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The use of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) for breast reconstruction continues to change in both single- and two-stage reconstruction. Determining optimal outcomes clinically, aesthetically, financially as well as for the patient's quality of life has become a priority.A retrospective review of implant-based reconstructions was performed at a single center from 2010 to 2016, with patients blindly matched 1:1:1 into three cohorts based on reconstruction type: 1) single stage direct to implant with ADM, 2) two-stage tissue expander to implant (TE/I) without ADM, and 3) two-stage TE/I with ADM. Relative cost between groups, esthetic outcomes, and quality of life within each group was analyzed.Group 1 was more likely to be older and use intraoperative angiography, but with fewer overall surgeries and postoperative visits (p0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in reconstructive success among all three groups (p = 0.85). Cost was significantly higher for group 3 relative to groups 1 and 2. Overall appearance was higher in groups 1 and 3 relative to group 2, with radiation therapy the only independent factor. Group 1 had higher scores using Breast-Q for the physical well-being domain (p = 0.01).This is the first study to incorporate clinical outcomes, esthetic visual grading, and patient-reported quality within the same cohort of individuals, considering both use of ADM and staging. Despite the added ADM cost, it is proven safe, eliminates time and cost associated with tissue expanders, decreases post-operative visits and can lead to equally as functional and aesthetically pleasing outcomes in single- and two-stage breast reconstructions.

Neck fat distribution plays an important role in aging, yet how fat distribution changes with age is largely unknown. This study used volumetric computed tomography in live patients to characterize neck fat volume and distribution in young and elderly women.A retrospective analysis was conducted of head and neck computed tomographic angiographs of 20 young (aged 20 to 35 years) and 20 old (aged 65 to 89 years) women. Fat volume in the supraplatysmal and subplatysmal planes was quantified. Distribution of fat volume was assessed by dividing each supraplatysmal and subplatysmal compartment into upper, middle, and lower thirds.Total supraplatysmal fat volume was greater than subplatysmal in all patients. Young patients had more total supraplatysmal fat than old patients (p0.0001). No difference was found between age groups in subplatysmal fat (p0.05). No difference was found between upper/middle/lower third supraplatysmal fat volumes in young patients. When comparing supraplatysmal thirds within the elderly population, the middle third fat volume (28.58 ± 20.01 cm3) was greater than both upper (18.93 ± 10.35 cm3) and lower thirds (15.46 ± 11.57 cm3) (p0.01).This study suggests that total supraplatysmal fat volume decreases with age. Older patients had more fat volume in the upper and middle thirds compared with the lower third of the supraplatysmal fat compartment, whereas young patients had more evenly distributed fat. These results suggest that fat deposition and redistribution in the neck occur with age and may be a contributing factor to the obtuse cervicomandibular angle of the elderly.

Le Fort III osteotomy represents the foundation of surgical correction for midface hypoplasia. One serious complication of Le Fort III osteotomy is severing the internal maxillary artery or its branches during osteotome advancement for pterygomaxillary dysjunction. This study sought to characterize the relevant surgical anatomy of the infratemporal fossa and of the internal maxillary artery as it enters the pterygomaxillary fissure.Bilateral midface dissections were performed on 15 fresh, normocephalic adult cadavers (30 hemifaces). Four superficial anatomical measurements were performed on the surface of the face, followed by 10 deep measurements of the internal maxillary artery and its branches relative to the infratemporal fossa and its surrounding bony landmarks.The distance from the anterosuperior aspect of the zygomatic arch to the sphenopalatine artery entering the pterygomaxillary fissure was 38.9 ± 3.2 mm. The distance from the alveolar process of the maxillary bone to the sphenopalatine artery entry into the pterygomaxillary fissure was 30.3 ± 6.4 mm. The zygomaticofrontal suture was 43.4 ± 8.5 mm from the sphenopalatine artery entry into the pterygomaxillary fissure, 58.8 ± 8.0 mm from the pterygomaxillary junction, and 74.9 ± 6.5 mm from the maxillary alveolar process. The distance from the sphenopalatine artery to the posterior superior alveolar artery was 14.4 ± 4.1 mm. Elevation of the internal maxillary artery from the lateral pterygoid plate was 5.8 ± 2.5 mm.This study characterizes the surgical anatomy of the infratemporal fossa in the context of Le Fort III osteotomies and their associated pterygomaxillary dysjunctions.

