Publications

BACKGROUND: Gluteal augmentation with autologous fat grafting, colloquially referred to as Brazilian butt lift (BBL), is an increasingly common procedure with a highly reported complication profile.

OBJECTIVES: In this study we aimed to analyze the prevalence and characteristics of complications that accompanied these surgeries at ambulatory surgery facilities.

METHODS: Adults patients who experienced fat grafting complications from 2019 to 2021 were identified in QUAD A, formerly known as the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF, Highland Park, IL, USA), database. Patients and complications were analyzed based on sociodemographic, surgery-, and facility-specific variables with descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

RESULTS: Overall, 436 fat grafting procedures with complications were reported to QUAD A, with an overall complication rate of 0.94%. Of these complications, 164 (37.6%) were confirmed to be from gluteal augmentation procedures. Notably, the number of gluteal augmentation with fat grafting complications decreased from the year 2019 (48) to 2020 (36), then nearly doubled from 2020 to 2021 (69). The majority of patients were female (96.7%), with a mean age of 42.0 years and a mean BMI of 28.3 kg/m2. Wound infection was the most commonly documented complication (22.3%). Of the patients who experienced complications, 35.9% presented to a hospital for their complications and 12.6% required reoperation. Four deaths were described. There was no association between sociodemographic or surgical variables and increased odds of readmission or reoperation (P > .05), except for increasing surgeon number and reoperation (P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS: Gluteal augmentation accounts for a large proportion of complications from fat grafting procedures. Increased reporting requirements may aid in future determination of incidences of complications and improve patient safety.

OBJECTIVE: Three-dimensional printing (3Dp) and modeling have demonstrated increasing utility within plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS). This study aims to understand the prevalence of how this technology is utilized in craniofacial surgery, as well as identify barriers that may limit its integration into practice.

METHODS: A survey was developed to assess participant demographics, characteristics of 3Dp use, and barriers to utilizing three-dimensional technologies in practice. The survey was distributed to practicing craniofacial surgeons. A secondary literature review was conducted to identify solutions for barriers and potential areas for innovation.

RESULTS: Fifteen complete responses (9.7% response rate) were analyzed. The majority (73%) reported using three-dimensional modeling and printing in their practice, primarily for surgical planning. The majority (64%) relied exclusively on outside facilities to print the models, selecting resources required to train self and staff (55%), followed by the cost of staff to run the printer (36%), as the most common barriers affecting 3Dp use in their practice. Of those that did not use 3Dp, the most common barrier was lack of exposure (75%). The literature review revealed cost-lowering techniques with materials, comparability of desktop commercial printers to industrial printers, and incorporation of open-source software.

CONCLUSIONS: The main barrier to integrating 3Dp in craniofacial plastic and reconstructive surgery practice is the perceived cost associated with utilizing the technology. Ongoing literature highlights the cost-utility of in-house 3Dp technologies and practical cost-saving methods. The authors' results underscore the need for broad exposure for currently practicing attendings and trainees in 3Dp practices and other evolving technologies.

BACKGROUND: Medical students who attend institutions without plastic surgery residency programs are at a disadvantage in the plastic surgery match. We developed an educational program for medical students without home programs called Explore Plastic Surgery to provide an overview of the steps toward a career in plastic surgery. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact, utility, and success of the novel program.

METHODS: Pre- and postevent surveys were distributed to participants. Survey data were analyzed including participant demographics, perceptions of barriers unique to those without home programs, and the overall event utility.

RESULTS: Two hundred seventeen students registered for the program. Ninety-five participants completed the pre-event survey (44%), and of those, 57 participants completed the post-event survey (60%). There was an increase in understanding of the steps toward a career in plastic surgery ( P < 0.001), confidence in overcoming barriers ( P = 0.005), and level of comfort in reaching out to faculty for opportunities ( P = 0.01). There was a decrease in the perceived negative impact that attending medical schools without a home program will have on their abilities to pursue careers in plastic surgery ( P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS: After the event, participants demonstrated an increase in their confidence in overcoming barriers and a decrease in their perceptions that attending an institution without a home program would negatively impact their ability to pursue plastic surgery. Initiatives focused on early exposure and recruitment of medical students may be important to promote accessibility and diversity within plastic surgery.

INTRODUCTION: On most online platforms, just about anyone can disseminate plastic surgery (PS) content regardless of their educational or professional background. This study examines the general public's perceptions of the accuracy of online PS content and the factors that contribute to the discernment of credible information.

METHODS: The Amazon Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing platform was used to survey adults in the United States. The survey assessed respondent demographics, health literacy (HL), and perceptions of online PS content accuracy. T-tests, Chi-square tests, and post hoc analyses with Bonferroni corrections assessed differences between HL groups. Multivariate linear regressions assessed associations between sociodemographic variables and perceptions of online content.

