Jose Maria Serra-Renom

Reconstruction of soft-tissue defects of the heel with local fasciocutaneous flaps

Soft tissue heel defects reconstruction represents a challenge for plastic surgeons because of the poor availability of regional tissue to perform the reconstruction. We divide the heel on the anterior or weight-bearing heel and the posterior or non–weight-bearing heel. Our preferences are the fasciocutaneous instep flap for anterior heel defects and the reverse sural flap for posterior heel defects. We have performed 11 reconstructions of the heel. The complications were total necrosis of 1 instep flap in a previously irradiated patient and 1 case of partial tip necrosis in a reverse sural flap. Functional recovery has been very satisfactory for both procedures. Regional island flaps are for us the first therapeutic option because the skin is similar to the lost one and less time consuming than a free-flap reconstruction.

Assessing the Long-Term Viability of Facial Fat Grafts: An Objective Measure Using Computed Tomography

BACKGROUND Autologous fat transplantation for soft tissue augmentation is a commonly used technique without a universally accepted approach. The literature includes a variety of reports describing varying degrees of success or failure. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the behavior of facial fat grafts in humans with the use of an objective measuring tool. METHODS A prospective randomized study, comparing patients pre- and postoperatively, was designed to evaluate the long-term viability of fat grafting. Participants were 18 men and 8 women between 34 and 59 years of age (mean, 45.07 yrs; standard deviation, 6.54 yrs). A total of 52 hemifaces in 26 patients diagnosed with HIV and demonstrating facial lipoatrophy were treated with fat transplantation using Colemans technique. HIV-positive patients were chosen as study participants because their nearly total lack of subcutaneous fat diminishes the bias in the evaluation of fat volume. Fat graft viability was evaluated by measuring the volume of adipose tissue evolution via computed tomography scan before fat grafting, at the second month after fat grafting, and 1 year after fat grafting. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS The mean volume on the right and left cheeks before fat grafting was 1.57 cc. The mean volume 2 months after the procedure was 2.93 cc with a statistically significant mean increase of 1.36 cc (P < .001) between baseline and the second month after the procedure. The mean volume after 12 months was 3.29 cc (P < .001), with a mean increase compared with the baseline of 1.72 cc, and of 0.36 cc between months 2 and 12. The statistically significant posttreatment improvement (P < .001) was maintained until month 12 of the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS Using objective measurement, this study demonstrates that with one fat grafting procedure a durable result can be achieved, persisting for a minimum of 12 months without any trend towards reabsorption.

Augmentation mammaplasty with anatomic soft, cohesive silicone implant using the transaxillary approach at a subfascial level with endoscopic assistance

Background: Many augmentation mammaplasty techniques have been developed paying special attention to incision location and pocket plane to achieve more natural-looking breasts. Methods: The authors’ technique of choice in patients with mammary hypoplasia, empty breasts following a diet program, or more than one lactation episode causing skin flaccidity without ptosis is the placement of an anatomical implant using a transaxillary approach in a subfascial plane with endoscopic assistance. Thus, ideal patients are those presenting mammary hypoplasia, empty breasts following two or more lactation episodes, and breast skin flaccidity without ptosis, with the nipple-areola complex placed above the inframammary fold. The technique and its indications are presented thoroughly. Results: Forty-five patients were operated on using this technique from May of 2001 to October of 2003. One-year follow-up results showed highly rated patient satisfaction. One patient underwent an implant exchange because of implant size dissatisfaction. Conclusions: The authors prefer subfascial plane implants to submuscular ones. Possible rotation of anatomic implants and the subsequent asymmetry when contracting the pectoral muscle are avoided. Pectoral muscle is not detached from its insertions, resulting in less postoperative pain. Likewise, the authors prefer a subfascial to subglandular pocket since the weight of the subglandular pocket and the glandular weight itself are borne by the skin envelope leading to breast ptosis development over time. On the other hand, fascia provides additional support to the subfascial implant, thus eliminating ptosis development and achieving good filling of the upper pole similar to the filling provided by subglandular implants.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Mixed-Fat Grafting: A Reasonable Prosurvival Strategy for Fat GraftS?

BackgroundOne of the most interesting developments in practical applications of fat grafting in recent years is the use of prosurvival strategies to improve maintenance of volume. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) plays a decisive role in the repair and regeneration of different tissues via the activation and secretion of a great variety of growth factors and other cytokines stored in the alpha-granules of the platelets. This review aimed to assess the efficacy of PRP mixed-fat grafting as a prosurvival strategy for fat grafts.MethodsOnline searches of the Cochrane Library and MEDLINE until January 2014 were conducted. The review included studies with at least one clinical end point in which the effect of PRP on the absorption and viability of the fat graft could be assessed.ResultsThe review comprised 6 preclinical studies with a control group and 9 clinical studies of humans. It also included comparative studies performed with other prosurvival strategies for fat grafts, such as combination with the stromal vascular fraction and second-generation PRP, also called “platelet-rich fibrin.” The results indicate that PRP may have a dose-dependent positive effect on fat grafts and suggest low complication rates.ConclusionsThe development of new growth factor delivery systems or cell therapies to enrich fat grafts is an area that merits further research.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.

