A 26-Year Experience with Microsurgical Reconstruction of Hemifacial Atrophy and Linear Scleroderma.

Background: Parry Romberg disease (hemifacial atrophy) and linear scleroderma (coup de sabre) are progressive, usually unilateral facial atrophies of unknown cause. The gold standard treatment for these patients has been microsurgical reconstruction following the "burning out" of the facial atrophy and stable contour for 2 years.

Methods: The authors report their experience treating patients with hemifacial atrophy and linear scleroderma with free tissue transfers between 1989 and 2016.

Systemic Therapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer: What the Plastic Surgeon Should Know.

We review the types, indications, and common regimens of systemic forms of therapy offered in early-stage breast cancer. We further detail the mechanism of action, approved uses, major toxicities, and relevance to breast reconstruction of specific agents. A review of the literature on PubMed and Cochrane databases was undertaken to define the indications and common regimens of systemic therapy in early-stage breast cancer.

Establishing a multidisciplinary academic cosmetic center.

The demand for cosmetic services has risen rapidly in recent years, but has slowed down with the current economic downturn. Managed care organizations and Medicare have been steadily reducing their reimbursements for physician services. The payment for reconstructive surgical procedures has been decreasing and is likely to worsen with healthcare reform, and many plastic surgery residency programs are facing fiscal challenges.