Exploratory Analysis of Upper Facial Muscle Interplay During Emotional Expressions: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Insights from Young, Caucasian, Toxin-naïve Individuals.

Background: Understanding the interplay of muscle activity in the upper face is crucial as it can significantly impact the effectiveness and safety of aesthetic treatments. Traditional injection algorithms typically focus on the general 2D and 3D anatomy of muscles, often neglecting the areas where muscles exert the greatest force during facial expressions.

Objectives: To analyze the location of greatest morphological change in upper facial muscles procerus muscle (PM), corrugator supercilia muscle (CSM), orbicularis oculi muscle (OOM) and frontalis muscle (FM) during various facial expressions.

Trends in advanced practice providers in plastic and reconstructive surgery, 2013-2021.

This restrospective cohort study of Medicare payment data found increases in the number of advanced practice providers who bill for plastic and reconstructive surgery care. The growth in advanced practice providers is expected to continue in plastic surgery, and further investigation is needed to effectively integrate these providers into academic centers.

The Departmental Scholarly Index: A Metric of Research Productivity.

Introduction: While bibliometric ranking systems have been designed to use citations, funding, and alumni productivity, there is a need for a simple metric that objectively evaluates the work of a group or organization. The present study describes a bibliometric tool, the Departmental Scholarly Index (DSI), for this purpose.

Methods: Publications from academic plastic surgery programs in qualifying states of the Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons released in 2022 were collected via PubMed affiliation search.

The Growth and Development of a Research Division in the Plastic Surgery Department of a Large Urban Academic Medical Center.

Introduction: Research is a critical component of academic medicine that may or may not be prioritized in centers with high clinical volumes. The benefits of research expansion go beyond notoriety and industry partnerships, expanding into resident training and preparation of the next generation of physician-scientists. Improving a division or department's research portfolio requires a commitment to reorganizing structure, personnel, resources, and a dedication to innovative funding models.

Global insights into keloid formation: An international systematic review of regional genetic risk factors and commonalities.

Keloid disorder is a morbid and disfiguring benign fibroproliferative disease with a higher incidence in groups with darker skin pigmentation. Predicting keloidogenesis in patients is difficult with treatment primarily aimed at preventing further scar expansion and improving aesthetics without addressing their unknown underlying pathophysiology. We aimed to identify potential genetic predispositions to keloid scarring in the literature.

Optimizing Safety and Aesthetics in Facial Feminization: Laryngoscopic-Assisted Chondrolaryngoplasty (2019-2023).

Introduction: The thyroid cartilage, an androgen-sensitive structure, enlarges during puberty in individuals assigned male at birth, often resulting in a pronounced neck protuberance. This feature can exacerbate gender dysphoria in transfeminine patients. Chondrolaryngoplasty, commonly known as tracheal shave, is a procedure incorporated into facial feminization surgery (FFS) to address this issue.

Timing of Autologous Tissue Breast Reconstruction Does Not Affect Free Flap Failure.

This study aimed to determine whether there is a difference in free flap failure based on the decision to undergo immediate versus delayed autologous tissue breast reconstruction after mastectomy. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for breast free flap procedures performed between 2015 and 2020. This study demonstrates that the decision to undergo immediate versus delayed autologous tissue breast reconstruction does not have a significant association with free flap failure.

Complications and Risks Associated With the Different Types of Abdominoplasties: An Analysis of 55,956 Patients.

Background: Different types of abdominoplasties have been developed to address individual patient characteristics. However, an analysis of complication rates and risk factors for different types of abdominoplasties has yet to be reported.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the complication rates and risks associated with each type of abdominoplasty.

Investigating the Contraction Pattern of the Zygomaticus Major Muscle and its Clinical Relevance: A Functional MRI Study.

Background: Our understanding of facial anatomy has significantly evolved, yet the detailed contraction patterns of facial muscles and their presentation during clinical imaging remain largely unexplored. Understanding the contraction patterns and visual presentation of these muscles, particularly the zygomaticus major could enhance pre-surgical facial assessments and the development of new treatment strategies.

Methods: A total of 34 healthy young individuals (17 female, 17 male) with a mean age of 23.

Abdominal donor-site complications following autologous breast reconstruction: A multi-institutional multisurgeon study.

Background: The deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) free flap is the gold standard procedure for autologous breast reconstruction. Although breast-related complications have been well described, donor-site complications and contributing patient risk factors are poorly understood.

Methods: We examined a multi-institutional, prospectively maintained database of patients undergoing DIEP free flap breast reconstruction between 2015 and 2020.

Assessment of x-ray efficacy for intraoperative microneedle retrieval using a cadaveric model.

