductal carcinoma in situ in 1 patient, and estrogen receptor-/progesterone receptor-positive invasive ductal carcinoma in the other. Both patients were referred to oncology for appropriate treatment, and both elected to continue their exogenous hormone therapy for personal reasons.Review of the literature demonstrated 36 other cases of documented breast cancer in transmen. Sixty-seven percent (24) were found after GAM, and of those, 50% were incidentally found on pathology specimen. At least 50% were found to be either estrogen-, progesterone-, or androgen receptor-positive cancers. At least 17% of cases documented continued use of masculinizing hormone therapy after cancer diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Most documented cases of breast cancer in transmen were diagnosed after gender-affirming surgery, which would suggest residual breast tissue does pose some risk for breast cancer. In addition, those diagnosed with cancer may elect to continue exogenous testosterone therapy despite potential added risks with hormone-receptor positivity. These cases highlight the need for agreement in current screening practices, surgical recommendations, and continuation of masculinizing hormone therapy.Plastic surgeons have the unique opportunity to educate these patients on appropriate breast cancer-related surveillance both before and after chest surgery.

A Dual-Surgeon Approach to Breast Cancer Surgery in a Transmale.

ABSTRACT: With increasing numbers of gender-affirming chest surgery, new questions regarding breast cancer management and surgical practice arise. Guided by our case report, we present a comprehensive review of breast cancer surgery in a transman to educate both plastic and breast surgeons on various factors to consider when caring for these patients.Our case involves a 31-year-old transmale patient who presented for plastic surgery consultation for gender-affirming mastectomy but was subsequently found to have a right breast mass. This is the first case in the literature of a transmale on hormone therapy with breast cancer interested in gender-affirming surgery, thus requiring a dual-surgeon approach for oncologic and gender-affirming mastectomy. With a multidisciplinary patient-centered approach involving breast surgery, plastic surgery, medical oncology, and radiology, we devised a surgical plan to safely remove his breast tissue with consideration for his gender-affirming goals. He underwent a right skin-sparing mastectomy with sentinel node biopsy and left prophylactic skin-sparing mastectomy through skin markings by the plastic surgeon, with bilateral free nipple grafts. Final pathology confirmed estrogen and progesterone receptor-positive and androgen receptor-positive invasive ductal carcinoma with clear margins and negative sentinel node. The patient did not require adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation but was started on adjuvant hormone therapy targeting his hormone receptor positive cancer. He elected to stay on low-dose masculinizing hormone therapy with continued surveillance examinations.We follow our case with a review of the current literature involving breast cancer in transmales to explore current screening practices, surgical recommendations, adjuvant therapies, continuation of masculinizing hormone therapy, and postoperative surveillance guidelines in the hopes of informing plastic surgeons in having these discussions with their transmale patients and thus improving informed cancer care for this population.

A Systematic Review of the Utility of Indocyanine Angiography in Autologous Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: In the last decade, a number of studies have demonstrated the utility of indocyanine green (ICG) angiography in predicting mastectomy skin flap necrosis for immediate breast reconstruction. However, data are limited to investigate this technique for autologous breast reconstruction. Although it may have the potential to improve free flap outcomes, there has not been a large multicenter study to date that specifically addresses this application. METHODS: A thorough literature review based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines was conducted. All studies that examined the use of intraoperative ICG angiography or SPY to assess perfusion of abdominally based free flaps for breast reconstruction from January 1, 2000, to January 1, 2020, were included. Free flap postoperative complications including total flap loss, partial flap loss, and fat necrosis were extracted from selected studies. RESULTS: Nine relevant articles were identified, which included 355 patients and 824 free flaps. A total of 472 free flaps underwent clinical assessment of perfusion intraoperatively, whereas 352 free flaps were assessed with ICG angiography. Follow-up was from 3 months to 1 year. The use of ICG angiography was associated with a statistically significant decrease in flap fat necrosis in the follow-up period (odds ratio = 0.31, P = 0.02). There was no statistically significant difference for total or partial flap loss. CONCLUSIONS: From this systematic review, it can be concluded that ICG angiography may be an effective and efficient way to reduce fat necrosis in free flap breast reconstruction and may be a more sensitive predictor of flap perfusion than clinical assessment alone. Future prospective studies are required to further determine whether ICG angiography may be superior to clinical assessment in predicting free flap outcomes.