Mammary reconstruction using tissue expander and partial detachment of the pectoralis major muscle to expand the lower breast quadrants.

The techniques commonly used in breast reconstruction with tissue expanders do not provide a good definition of the lower breast quadrant. With the authors’ technique a better profile of the breast is achieved. Partial detachment of the pectoral muscle is performed, suturing it to the lower skin flap and thereby avoiding cranial migration of the expander. In addition a rounded shape of the lower quadrants is achieved and the expander remains in a subcutaneous position.

Breast Reconstruction With Fat Grafting Alone

We describe our technique for breast reconstruction using fat grafting alone in patients with flaccid, elastic skin, via multiple injections of fat tissue. The technique involves following 3 stages: puckering stitches, to remodel the mass each time fat grafting is performed; cone formation-pexia, the creation and lifting of a cone with the tissue from the area; and neoformation of the inframammary fold, in which the cone is anchored in the pectoralis major and the fold at the level of the sixth rib. Using fat grafting and these 3 maneuvers, we obtain satisfactory breast reconstruction.

Periorbital rejuvenation to improve the negative vector with blepharoplasty and fat grafting in the malar area.

Purpose: Periorbital rejuvenation is not achieved by upper and lower blepharoplasty alone; the presence of malar atrophy and the excessive length of the lower eyelid may change the faces oval shape, with the progressive formation of the negative vector. We describe our technique combining blepharoplasty and malar fat grafting to reverse the negative vector. Methods: After thorough anamnesis, we perform the blepharoplasty and canthopexy if necessary. In the upper blepharoplasty, we do not extirpate muscle, and in the lower blepharoplasty, we extirpate the fat pads via the transconjunctival route. In the case of excess skin, we prefer to perform skin pinching without resecting muscle, followed by a canthopexy. We then perform malar fat grafting by using fat obtained with low to moderate-pressure aspiration and centrifugation, injected with criss-cross tunnels in the malar region with a volume of 7 to 12 cm3 of fat on each side. Results: Between 2006 and 2010, we operated on 142 female patients (age range, 45–74 years). The follow-up period was 2 years. In patients with “good fat quality” (n = 129), the results at 24 months were “excellent” in 93.79% of cases, “good” in 3.8%, and “fair” in 2.32%. The medical teams ratings were “excellent” in 97.6% of cases and “good” in 2.3%. In patients with “poor fat quality” (n = 13) at 12 months, a high percentage of the injected fat had been reabsorbed. The application of high-density hyaluronic acid was recommended (16). Conclusion: Periorbital rejuvenation is a part of integral facial rejuvenation and is achieved only if, in addition to the blepharoplasty, the negative vector is also corrected. With the technique of malar fat grafting, we achieve very good remodeling of the oval face shape, correct the negative vector, and shorten the height of the eyelid; the preadipocytes improve the tissue quality, especially in the skin.

Hip and Buttock Implants to Enhance the Feminine Contour for Patients with HIV

The antiretroviral therapy for patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes lipodystrophy, or a change in the distribution of body. Treatment for the facial changes is well addressed and covered in the recent literature, but female patients also report changes in their buttocks and lower limbs. There is no treatment for the lower limb deformity, but plastic surgeons can do something for the buttock. The authors propose a classification for the deformities of these patients and a new solution to improve the contour of this area and to reduce the social impact of deformity on women with HIV. This consists of placing two silicone implants, in the buttock and on the hip, to give a rounder appearance. The authors think that hip implants may be indicated also for gender reassignment surgery and for women with masculine features.

Cortical tibial bone graft for nasal augmentation: donor site short scar.

The nose is the central part of the face and the most prominent facial feature. Augmentation rhinoplasty is one of the most exciting and arduous techniques for plastic surgeon and patient. Fourteen cases of augmentation rhinoplasty with cortical tibial bone graft are presented. An endonasal approach was used in 13 cases and an open approach in one case, with a donor site short scar (1.5 cm) in every case. The average follow up was 2 years and no significant bone resorption was observed. No remarkable complications or complications requiring surgery were noted during the follow up. The cosmetics results have been gratifying.

Endoscopic breast reconstruction with intraoperative complete tissue expansion and partial detachment of the pectoralis muscle

We present the surgical technique for mammary reconstruction using tissue expander with endoscopic approach, associated to partial detachment of the pectoralis muscle at the fourth rib and complete or nearly complete intraoperative expansion. Tissue expansion for breast reconstruction is a well-honored technique that provides satisfying esthetic outcomes, with minimal morbidity for the patient. Nevertheless, this technique has some potential problems: (1) wound dehiscence with extrusion of the expander; (2) the patient discomfort during the expansion process (weekly visits for the refill of the expander); (3) the poor definition of the lower pole of the breast and cranial migration of the expander with excessive roundness of the upper pole. By using intraoperative tissue expansion, these drawbacks can be avoided. We report herein our experience with this technique in 53 consecutive patients (56 breasts) undergoing a secondary breast reconstruction since December 2001.