Annals of plastic surgery
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Annals of plastic surgery · Jun 2018
Cosmetic Surgeon Representation: Ensuring Board Certification Transparency and Patient Awareness.
Previous studies revealed that patients preferred plastic surgeons over cosmetic surgeons for surgical procedures, but few knew that any physician with a medical degree was legally qualified to perform cosmetic surgery. Results also indicated that a primary consideration for patients in selecting a surgeon was board certification. Although patient preferences concerning aesthetic surgery have previously been surveyed, no study examined a consumer's ability delineate between specialties based on Web sites. The purpose of this study was to investigate the responses of medical students to questions regarding a cosmetic and plastic surgeon's board certification. ⋯ Over 50% of medical students had difficulty distinguishing between a cosmetic and plastic surgeon based on Web site advertisements; therefore, patients may have a more difficult experience. Results of this study prove the need for a universal definition, and patient education, relating to board certifications.
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Annals of plastic surgery · May 2018
Secondary Mastopexy After Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy and Staged Subcutaneous Expander/Implant Reconstruction.
The acceptance of nipple-sparing mastectomy for the treatment of breast cancer in selected patients has introduced ancillary procedures to improve breast shape, correct ptosis, and enhance breast symmetry. Mastopexy before or at the time of nipple-sparing mastectomy has been performed to correct ptosis, but there have been no reports on secondary Wise pattern mastopexy after completion of staged subcutaneous expander/implant reconstruction. ⋯ Secondary mastopexy after 2-stage subcutaneous expander/implant breast reconstruction is uncommon, but if needed, it may be safely performed to correct ptosis and improve breast shape, symmetry, and function.
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Annals of plastic surgery · Apr 2018
An Evaluation of the Choice for Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy and Patient Concerns About Recurrence in a Reconstructed Cohort.
Rising contralateral prophylactic mastectomy rates are a subject of national concern. This study assessed (1) factors critical to patients when deciding on contralateral prophylactic mastectomy and (2) patients' quality of life related to concerns about recurrence after unilateral or bilateral breast reconstruction. ⋯ Despite no proven survival benefit, women chose contralateral prophylactic mastectomy primarily to optimize oncologic outcomes. Among breast reconstruction patients, women who underwent contralateral prophylactic mastectomy had greater anxiety and overall fear of breast cancer recurrence compared with those who chose unilateral mastectomy. These findings are important to consider when counseling women contemplating contralateral prophylactic mastectomy.
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Annals of plastic surgery · Apr 2018
Comparative StudyUse of FLIR ONE Smartphone Thermography in Burn Wound Assessment.
Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) thermography technology uses a handheld camera that measures skin infrared emissivity, captures photographs, and can be analyzed through specialized software. Forward-looking infrared images can be used to analyze and correlate burn wound temperature with burn depth, burn progression, and the number of days needed for healing. FLIR ONE is a miniature, smartphone-compatible thermal imaging camera that has been used to assess inflammation in diabetic foot ulcers, as well as locating perforators in flap surgery. However, FLIR ONE's reliability in burn wound assessment has not been evaluated. This case series investigates the accuracy of FLIR ONE in comparison with the widely used indocyanine green (ICG) angiography in assessing burn wounds. ⋯ There is a strong correlation between FLIR ONE and ICG when assessing salvageable tissue in third-degree burn wounds. FLIR ONE maximizes the convenience and cost-effectiveness of infrared thermography technology but may overestimate unsalvageable tissue area. FLIR ONE is promising as an adjunct to current imaging modalities such as ICG but requires further study for comparison.