Free-style local perforator flaps: versatility of the v-y design to reconstruct soft-tissue defects in the skin cancer population.

Background: Free-style local perforator flaps can be harvested from any region of the body where an appropriate and detectable perforator vessel is present. Their use allows the surgeon to perform a "like with like" reconstruction by mobilizing surrounding tissues on a consistent vascular source. The authors report their experience with V-Y free-style perforator flaps in reconstruction of soft-tissue defects subsequent to skin cancer excision.

Assessment of the 18-month permanence of onlay tip cartilage grafts following rhinoplasty.

Augmentation rhinoplasty requires addition of materials of various natures to reshape the nasal pyramid. Onlay tip grafts are single or multilayered grafts placed horizontally over the alar domes. The aim of the present study was to assess the 18-month permanence of onlay septal cartilage grafts.

Dermal filler complications from unknown biomaterials: identification by attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy.

Background: In the last decade, an increase in complications related to dermal filler injections has been reported, especially in patients who underwent multiple treatments with different products. Imaging or histological examinations may suggest what kind of substance was used, but none can precisely identify the biomaterial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, using an attenuated total reflectance cell, in the identification of unknown dermal fillers.

Scalp reconstruction with superficial temporal artery island flap: clinical experience on 30 consecutive cases.

Background: Different techniques are available to reconstruct scalp defects; however, when the cranium is exposed or the hairline compromised, the procedure may become quite challenging. The use of superficial temporal artery fascio-cutaneous flaps has been described mainly to restore the hair-bearing surface of the upper lip or the eyebrow but only few applications in the scalp have been reported. The authors present their experience with the use of superficial temporal artery island flaps to obtain durable coverage and excellent contour in anterior scalp reconstruction.

How to redefine the inframammary fold: the "slingshot" capsular flap.

Background: Caudal dislocation of the inframammary fold (IMF) affects cosmetic appearance of the breast. Up until now, few methods have been proposed. The authors introduced a new capsular flap to improve long-lasting results.

A novel surgical approach to calcinosis cutis using a collagen-elastin matrix.

Calcinosis cutis is a cutaneous disorder characterised by abnormal deposition of calcium in the dermis. Treatment of this condition has variable success rates and includes medical, topical and surgical management. Here we describe a case of a woman with a painful calcinosis lesion on the buttocks, treated with excision and application of a bovine collagen-elastin dermal regeneration template, a thin, porous membrane consisting of a native bovine type I, II and V collagen-fibre template coated with elastin hydrolysate.

Aesthetic subpectoral placement of implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is the treatment of choice for life-threatening arrhythmias. Usually, the device is placed, by a subclavian access, on the upper portion of the pectoralis major muscle. As a result, the visibility of the device and the wide subclavian scar create an important aesthetic deformity, especially in young women, evolving in a relevant psychosocial distress.

Breast hypertrophy and asymmetry: a retrospective study on a sample of 344 consecutive patients.

Background: Preoperative evaluation of the anatomical features of the region around the breast is strongly recommended in order to choose the most appropriate technique of reductive mammaplasty. Normally breast hypertrophy presents itself as a bilateral clinical picture, but no study in the literature refers to the incidence of volumetric asymmetry.

Aims: This study aims to analyze weight differences between the right and left breast on a selected sample of patients who underwent reductive mammaplasty or mastopexy over the last five years at our Plastic Surgery Unit and have maintained a good postoperative symmetry for at least 1 year subsequently.

Computational modeling and stress analysis of columellar biomechanics.

The open approach for rhinoplasty offers excellent exposure of the various components of the nose in situ. The biggest advantage of the external approach is the complete anatomic exposure, which allows the surgeon to inspect the osteo-cartilagineous framework, while the biggest disadvantage is represented by the transcolumellar scar. The goal of this study is to numerically quantify the stress induced on the scar of a human columella by a constant load, through a fine tuned finite elasticity continuum model.

Reduction of the opposite breast in patients with a breast reconstructed with an implant: validity of the inverted "T", superior pedicle technique, with an inferiorly-based dermal adipose flap.

We reviewed 28 cases of breasts reconstructed with implants and reduction mammaplasty on the other side for symmetry, with the aim of assessing the stability and aesthetic result in the reduced breasts five years postoperatively. An inverted "T", superior pedicle technique, with an inferiorly-based dermal adipose flap was used in patients who did not have overstretched Cooper's ligaments. At the 5-year follow-up, the sternal notch-to-nipple and inframammary fold-to-nipple distances were measured and the degree of ptosis was evaluated (Regnault's classification).