Anna Kasielska

Tattooing and Body Piercing - What Motivates You To Do It?

Background: Body ornamentation is becoming more and more popular, especially among young people. Aims: To establish the sociodemographic characteristics of people with tattoos or body piercing and to analyze the motivations for body ornamentation. Methods: The questionnaire studies were undertaken in Lodz — one of the largest cities in Poland. The data was collected from a group of 968 people, 476 of whom had a piercing and 492 a permanent tattoo. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that in the group of people with a tattoo, 36.8% were female and 63.2% were male. Contrary proportions were noted among people with a piercing: 78.8% female and 21.2% male. Conclusions: Body piercing is significantly more popular among women while tattooing is more popular in men. Among adolescents, body piercing is performed considerably earlier than tattooing. The main reasons for body ornamenting in the Polish population are the desire to enhance one’s individuality and the need to increase sexual attractiveness.

Surgical management of gynecomastia: an outcome analysis.

BackgroundThe aim of the study was to evaluate the surgical management of gynecomastia focusing on techniques, complications, and aesthetic results. The authors also proposed an evaluation scale of the cosmetic results after the treatment. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of 113 patients undergoing the surgery for gynecomastia in our department. Preoperative clinical evaluation included the grade of gynecomastia, its etiology, and side, whereas postoperative analysis concerned histologic findings, complications, and cosmetic results. ResultsOperative techniques included subcutaneous mastectomy through circumareolar approach in 94 patients, subcutaneous mastectomy with skin excision in 9 patients, inverted-T reduction mastopexy with nipple-areola complex (NAC) transposition in 6 subjects, and breast amputation through inframammary fold approach with free transplantation of NAC in 4 cases. Complications occurred in a total of 25 patients and did not differ statistically within Simon stages. ConclusionsThe operative technique appeared to be the crucial determinant of good aesthetic outcome. The postoperative result of shape and symmetry of the NAC was not as satisfactory as postoperative breast size and symmetry. We showed that subcutaneous mastectomy using a circumareolar incision without additional liposuction provides a good or very good aesthetic outcome in patients with Simon grades I to IIa gynecomastia and that it is challenging to achieve a very good or even a good aesthetic outcome in patients with Simon grades IIb to III gynecomastia.

Variety of complications after auricle piercing

Body piercing is a known and popular method of body ornamentation. Modern body piercing includes wearing jewelry in such body areas as the helix (ear), eyebrows, nose, lips, tongue, chin, nipples, navel, and genitals. The current piercing definition does not comprise piercing of the earlobe; however, this body area is still the most common on which jewelry is worn. The aim of this research is to present a spectrum of complications after auricle piercing and to consider including earlobe piercing in the modern definition of body piercing.

Family physicians' perception of plastic surgery and its influence on referral. A survey from Poland.

Abstract Background: Inadequate family physicians’ knowledge of plastic surgery might be a barrier for patients to benefit from plastic surgery treatments reimbursed by the Polish National Health Service (NHS). Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess family physicians’ awareness of the indications for plastic surgery, and their knowledge of conditions that are treated without extra costs for the patient in plastic surgery outpatient clinics (OCs). Methods: An e-mail survey was carried out in a group of 100 out of 378 randomly selected primary care doctors currently practicing in Lodz, central Poland. Respondents were asked to fill in a questionnaire, which contained questions about conditions with reimbursed treatments in plastic surgery OCs. We also provided them with a list of diseases and asked them to which OC they would refer a patient in such case. Results: 58 primary care physicians responded: 30 specialists in family medicine and 28 residents in the final year of their specialization in family medicine. Respondents had good knowledge of the range of conditions managed in plastic surgery OCs. They were also aware of most of the medical procedures not being reimbursed by the Polish NHS. However, some indications for plastic surgery as well as the free availability of relevant medical procedures were known by less than half of the respondents (e.g. lipoma 47%, gynaecomastia 28%, and xanthelasma palpebrarum 16%). Conclusion: To improve collaboration between plastic surgeons and family physicians basic information regarding plastic surgery might be included in residency programmes in family medicine.

Effect of operative treatment on psychosocial problems of men with gynaecomastia.