Diversity in Plastic Surgery: Trends in Female Representation at Plastic Surgery Meetings.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have shown that roadblocks exist for women to achieve higher career levels in plastic surgery. The authors evaluate female representation as lecturers, panelists, and moderators at national and regional plastic surgery meetings. METHODS: The annual meetings between January 2014 and January 2019 for 12 national and regional plastic surgery societies were included in this study. Data regarding sex of speakers were extracted from meeting programs. Binomial distribution analysis was used to compare female representation at meetings as compared with female representation among plastic surgeons. Analysis of variance with Tukey post hoc analysis was used to evaluate for differences in female representation among regions and subspecialties. RESULTS: Females comprised 14.8% of speakers, including instructors, moderators, and panelists, at all included plastic surgery meetings. There has not been a significant increase in the representation of females at plastic surgery meetings in the past 5 years (P = 0.08). Five of 12 societies had significantly lower female representation as speakers than expected by the proportion of female plastic surgeons (P < 0.05). American Society for Craniofacial Surgeons had significantly lower representation as compared with other subspecialty meetings (P < 0.01), and Texas Society of Plastic Surgeons had significantly lower representation among regional meetings (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Female representation among plastic surgery residents and faculty has increased, yet women remain disproportionately underrepresented on the podium at educational meetings. Providing women the opportunity to serve as speakers, moderators, and panelists at meetings will ultimately enhance the diversity of our plastic surgical leadership.

Detailed analysis of the impact of surgeon and hospital volume in microsurgical breast reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Prior investigations of microsurgical breast reconstruction have not distinguished the effects of surgeon versus hospital volume and failed to address the effect of patient clustering. Our data-driven analysis aims to determine the impacts of surgeon and hospital volume on outcomes of microsurgical breast reconstruction. METHODS: Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data from 2008 to 2011 was analyzed for patients who underwent microsurgical breast reconstruction. Volume-outcome relationships were analyzed with restricted cubic spline analysis. A multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression was used to account for patient clustering effect. RESULTS: A total of 5,404 NIS patients met inclusion criteria. High-volume (HV) surgeons had a 59% decrease in the risk of inpatient complications, which became non-significant after clustering correction. For HV hospitals, there was a 47% decrease in the risk of inpatient complications (odds ratio = 0.53; 95% confidence intervals 0.30, 0.91; p = 0.021) that was statistically significant with the clustering adjustment. Neither the volume-cost relationship for surgeons nor hospitals remained statistically significant after accounting for clustering. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital volume plays a significant impact on outcomes in microsurgical breast reconstruction, while surgeon volume has comparatively not shown to be similarly impactful. The complexity of care related to microsurgical breast reconstruction warrants equally complex and engineered health systems.

Off-Pump Versus On-Pump: Long-Term Outcomes After Coronary Artery Bypass in a Veteran Population.

OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to investigate long-term outcomes after revascularization with and without use of cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothesized that off-pump would be comparable with on-pump. The primary outcome of interest was survival, and secondary outcomes were need for reintervention for revascularization or new diagnosis of myocardial infarction occurring any time after surgery during the 8- to 12-year follow-up period. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis. SETTING: Veterans Affairs Medical Center. PARTICIPANTS: All patients undergoing primary isolated coronary bypass between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2008 (n = 555). INTERVENTIONS: Coronary artery bypass on-pump (n = 238) or off-pump (n = 317). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Demographic and clinical variables were documented, including information on mortality, new myocardial infarction, and need for reintervention in the 8- to 12-year period after surgery. The on-pump and off-pump groups were similar regarding all demographic and clinical variables (p > 0.05), except for higher incidence of prior percutaneous coronary intervention in the off-pump group. There were more perioperative complications in the on-pump group (p = 0.007) and a greater number of grafts used (p = 0.000). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated no significant difference (p > 0.05) in overall survival, reintervention-free survival, or postoperative myocardial infarction-free survival between patients who underwent bypass grafting on-pump or off-pump over extended follow-up averaging 10years. CONCLUSIONS: The present study's data did not show differences in key long-term outcomes between patients who underwent revascularization with or without cardiopulmonary bypass, supporting the idea that both methods achieve similar late results regarding overall survival, need for reintervention, and postoperative myocardial infarction.

