Publications by authors named "Ariel E Figueroa"

The Tracking Operations and Outcomes for Plastic Surgeons (TOPS) data registry, first launched in 2002 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) in collaboration with the Plastic Surgery Foundation (PSF), was designed to avoid the perceived shortcomings of other national data registries as they pertain to interests of the plastic surgery community. Given the diversity of plastic surgery practice, the ASPS and PSF sought to ensure that the TOPS registry platform would support detailed collection of data useful to plastic surgeons practicing in all subspecialties. Therefore, a key design element of the TOPS registry is its ability to incorporate custom-made modules that allow for focused collection of topic/procedure-specific information.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluates how effectively plastic surgeons transition from early career K grants to established R grants, particularly compared to other medical specialties.
  • It found that plastic surgeons have lower initiation rates for K grants and a successful conversion rate of 52.9% to R grants, similar to other specialties.
  • The research highlights that the quality of publications, as indicated by citation ratios, may positively influence successful grant conversions, suggesting that more focus on impactful research could help plastic surgeons secure more NIH funding.
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Background: Although long-term benefits of reduction mammaplasty have been proven, the appropriate age for adolescent reduction mammaplasty has been highly debated due to possible need for revision surgery. Practitioners often delay offering breast reduction to adolescents below age 18 based on presumed insurance denial. We reviewed trends in insurance denial at a single children's hospital to analyze whether age and/or insurance carriers have a significant impact on coverage of breast reduction.

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Objective: This study aims to reduce the waste generated from primary cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) repair.

Design: A retrospective chart review examined a single surgeon's experience with CL/P repair using standard draping technique and reduced draping technique. Fisher's exact tests were performed comparing complication rates between techniques.

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Objective: Buccal myomucosal flaps (BMF) anatomically lengthen the palate in the treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). We systematically reviewed the existing literature on speech outcome of BMF palatal lengthening.

Design: Three databases were used to identify studies of interest published in English.

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Aims: Diabetes remains a leading cause of blindness and kidney failure in the United States. Latinos are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, and microvascular complications such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). We evaluated the association of DR with decline in kidney function in Latinos with type 2 diabetes with or without CKD in a multispecialty clinic.

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