Recent studies reviewing large patient databases suggested that age may be an independent risk factor for abdominoplasty. However, these investigations by design considered only short-term major complications.The purpose of this investigation was: (1) to compare the safety of abdominoplasty in an elderly and younger patient population; (2) to determine the complication rates across all spectrums: major, minor, local, and systemic; and (3) to evaluate complications occurring both short and long term.Abdominoplasty procedures performed from 2010 to 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Subjects were divided into two groups: ≤59 years old and ≥60 years old. Major, minor, local, and systemic complications were analyzed. Patient demographics, comorbidities, perioperative details, adjunctive procedures were also assessed.A total of 129 patients were included in the study: 43 in the older and 86 in the younger age group. The median age of The elderly and young groups was 65.0 and 41.5 years, respectively (P.001). No statistically significant differences in major, minor, local, or systemic complications were found when both age groups were compared. Major local, major systemic, minor local, and minor systemic in the elderly were 6.9%, 2.3%, 18.6%, and 2.3%, while in the younger patients were 9.3%, 4.7%, 10.5%, and 0.0%, respectively (P.05). Median follow-up time of the elderly (4.0 months) was no different than the younger (5.0 months) patients (P.07). Median procedure time in the elderly (4.5 hours) was no different than the younger group (5.0 hours) (P = .4). The elderly exhibited a greater American Society of Anesthesiologist score, median body mass index (28.7 vs 25.1 kg/m2), and number of comorbidities (2.7 vs 0.9) (P.001).There was no significant difference in either major or minor complications between the two groups. This suggests that with proper patient selection, abdominoplasty can be safely performed in the older age patient population.2.

A breast cancer diagnosis imposes significant emotional and psychological duress. The purpose of this study is to assess the baseline quality of life (QOL) of immediate, delayed, and secondary breast reconstruction patients, comparing these results with QOL in women seeking plastic surgery for cosmetic breast, and non-breast procedures. From 2012 through 2013, immediate (group 1), delayed (group 2), and secondary (Group 3) reconstruction patients, aesthetic breast (group 4) and non-breast plastic surgery patients (group 5) answered Breast-Q questionnaires. Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 answered 141, 12, 23, 72 and 160 preoperative questionnaires respectively. There was no difference (p = NS) in breast satisfaction, psychosocial well-being, physical well-being-chest, and sexual well-being between groups 1 and 5. Group 1 had higher satisfaction with breast (p 0.01), psychosocial (p 0.01) and sexual well-being (p 0.01) when compared to groups 2 and 4. Group 1 had higher satisfaction with breasts (p 0.01) compared to group 3. Group 4 did not differ in satisfaction with breasts, psychosocial, and sexual well-being, compared to groups 2 and 3. Group 4 had lower scores in all domains, compared to groups 1 and 5 (p 0.01). No significant difference in QOL was found between groups 2 and 3. Preoperatively, immediate reconstruction patients had similar satisfaction with breasts, psychosocial well-being, and chest physical well-being, compared to non-breast plastic surgery patients. Aesthetic breast surgery patients demonstrate similar low scores in satisfaction with breasts, psychosocial well-being, and sexual well-being to those of patients prior to delayed breast reconstruction, or secondary salvage procedures.