Efficacy of a Procedure-Specific Education Module on Informed Consent in Plastic Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Truly informed consent is an elusive goal, seldom attained in medical or surgical practice. Patients often do not fully understand procedures and therapies they undergo or the associated sequelae. Historically, informed consent and patient education have been limited to physician discussions, sometimes with the addition of simple visual aids. More recently, there is a growing body of decision aids available, including interactive multimedia patient educational modules that review preoperative through postoperative care, risks, benefits, alternatives, different surgical options, as well as commonly asked questions. We hypothesized that the addition of a Web-based educational tool would positively impact attainment of informed consent and satisfaction in plastic surgery patients. METHODS: We performed a prospective randomized controlled study comparing patients who presented in consultation for breast reconstruction, breast reduction, and abdominoplasty. Patients received standard patient education along with a procedure-specific (study) or general patient safety (control) Web-based educational module. Informed consent was measured using a surgical-focused, modified version of the Shared Decision-making 25 index tool. Patient demographic information as well as surrogate markers of familiarity with technology were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively. Comparisons were made between study and control groups, procedure subgroups, and preoperative and postoperative time points. Demographic factors and consent variables were compared among experimental and procedure groups. RESULTS: Data were collected from 65 patients preoperatively and 48 patients postoperatively. Thirty patients competed both surveys. Overall, no differences in patient characteristics or familiarity with technology were observed between experimental groups. Demographic characteristics were also similar between groups. No meaningful differences were identified in comparisons between experimental groups on either cross-sectional or longitudinal analyses. Nearly all patient responses were consistent with being well informed and satisfied with the educational process. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, patients undergoing plastic surgery procedures are adequately informed and have a high degree of satisfaction regarding their patient education. The addition of a Web-based informed consent tool did not make a demonstrable difference in informed consent.

Developing Gender-Affirming Surgery Curricula for Plastic Surgery Residency and Fellowship via Delphi Consensus.

BACKGROUND: Gender-affirming surgery (GAS) is a rapidly growing field within plastic surgery, and residents and fellows must receive appropriate training. However, there are no standardized surgical training curricula. The objective of this study was to identify core curricula within the field of GAS. METHODS: Four GAS surgeons from different academic institutions identified initial curricular statements within six categories: (1) comprehensive GAS care, (2) gender-affirming facial surgery, (3) masculinizing chest surgery, (4) feminizing breast augmentation, (5) masculinizing genital GAS, and (6) feminizing genital GAS. Expert panelists consisting of plastic surgery residency program directors and GAS surgeons were recruited for three rounds of the Delphi-consensus process. The panelists decided whether each curriculum statement was appropriate for residency, fellowship, or neither. A statement was included in the final curriculum when Cronbach α value was greater than or equal to 0.8, meaning that 80% or more of the panel agreed on inclusion. RESULTS: A total of 34 panelists (14 plastic surgery residency program directors and 20 GAS surgeons representing 28 US institutions) participated. The response rate was 85% for the first round, 94% for the second, and 100% for the third. Out of 124 initial curriculum statements, 84 reached consensus for the final GAS curricula, 51 for residency, and 31 for fellowship. CONCLUSIONS: A national consensus on core GAS curriculum for plastic surgery residency and GAS fellowship was achieved by a modified Delphi method. Implementation of this curriculum will ensure that trainees in plastic surgery are adequately prepared in the field of GAS.

Morphometric Analysis of Gender-affirming Breast Augmentation.

According to cisgender respondents, the "preferred" feminine breast has a 45:55 upper-to-lower pole ratio. Preferred breast ratios have not been evaluated for transgender women undergoing breast augmentation. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the preferred breast ratio according to the transgender population and, thus, better inform surgeon planning. Methods: Patients diagnosed with gender dysphoria were sent a survey with morphed breast images of four different upper-to-lower pole ratios: 35:65, 45:55, 50:50, and 55:45. Respondents ranked the images according to aesthetic preference. Rankings were analyzed by the Condorcet method. Results: 298 survey responses were analyzed: 197 (66.1%) respondents identified as transgender women and 31 (10.4%) as transgender men. Most respondents were younger than 40 (64.8%). Eighty-one (27.2%) had undergone breast augmentation, 136 (45.6%) had not and were not considering it, and 81 (27.2%) had not but were considering it. Across all subgroups, the most preferred ratio was 45:55 (P = 0.046). Those with more masculine genders and assigned female at birth preferred the 45:55 and 50:50 ratios equally. Those in their 30's and younger preferred the 45:55 and 50:50 ratios equally. Conclusions: The 45:55 ratio, established as the most preferred morphometrics for breast augmentation by cisgender respondents, is also the most aesthetically preferred proportion among transgender patients. Interestingly, the 50:50 ratio, which projects a larger upper bust compared to the 45:55 ratio, may be equally or more appealing to younger patients and those with more masculine genders. We hope these results improve patient-physician shared decision-making and postoperative expectations.