Gynaecomastia is defined as a hyperplasia of the breast tissue in men, bilateral or unilateral, usually not associated with the presence of malignant lesions.The aim of the study was to explore the psychosocial problems of men with gynecomastia and the effect of operative breast reduction on these problems.Material and methods. The survey was conducted in a group of 47 men who were treated surgically for gynaecomastia in the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. The mean age of the respondents was 25.6±3.5 years. For survey purposes, a questionnaire was developed with questions about the age of onset of gynaecomastia, coexisting disorders and medicines taken and also various aspects of the psychosocial life of the respondents. The questionnaire was completed by patients before surgery and at minimum 6 months after surgery.Results. The findings showed that in almost all patients gynaecomastia had caused emotional discomfort and limitation of everyday activity. In many patients, enlarged breasts caused difficulties in entering into social relationships. More than a half of the surveyed men admitted that their problems were ridiculed by others and they felt isolated. A comparison of the respondents answers before and after the surgery showed statistically significant differences in all of the analysed questionnaire items.Conclusions. Gynaecomastia causes considerable emotional discomfort and limitation of everyday activity in young men, and that is why it constitutes a psychosocial problem. Surgical treatment of gynaecomastia significantly contributes to an increase in social activity and an improvement of social acceptance and emotional comfort, and thus significantly improves satisfaction from personal life in the men who underwent this intervention.

Face Skin Neoplasms - Reasons for Delayed Treatment

UNLABELLEDnThe most common skin neoplasms are carcinoma: basocellulare, spinocellulare, planoepitheliale and melanoma malignum. Early surgical treatment is crucial for recovery as well as for good aesthetic result, especially on exposed body parts. All those lesions are visible for observers and the time from their appearance to surgical treatment seems to be too long. The aim of the study was to answer the following questions: 1. After what time from the skin lesion appearance the patients report to a surgeon? 2. What is the underlying cause of delayed reporting for treatment of patients with skin lesions?nnnMATERIAL AND METHODSnQuestionnaire studies and analysis of medical histories were performed in the group of patients referred to Plastic Surgery Out-Patient Clinic in Łódź because of facial skin tumor in the last 5 years. Finally we collected data for 123 patients.nnnRESULTSnThe analyzed group consisted mostly of men (n=72). The age of respondents ranged from 45 to 92 years, mean 69.9 years ± 10.8 years. Mean time from observing lesion to the first medical consultation was 7.3 months and to visiting our Out-Patient Clinic was 2.7 years (ranged from 3 months to 16 years). All patients were qualified to surgical excision of tumor. Histopathological verification confirmed diagnosis of malignant neoplasms in 116 patients. In question concerning causes of delay in medical consultation or treatment, all respondents answered that fear of surgical procedure was one of the reasons.nnnCONCLUSIONSnFear of surgical treatment is the most common cause of delay in patients visiting doctor. In our society conviction of neoplasm spreading after surgical excision is common, especially among elderly.

Should we say NO to body piercing in children? Complications after ear piercing in children.

Backgroundu2002 The popularity of body piercing procedures is increasing around the world. The trend for body ornamentation is not free from risks. The percentage of various complications following such procedures is growing. The aim of this paper is to present a rare complication after earlobe piercing, which happened to a child.

Influence of Internal Carotid Endarterectomy on Patients' Life Quality

UNLABELLEDnAppropriate treatment of symptomatic carotid artery stenosis can reduce ischemic cerebral strokes risk and in some cases eliminate neurological symptoms. Endarterectomy is the most common surgical treatment. The aim of the study was to examine the influence of carotid endarterectomy on neurological symptoms and patients life quality.nnnMATERIAL AND METHODSnThe material comprised of 102 patients who underwent endarterectomy. All of the patients were given a questionnaire with a list of neurological symptoms (vertigos, headaches, left hemiparesis, right hemiparesis, numbness, acroparaesthesia, single syncope, recurrent syncopies, diplopia, tinnitus, concentration disturbances and aphasia) and with a numerical life quality scale to fill in before and a year after the surgery.nnnRESULTSnVertigo, headache, single and recurrent syncopies and aphasia as well as cerebral stroke and amaurosis fugax were significantly more rarely observed after endarterectomy. The mean value of patients life quality evaluated on a 10-point Likert scale after the surgery increased (3.9 vs 6.3).nnnCONCLUSIONSnA year after carotid endarterectomy patients life quality improves which is connected with neurological symptoms regression and no further symptoms occurrence due to a preventive role of the surgery.