Introduction: Institutional protocols often mandate the use of x-rays when a microneedle is lost intraoperatively. Although x-rays can reliably show a macroneedle, the benefit of x-rays in detecting microneedles in human tissues has not been established as available data on this topic are investigated in anthropometric models. The current study aims to evaluate whether x-rays can reliably detect retained microneedles in a human cadaveric model.

Vanderbilt Mini-PROM-Breast for Breast Reconstruction: A Short-Form, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measure.

Background: Breast reconstruction procedures are among the most commonly performed plastic surgery operations. Although there are well-validated patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) for breast reconstruction, there are several patient-, provider-, and service-level barriers to their implementation in routine clinical settings. Therefore, we developed a short-form PROM to evaluate breast reconstruction outcomes.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Global Neuroma Incidence in Upper Extremity Amputees.

Background: Neuromas substantially decrease a patient's quality of life and obstruct the use of prosthetics. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the global incidence of neuroma formation in upper extremity amputees.

Methods: A literature search was performed using 3 databases: Web of Science, MEDLINE, and Cochrane.

Patient Perspectives on Selecting an Academic Aesthetic Surgeon: A Qualitative Analysis.

Background: Growth of the aesthetic surgery marketplace has increased patient choice in provider selection. This study aimed to characterize how patients choose an aesthetic surgeon, identify knowledge gaps in this decision-making process, and understand why patients select academic aesthetic surgeons.

Methods: A qualitative interview study of aesthetic surgery patients from an academic center was conducted.

Patient Characteristics and Spending Among Individuals Undergoing Ambulatory Panniculectomy and Abdominoplasty in the US from 2016 to 2019.

Background: Abdominal contouring surgery can provide both functional and cosmetic benefits to patients with abdominal soft tissue laxity. Although these procedures have been studied in the inpatient setting, few studies describe abdominal contouring surgery in the ambulatory setting.

Objective: The purpose of this analysis was to investigate patterns in patient demographics between functional panniculectomy and cosmetic abdominoplasty using national data from the last four years.

Multidimensional Assessment of Patient-Reported Outcomes After Gender-Affirming Surgeries Using a Validated Instrument.

Introduction: Limited literatures used validated instruments to evaluate patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for transgender and gender-diverse population undergoing gender-affirming surgeries (GASs). This study aimed to evaluate PROs using a newly validated psychometric instrument, Vanderbilt Mini Patient-Reported Outcome Measures-Gender (VMP-G).

Methods: Vanderbilt Mini Patient-Reported Outcome Measures-Gender assesses 4 scales: quality of life, self-concept, satisfaction, and gender dysphoria.

Delayed Versus Immediate Breast Reconstruction in the Ambulatory Surgery Setting: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample.

Background: Breast reconstruction remains an important part of a patient's journey after the diagnosis of breast carcinoma and treatment with mastectomy. Although inpatient immediate breast reconstruction has been described, there is a paucity information about whether similar procedures are performed in the ambulatory setting.

Objective: The authors sought to investigate rates and patterns for delayed and immediate breast reconstruction in the ambulatory surgery setting using nationally representative data from 2016 to 2019.

National patterns in the use of International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Health Related Problems, tenth revision Z codes in ambulatory surgery from 2016 to 2019.

Background: In the tenth revision of the International Statistical Classification of Disease and Health Related Problems (ICD-10), Z codes were added to improve documentation and understanding of health-related social needs. We estimated national Z code use in the ambulatory surgery setting from 2016 to 2019.

Methods: Using the Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample (NASS), we identified encounters for ambulatory surgery with an ICD-10 code between Z55.

Impact of Tissue Expander Surface Texture on Two-Stage Breast Reconstruction Outcomes: A Combined Analysis.

Background: With ongoing investigations of the impact of device texturing on breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), studies have begun comparing complication profiles of tissue expanders. However, there is a paucity of timing and severity data of complications. The aim of this study was to provide a comparative survival analysis of postoperative complications between smooth (STEs) and textured tissue expanders (TTEs) in breast reconstruction.

Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Liposomal to Plain Bupivacaine in the Transversus Abdominis Plane for DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Pain control after autologous breast reconstruction is important for patient satisfaction and early recovery. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks are commonly used as part of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway for breast reconstruction. It is uncertain whether liposomal bupivacaine used in TAP blocks offers additional advantages.

Comparison of Complication Rates Between Subpectoral vs Prepectoral Techniques in Prosthetic Breast Reconstruction.

Background: The location of tissue expanders in implant-based breast reconstruction remains controversial due to variation in surgical techniques and devices.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive assessment of early and late complication rates between prepectoral and subpectoral placement of tissue expanders.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of all adult female patients who had undergone 2-stage implant-based breast reconstruction between 2013 and 2019 in our institution.