İbrahim Alper Aksakal

The Effect of Chemodenervation by Botulinum Neurotoxin on the Degradation of Hyaluronic Acid Fillers: An Experimental Study.

Background: Early degradation is a common complaint for hyaluronic acid fillers. Although the combination of hyaluronic acid fillers with botulinum neurotoxin type A presented improved clinical results, objective measurement of hyaluronic acid volumes has not been previously assessed. Methods: In this study, the authors have split the calvaria of the rabbit to mimic the glabellar region in humans. In this model, the authors applied hyaluronic acid alone to one side and hyaluronic acid combined with botulinum neurotoxin type A to the contralateral side. Two days and 3 months after the filler injection, magnetic resonance imaging was performed to assess the filler volumes. Results: Average initial volume of filler only and filler combined with botulinum neurotoxin type A was 0.61 cm3 on both sides, and there was no difference between initial volumes of the two sides (p = 0.735). At the end of 3 months, average degraded volumes of filler-only and filler combined with botulinum neurotoxin sides were 0.33 cm3 and 0.19 cm3, respectively, and the degradation difference was significant between the two groups (p = 0.001). End volumes for the filler-only and filler combined with botulinum neurotoxin sides were 0.28 cm3 and 0.42 cm3, respectively, and end volumes between two sides were also statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that hyaluronic acid filler application in combination with botulinum neurotoxin type A significantly decreases the degradation process and increases the remaining volume of the hyaluronic acid fillers at the end of the paralyzed period.

The Effect of Epigallocatechin Gallate on Flap Viability of Rat Perforator Abdominal Flaps

Background Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a substance abundant in green tea. In this study, the effects of EGCG on perforator flap viability were investigated. Methods A total of 40 rats were assigned to four groups of 10 each. In each subject, a 4 × 6 cm abdominal skin flap was raised and adapted back onto its place. In the control group, no further procedures were taken. In the flap group, 40 mg/kg/d EGCG was injected into the flap. In the gavage group, 100 mg/kg/d EGCG was given through a feeding tube. In the intraperitoneal group, 50 mg/kg/d EGCG was injected intraperitoneally. On the 7th postoperative day, flaps were photographed and the viable areas were measured and compared via a one-way analysis of variance. Results The ratios of viable and contracted flap area were 9.15/12.01, 4.59/16.46, 11.56/11.20, and 11.65/10.77 cm(2) for the control, flap group, gavage group, and intraperitoneal group, respectively. While the flap group yielded the worst results in the sense of flap contraction and viability (p < 0.001), the gavage and intraperitoneal groups were significantly better than those of the control group (p = 0.03). Histologically, epidermal, papillary dermal, and capillary tissue volumes were evaluated. In comparison to the control group, the flap group yielded significantly increased epidermal and dermal volumes (p = 0.03), however, these values were significantly decreased (p = 0.04) in the gavage and intraperitoneal groups. Capillary volumes were significantly decreased in EGCG treatment groups (p < 0.01). Conclusion Our experiment has shown that oral and intraperitoneal administration of EGCG increases the perforator flap viability when compared with controls, while direct injection decreases the viability.

Our Treatment Approaches in Severe Maxillofacial Injuries Occurring After Failed Suicide Attempts Using Long-Barreled Guns.

AbstractMaxillofacial traumas with long-barreled guns may sometimes cause catastrophic results by means of smashing in facial structures. In these patients, reconstruction strategies of both fragmented/lost soft and hard tissues still remain controversial. In their clinic, the authors treated 5 patients with severely injured face after failed suicide attempt between 2008 and 2013. In this study, the authors aimed to present their clinical experiences on these severely injured maxillofacial gunshot traumas and offer a treatment algorithm to gain a result as possible as satisfactory in terms of functionality and appearance.

Auto-Rim Flap Technique for Lateral Crura Caudal Excess Treatment

Background There are many variables that influence nose tip harmony. Even in a rhinoplasty that appears successful in profile, one may see nostril asymmetries, alar retractions, or irregularities in the soft triangle, and patients express their dissatisfaction with these simple deformities. Objectives In this study, we define the ratio of caudal and cephalic excess of the lower lateral cartilage. We evaluate whether it is possible to eliminate nostril asymmetries and alar retractions by means of supporting the facet polygon with the help of a lower lateral cartilage auto-rim flap, a technique we have developed in our rhinoplasties. Methods The auto-rim flap was used successively on 498 primary rhinoplasty patients on whom the same surgeon operated between May 2013 and June 2015, performing marginal incisions. Results Of the 498 patients in the series, only 1 of the first 10 required a revision due to tip asymmetry related to the auto-rim flap. A minimal nostril asymmetry that did not require intervention occurred in 10 patients. In none of the patients could an increased alar retraction be seen postoperatively. All patients exhibited alar cartilage in the anatomically correct position. Conclusions With the auto-rim flap technique, a part of the caudal excess of the alar cartilage remains as a flap in the facet region; therefore, there is no need in the cephalic region to perform more of an excision than what is strictly necessary. Level of Evidence 4 Therapeutic

Unintentional Complications After Uneventful Rhinoplasty Operations: Case Reports and a Review of the Literature