BACKGROUND The average integrated plastic surgery applicant spends over $6000 for interviews. The average program director reviews over 200 applications per cycle. It is important to make the application process efficient and cost effective for both applicants and programs. The authors analyzed recent trends and the literature in an attempt to increase the likelihood that applicants match, suggest means of reducing applicants' costs, and improve the process. METHODS A cross-sectional study of the National Residency Matching Program Charting Outcomes and results and data for the years 2009 to 2014 was performed. Applicant profile elements were examined for differences between matched/unmatched U.S. senior medical students. In addition, a literature review was performed. RESULTS The number of integrated plastic surgery positions rose from 69 in 2010 to 130 in 2014. Both matched and unmatched U.S. senior medical students have higher Step 2 scores, research and volunteer experiences, than 5 years ago. The likelihood of matching into an integrated plastic surgery residency has increased (2009, 52 percent; 2011, 44 percent; and 2014, 71 percent). Successful match rates were associated with Alpha Omega Alpha status and graduating from a top-40 ranked medical school (p < 0.05). Applicants with a lower number of ranked programs had increased match rates in 2014 than in previous years. Literature review revealed that program directors also value strong recommendation letters, publications, persistent work ethic ("grit"), away rotations, and an accurate curriculum vitae. CONCLUSIONS Within the setting of increased applicant competitiveness, the authors recommend maximizing subjective qualities in order to differentiate themselves from a highly eligible applicant pool. In addition, applicants should diversify the types of programs at which they interview to maximize their chances of matching.

Background Competition among our sister cosmetic specialties continues to increase. Once a field dominated by plastic surgeons, there is a clear trend toward increased competition from core and non-core disciplines. While these marketplace trends are obvious, how such competition has affected academia or peer reviewed publications is less clear. Objectives We analyzed the most cited peer reviewed facial aesthetic literature over the past five decades to see if marketplace trends are echoed in a similar manner across the academic disciplines of plastic surgery, otolaryngology, dermatology, and ophthalmology. Methods The top 50 cited articles for each decade from the 1970s to the 2010s were identified for the topics of facelift, rhinoplasty, browlift, and blepharoplasty using the Thomson/Reuters Web of Knowledge. Data collected were: the number of citations/article, first authors' specialty affiliation, and journal specialty affiliation. Data were plotted graphically and trends were analyzed. Results With regards to first authorship, plastic surgery had the highest percentage across all surgeries at every time point, except for rhinoplasty from 2010-present, when otolaryngology had a higher percentage (48% vs 40%). Observed trends demonstrated: (1) increasing contributions from otolaryngology in rhinoplasty, facelift, and browlift; and (2) increasing contributions from ophthalmology in blepharoplasty. Plastic surgery journals are the most common platform for publication across all four surgeries. Conclusions Plastic surgeons, and plastic surgery journals, still remain a strong force in academic facial cosmetic surgery. However, it appears that the competition from non-plastic surgeons observed in clinical practice is being mirrored in the area of journal publications. We as a specialty need to continue to strive for high quality academic productivity. [10.1093/asj/sjv240][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1093/asj/sjv240

The sphenopalatine ganglion is an extracranial neural structure within the pterygopalatine fossa. Modulation of this region via implantation of a neuromodulatory device presents a novel therapy for the treatment of facial and head pain. Yet sex, race, and genetic factors contribute to morphological variations between individuals. This study defines the standards and variations of the bony landmarks surrounding the pterygopalatine fossa. One hundred dry skulls were analyzed from the Hamann-Todd osteological collection. Ten anatomical dimensions were measured on each side of the face for each specimen (vidian foramen, zygomatic buttress, zygomatic maxillary suture, pyriform rim, infraorbital rim, pterygoid maxillary suture, greater palatine foramen, auditory canal, and pterygoid fossa). A statistical analysis was performed for both sides of the face based on sex and race. When stratified by sex, 7 of the 10 measurements revealed a statistically significant difference bilaterally. When stratified by race, 5 of the 10 measurements demonstrated a statistically significant difference bilaterally. Both male and African American skulls showed greater hemifacial values bilaterally when compared with their respective counterparts. The only statistically significant measurement on both the left and right sides of all skulls was the length from the vidian foramen to the infraorbital rim. Defining the anatomical mean distance between skull landmarks and highlighting differences between sex and race not only provides further insight into relative skull anatomy, but also sets the stage for device innovation.