Evaluation of Dual-port versus Single-port Tissue Expanders in Postmastectomy Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Immediate tissue expander placement in postmastectomy breast reconstruction can be complicated by seroma or infection, requiring further imaging studies or interventions. This study compares dual-port tissue expanders, with both an aspiration and expansion port, with single-port expanders in terms of postoperative complications and further interventions. METHODS: Patients with immediate tissue expander placement from March 2019 to March 2020 were reviewed. Complications included seroma, infection, hematoma, necrosis, and malposition of the expander. Further intervention included aspiration, ultrasound imaging, interventional radiology (IR) drainage, or return to operating room. RESULTS: In total, 128 dual-port expanders were compared with 125 single-port expanders. Patients with single-port expanders were younger (P = 0.022) and of lower BMI (P = 0.01). There were no significant differences in key complications between these groups. In multivariate analysis, single-port expanders had a 3.4× higher odds of postoperative ultrasound imaging when controlling for texture, placement, and age (P = 0.01). Mean time to IR drain placement in the dual-port group was approximately 30 days after placement in single port (51.1 versus 21.4 days, P = 0.013). Thirty-four percent of dual-port expanders had at least one aspiration in clinic performed by plastic surgery, versus 2% of single port that required ultrasound-guided aspiration (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences in key postoperative complications between the two expander cohorts. Dual-port expanders significantly reduced postoperative ultrasound imaging, and delayed IR drain placement. The added convenience of clinic aspirations likely reduced costs related to utilization of resources from other departments.

Diversity in Plastic Surgery: Trends in Minority Representation among Applicants and Residents.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have shown a lack of diversity among plastic surgery trainees. The authors evaluate trends in minority representation among applicants to plastic surgery and the correlation with practicing residents, compared to other specialties. METHODS: The Association of American Medical Colleges Electronic Residency Application Service provided applicant data for integrated, independent plastic surgery, and other select specialties from 2010 to 2016. Journal of the American Medical Association Graduate Medical Education annual reports and Association of American Medical Colleges graduate student questionnaires provided resident and medical student data. Binomial distribution analysis was used to assess differences in Black, Hispanic, and female proportions of applicants and residents. Best-fit trend lines were compared among groups and specialties. RESULTS: Women have seen an increase in integrated and independent resident representation (+2.23 percent and +0.7 percent per year, respectively) over the past 7 years, despite a relative decrease in applicants. The proportion of female applicants and residents correlated yearly for all specialties (p > 0.05). Conversely, for all years and all specialties, the Black proportion of applicants was significantly higher than the resident representation of the same year (p < 0.05). Hispanic applicant and resident representation have seen a minimal change. CONCLUSIONS: Female representation among trainees has increased greatly, but there has been a decline in Black representation of integrated plastic surgery residents despite increases in medical school graduates and applicants. The data highlight a discrepancy between the population of applicants and residents suggesting that barriers starting from medical school may contribute to the lack of diversity in plastic surgery.

Evaluation of Information Sources in Plastic Surgery Decision-making.

Background Today, patients can access a myriad of information sources regarding plastic surgery procedures prior to meeting with a surgeon. Despite their widespread use, the role of these sources in a patient's decision-making remains undefined. We hypothesized that the physician remains the key information source for patients making surgical decisions in plastic surgery, but that other sources may deliver important insights and prove helpful to varying degrees. We also explored motivations for this outside information search and any differences in perceived value among patients. Methods We administered a survey regarding various information sources to our breast reconstruction, reduction, and abdominoplasty patients. Responses were compared between surgery groups and demographic groups. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to determine the impact of patient characteristics on helpfulness rank of different sources. Results Survey results were obtained from 58 patients, of whom 10 (17.2%) had abdominoplasty, 35 (60.3%) breast reconstruction, and 13 (22.4%) breast reduction. The most popular information sources prior to the first surgical appointment were Internet searches (56.9%) and family/friends/other patients (39.7%). After the initial appointment, the most useful sources were plastic surgeons (84.5%), and the Internet (36.2%). Most patients (73.5%) still sought outside information after their appointment. On a Likert-type scale of helpfulness, plastic surgeons ranked 4.28/5, followed by the web-based patient education platform, 3.73 and the Internet, 3.6. A total of 63% of participants listed plastic surgeons as their single most important source of information. In ordinal logistic regression analysis, non-white race was significantly associated with higher rank of surgeon helpfulness (p < 0.05). Relative to low-income patients, income $50-100k (p < 0.05) and $100k+ (p < 0.05) were associated with lower rank of surgeon helpfulness. Conclusions Most patients seek outside information prior to visiting with a surgeon from the Internet, social media, or family and friends. Patients consider plastic surgeons their most valuable information source overall, though still in need of supplementation for varying reasons. Additionally, certain demographic differences affect patient perception of information sources, and this is an important factor for surgeons to consider as they approach educating patients.