Why do we age in our cheeks?

Background: The cheeks are of one of the first regions of the face in which changes relating to age occur and are the facial area most prone to ultimately display the ravages of time.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine (1) the subcutaneous fat mass in the cheeks both above and below the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) relative to the facial and neck aesthetic subunits, and (2) the type and distribution of retaining ligament support of this subcutaneous fat mass within the cheeks relative to other aesthetic subunits.

Methods: Anatomic dissections in 10 fresh hemi-cadavers with a mean age of 65.

Two-year follow-up of areola-sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.

Objective: Areola-sparing mastectomy (ASM) is defined as resecting the nipple and any existing surgical biopsy scar, removing all breast parenchyma, and leaving a natural envelope of skin (including the areola), which improves the aesthetic result of immediate reconstruction. We previously demonstrated a <1% incidence of malignant involvement of the areola in a retrospective mastectomy series. Subsequently, we performed ASM on selected patients undergoing mastectomy.

Areola-sparing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction.

Skin-sparing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction is a proved option for patients with early-stage breast cancer requiring mastectomy. Based on the authors' recent pathologic analysis of mastectomy specimens showing less than 1% malignant involvement of the areola, they have begun to perform areola-sparing mastectomies (ASMs) on a select group of patients. They report their results from an ongoing study of ASM at their institution.

Facial atrophy in HIV-related fat redistribution syndrome: anatomic evaluation and surgical reconstruction.

The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with protease inhibitors can result in a syndrome of peripheral wasting, facial fat atrophy, and central adiposity in as many as 64% of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who are treated with this regimen for 1 year. In this study the authors evaluated 9 consecutive patients who presented with this disease to define further its anatomic features and to explore techniques for surgical correction. Three of these patients presented with severe facial atrophy, and underwent surgical exploration and reconstruction with submalar silicone implants.