RESULTS: In total, 428 (92.0%) of 465 complete responses were analyzed. The median age of respondents was 32 y (interquartile range: 29-40). Online sources were predominantly perceived to have a high degree of accuracy, with mean scores of various platforms ranging from 3.8 to 4.5 (1 = not accurate at all; 5 = extremely accurate). The low HL group perceived social media sites and review sites to be more accurate than the high HL respondents, particularly for Reddit (P = 0.004), Pinterest (P = 0.040), and Snapchat (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS: There is a concerning relationship between low HL and the perceptions of the accuracy of online PS sources. This study underscores the need for education campaigns, the development of trustworthy online resources, and initiatives to improve HL. By fostering a more informed public, individuals seeking PS can make better informed decisions.

OBJECTIVE: To examine how the recent sharp rise in telemedicine has impacted trends in accessibility of breast reconstruction (BR).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study reviewed patients who underwent a total mastectomy at our institution from 1 August 2016 to 31 January 2022. By comparing cohorts before and during the widespread implementation of telemedicine, we assessed telehealth's impact on healthcare accessibility, measured by distance from patients' residences to our institution.

RESULTS: A total of 359 patients were included in this study. Of those, 176 received total mastectomy prior to the availability of telemedicine, and 183 in the subsequent period. There were similar baseline characteristics among patients undergoing mastectomy, including distance from place of residence to hospital (p = 0.67). The same proportion elected to receive BR between groups (p = 0.22). Those declining BR traveled similar distances as those electing the procedure, both before the era of widespread telemedicine adoption (40.3 and 35.6 miles, p = 0.56) and during the height of telemedicine use (22.3 and 61.3 miles, p = 0.26). When tracking follow-up care, significantly more patients during the pandemic pursued at least one follow-up visit with their original surgical team, indicative of the increased utilization of telehealth services.

CONCLUSIONS: While the rate of BR remained unchanged during the pandemic, our findings reveal significant shifts in healthcare utilization, highly attributed to the surge in telehealth adoption. This suggests a transformative impact on breast cancer care, emphasizing the need for continued exploration of telemedicine's role in enhancing accessibility and patient follow-up in the post-pandemic era.

BACKGROUND: The scapular free flap (SFF) is essential in complex reconstructive surgery and often indicated in complex defects with compromised or poor local tissue integrity. This review aims to assess the versatility and reliability of the SFF during reconstruction.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature review of multiple databases was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. An analysis of pooled data was performed to evaluate flap failure rate for any anatomical unit using SFF as the primary endpoints. Secondary endpoints included other complication rates after reconstruction such as partial flap loss, revision surgery, fistula, hematoma, and infection.

RESULTS: A total of 110 articles were included, with 1447 pooled flaps. The main recipient site was the head and neck region (89.0%). Major indications for reconstruction were malignancy (55.3%), burns (19.2%), and trauma (9.3%). The most common types of flaps were osteocutaneous (23.3%), cutaneous (22.6%), and chimeric (18.0%). The pooled flap failure rate was 2% (95%CI: 1%-4%). No significant heterogeneity was present across studies (Q statistic 20.2, p = .69; I2 .00%, p = .685). Nonscapular supplementary flaps and grafts were required in 61 cases. The average length and surface area of bone flaps were 7.2 cm and 24.8cm2, respectively. The average skin paddle area was 134.2cm2.

CONCLUSION: The SFF is a useful adjunct in the reconstructive surgeon's armamentarium as evidence by its intrinsic versatility and diverse clinical indications. Our data suggest a low failure rate in multicomponent defect reconstruction, especially in head and neck surgery. SFFs enable incorporation of multiple tissue types and customizable dimensions-both for vascularized bone and cutaneous skin-augmenting its value in the microsurgeon's repertoire as a chimeric flap. Further research is necessary to overcome the conventional barriers to SFF utilization and to better comprehend the specific scenarios in which the SFF can serve as the preferred alternative workhorse flap.

BACKGROUND: The creation of postoperative rhinoplasty results that appear natural and proportional to the face are crucial for patient satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to assess the public's ability to detect a post-rhinoplasty result and preference of preoperative and postoperative rhinoplasty outcomes.

METHODS: A survey was distributed using the Amazon Mechanical Turk online platform showing nine preoperative and postoperative rhinoplasty patients. Participants rated aesthetic appearance, identified areas of abnormality, and stated whether they believed the patient had undergone prior rhinoplasty.