IntroductionNo surgical procedure is free of complications; however, some of these complications are unintentional. Plastic surgeons may be unfamiliar with certain complications after rhinoplasty operations. In this study, we aimed to present four unintentional complications that have occurred in our patients and review the literature related to these complications.Materials and MethodsIn this study, we conducted a review of 1400 patients who were operated on from 2007 to 2015. The medical recordings of all patients were investigated. Four patients with unintentional complications after rhinoplasty operations are presented and the related literature was reviewed.CasesCases 1 and 2: These patients included a 26-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man who developed herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections after a primary septorhinoplasty. Case 3: This was a 25-year-old woman who developed periorbital emphysema after a primary rhinoplasty operation. Case 4: This was a 22-year-old woman who developed a second-degree burn on the nasal dorsum. All patients healed without sequel or scars.DiscussionMany unexpected complications have been reported in the literature. Some of these complications include bleeding disorders, allergic reactions, dermatitis, visual loss, gastric bleeding, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, false aneurysm after rhinoplasty, pneumocephalus, Tapia’s syndrome, cavernous sinus syndrome, and skin reactions to prolene.ConclusionMeticulous patient histories, consistent surgical routines, careful radiologic examinations, and frequent patient visits can help surgeons control these types of complications.No Level AssignedThis journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. 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.

Synchronous Treatment of Distant Defect Sites With Bridged Vacuum-Assisted Wound Closure Technique

To the Editor: Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) is a well-recognized minimal invasive treatment method for various acute and chronic wounds. If there are a number of wounds are present in a given anatomic region, a Y connector can be used to join 2 wound suction dressings together. As an alternative to the Y connector, some authors proposed bridging separate wounds with a piece of sponge after draping the intact skin between them. Thus, VAC can be performed using only 1 unit and 1 TRAC pad (KCI Medical Ltd, Kidlington, UK). We also frequently used the same method in our clinic; and have noticed no difference between the use of a Y connector and a bridging sponge in effectiveness of managing multiple wounds. The new VAC sponges are fashioned as flat coils that are amenable to being cut to size or unrolled and extended when needed (Fig. 1A). In this letter, we

Caudal Septal Support Versus Strut Graft in Achieving the Desired Lateral Profile in Rhinoplasty

Abstract Nasal tip support is critical to achieve a lasting result in rhinoplasty. In this article, the authors compared the effects of strut grafts (SG) and caudal septum-based nasal tip supporting techniques (CSB-T) in terms of reaching the desired tip projection. Included in this study were 40 patients (24 women and 16 men) who underwent primary open rhinoplasty via transcolumellar incision between January and June 2012. To achieve a good nasal projection, SG and CSB-T were used for 15 and 25 of these patients, respectively. Certain anatomic landmarks were identified on preoperative, simulative, and 1-year follow-up photos. With these landmarks, certain angular and proportional values were calculated. In the SG, the authors found no statistically significant difference in between simulative goals and postoperative results regarding bending angle. Postoperative nasolabial angle (NLA), tip angle, subnasal-tip/subnasal-radix (SnT/SnR) ratios were significantly lower than the simulation values; radix angle and supratip index values were significantly higher. In the CSB-T group, the authors found no statistically significant difference in between preoperative values and postoperative results regarding NLA, tip angle, bending angle, (SnT/SnR) ratio values. Postoperative supratip index and radix angle measurements were found to be significantly higher than the simulation values. With these findings, the authors concluded that CSB-T support is superior than the SG for supporting the nasal tip in noses that also need shortening in caudal length. In noses that do not need caudal shortening, nasal tip projection can again be supported by the caudal septum by just forming a bridge between lower lateral cartilage and quadrangular septum using a wider SG that mimics septal extension grafts.

Breast reconstruction using dermoglandular flaps and fat grafting following the resection of unilateral giant fibrocystic changes

Giant benign breast masses have been reported in the literature. Most of these reports are lipomas and fibroadenomas. Fibrocystic breast disease is also very common but has not been described as a giant mass in the breast as of yet. It can also be seen with fibroadenosis combined with micro- and macro-cyst formations. In this study, the aim was to present two-stage reconstructive management to restore a severe breast asymmetry caused by a rare benign lesion. A 39-year-old woman with unilateral asymmetry in her breast was admitted to the clinic. Preoperative USG revealed fibroglandular tissue in her right breast but did not show a well-circumscribed mass. It also showed micro- and macro-cysts. It was concluded that in case of severe breast asymmetry, a combination of different techniques is required.

Correction of Overlapping Fifth Toe Deformity with Combination of Z-Plastyand Transposition Skin Flap

Overlapping fifth toe is a congenital deformity and is characterized by an external rotation of the toe so that it overrides the adjacent fourth toe. Treatment of this condition aims to permanently reposition the fifth toe and includes conservative and surgical techniques. Here we present a case of severe overlapping fifth toe deformity treated with a combination of Z-plasty and a unilobed transposition skin flap technique over a limited surgical area, associated with low morbidity.

Heterotopic Transarticular Replantation: A Functional Reconstruction Design for a Mutilated Hand with Multiple Digit Involvement

Case:A patient sustained a high-energy trauma that resulted in amputation of the middle and ring fingers, along with injuries to the thumb and the index finger. The amputations were not clean; therefore, heterotopic replantation of the best amputated part of the finger to the most functional stump was undertaken. Transarticular replantation was done at the level of the proximal interphalangeal joint without osseous fixation. Early active motion was initiated the next day. The replanted finger had excellent function. Conclusion:Whenever possible, designing a heterotopic transarticular replantation can minimize the functional drawbacks resulting from the prolonged immobilization often associated with fracture fixation.