The origins of modern plastic surgery.

There is an old saying that if you think you have discovered something new then it is because you don't read the German literature and there is some truth in this. When Plastic Surgery is mentioned the usual reply is "Ah, Gillies" as though he was the fons et origo of Plastic and Reconstructive surgery. The fact is that there were many more pioneering plastic surgeons outside the British Empire, whose work preceded and even surpassed Gilles.

Modified Charles procedure using negative pressure dressings for primary lymphedema: a functional assessment.

Objective: The Charles procedure is an aggressive operation usually only indicated for severe lymphedema as it often yields an unpredictable outcome. We modified this procedure in order to achieve predictable results.

Methods: The modification entailed the use of a negative-pressure dressing after the initial debulking surgery and then the delay of skin grafting by 5 to 7 days.