RESULTS: A total of 456 responses were included. On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the most aesthetically pleasing, the highest rated nose was a postoperative patient without visible deformities (3.95, SD 1.07) followed by the postoperative patient with a resultant bulbous tip (3.48, SD 0.96). The lowest ranking noses were the prior rhinoplasty with resultant saddle nose deformity (3.02, SD 1.19) and the prior rhinoplasty with nasal trapezoid deformity (2.95, SD 1.04). The public was able to correctly determine if patients had prior rhinoplasty surgery only if there were resultant defects. When respondents believed that the patient had undergone prior rhinoplasty, their average rating was lower than those who believed they had not undergone surgery (3.74/5 vs. 4.15/5, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: The belief that someone had previously undergone rhinoplasty led the public to rate the aesthetic appearance of the nose lower. To provide optimal results following rhinoplasty, surgeons may therefore seek to provide a natural, "un-operated" look.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. 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 . Differences for nasal aesthetic preferences exist and vary based on geographic region The public is unable to discern if a patient previously underwent rhinoplasty if the result does not show a postoperative defect, such as a dorsal hump, over-rotated tip, or mid-vault collapse Oppositely, the public can generally tell if patients have undergone rhinoplasty surgery if a postoperative deformity is present The belief that someone had rhinoplasty surgery negatively impacts the attractiveness ranking of the nose, even without any postoperative defects present.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to understand the perceptions of potential complications and motivations among patients willing to travel internationally for cosmetic surgery and to gain insight into public perceptions of cosmetic surgery tourism by surveying a large, cross-sectional sample of the general public. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed through Amazon Mechanical Turk regarding cosmetic surgery tourism in adults 18 years and older and currently residing in the United States (US). Results: A total of 484 responses were analyzed. Of those, 45.2% of participants would consider having plastic surgery. Among these participants, 67.1% would consider traveling outside of the US to receive cosmetic surgery. Participants who reported Hispanic or Latino ethnicity had increased odds of considering surgery abroad (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.1-8.7, P = .030). Participants reported that the top advantages of traveling outside of the US for surgery were the price of surgery internationally, a shorter waiting list for surgery, and privacy during recovery. The top disadvantages were the risk of complications, lack of follow-up or continuity care after surgery, and distance from home. Although the risk of complications was acknowledged as the top disadvantage, the perceived safety of receiving plastic surgery abroad was not related to willingness to consider having surgery abroad (P = .268). Conclusion: These findings support the need for continued awareness of patients considering international travel for cosmetic surgery and increased education of the general public regarding the safety of cosmetic surgery tourism and the importance of selecting board-certified plastic surgeons and accredited facilities.

PURPOSE: The choice of pedicle in reduction mammaplasty is highly variable with prior studies demonstrating high patient satisfaction in most cases. This study aimed to examine the impact of pedicle type on clinical and patient-reported outcomes in patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty.

METHODS: A total of 588 patients underwent bilateral reduction mammaplasty with Wise pattern or modified Robertson incision by 13 surgeons at a single institution. Clinical outcomes were compared according to the pedicle type in all patients and BREAST-Q responders (32% response rate). Survey respondents were sub-grouped by resection volume, and the BREAST-Q satisfaction scores were compared.

RESULTS: Among all included reduction mammoplasties, 439 (75%) were performed using inferior pedicles, and 149 (25%) using superior or superomedial pedicles. Responders and non-responders were similar in preoperative characteristics including age, body measurements, and comorbidities. Although a higher incidence of infection occurred among the responders, clinical outcomes were comparable across all pedicle types. A total of 187 patients completed the BREAST-Q. Compared to the superior pedicle group, respondents in the inferior pedicle group reported higher nipple satisfaction, even when adjusted for resection weight over 500 g. In contrast, the superior pedicle group had better sexual well-being scores, which persisted in resection weight less than 500 g (all p values <0.05).

CONCLUSION: Inferior pedicles were associated with greater nipple satisfaction and superior pedicles were associated with greater sexual satisfaction. Our findings suggest that those with resections less than 500 g were more satisfied with superior pedicles whereas those with greater resections were more satisfied with inferior pedicles.

INTRODUCTION: Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is being integrated into surgical practice at a significant pace, from preprocedural planning to procedure simulation. 3DP is especially useful in surgical education, where printed models are highly accurate and customizable. The aim of this study was to evaluate how 3DP is being integrated most recently into surgical residency training.

METHODS: We performed a structured literature search of the OVID/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PUBMED databases following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Articles published from 2016 to 2023 that met predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. Data extracted included surgical subspecialty using 3DP, application of 3DP, and any reported satisfaction measures of trainees. A thorough analysis of pooled data was performed to evaluate satisfaction rates among studies.

RESULTS: A total of 85 studies were included. The median number of participants was 18 (interquartile range 10-27). Fourteen surgical disciplines were represented, with ear, nose, and throat/otolaryngology having the highest recorded utilization of 3DP models among residents and medical students (22.0%), followed by neurosurgery (14.0%) and urology (12.0%). 3DP models were created most frequently to model soft tissue (35.3%), bone (24.7%), vessel (14.1%), mixed (16.4%), or whole organs (6.66%) (Fig.1). Feedback from trainees was overwhelmingly positive regarding the fidelity of the models and their support for integration into their training programs. Among trainees, the combined satisfaction rate with their use in the curriculum was 95% (95% confidence interval, 0.92-0.97), and the satisfaction rate with the model fidelity was 90% (95% confidence interval, 0.86-0.94).

CONCLUSIONS: There is wide variation in the surgical specialties utilizing 3DP models in training. These models are effective in increasing trainee comfort with both common and rare scenarios and are associated with a high degree of resident support and satisfaction. Plastic surgery programs may benefit from the integration of this technology, potentially strengthening future surgical curricula. Objective evaluations of their pedagogic effects on residents are areas of future research.