Infections in breast implants: a review with a focus on developing countries.

The risk of surgical site infection is always present in surgery; the use of prosthetic materials is linked to an increased possibility of infection. Breast augmentation and breast reconstruction with implants are gaining popularity in developing countries. Implant infection is the main complication related to breast aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.

Total breast reconstruction using the thoracodorsal artery perforator flap without implant.

Background: The thoracodorsal artery perforator flap was described mainly for partial breast reconstruction by Hamdi. The purpose of this article is to describe the use of the pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flap for total autologous breast reconstruction without using an implant.

Methods: Between January of 2009 and December of 2011, seven patients underwent total breast reconstruction with a pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flap.

Wide excision and anterolateral thigh perforator flap reconstruction for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the face.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a rare cutaneous malignant tumor associated with a high cure rate but with a high incidence of local recurrence. Because of its tentacle-like subcutaneous infiltrating pattern that extends far beyond the clinically visible skin lesion, a wide resection margin is recommended. Hence, its localization to the head-and-neck regions, although rare, represents a real challenge for both the oncologic surgeon and the reconstructive surgeon, who aim to achieve a radical resection of the tumor with the best possible aesthetic outcome.

Long-term sensory recovery of nipple-areola complex following superolateral pedicled reduction mammaplasty.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate nipple-areola complex sensation at 48-month follow-up following superolateral pedicled reduction mammaplasty using the pressure-specified sensory device.

Methods: Data regarding nipple-areola complex sensation for static and moving one- and two-point discrimination were collected from 30 active group hypertrophic-breasted patients undergoing superolateral pedicled reduction mammaplasty preoperatively, at 6 months, and at 48 months, and from a control group of 30 unoperated women with normal-sized breasts. Breast volume was assessed using the BREAST-V instrument.