Hot topics in breast reconstruction, safe flap harvest this week

The Allergan 410 anatomical breast implants provide a safe option for reconstruction with high patient satisfaction, as reported on Healio.com/Aesthetics.

Additional news includes recently published data on safe outcomes of using the suprafascial anterolateral thigh and thoracodorsal artery perforator donor-sites in reconstruction:

Allergan 410 implant provides safe, satisfactory results in breast reconstruction

The Allergan 410 cohesive gel anatomical implants offered a safe option for breast reconstruction with a high rate of patient and surgeon satisfaction, according to study results published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

The implant is constructed with a barrier shell and filled with a highly cohesive gel that allows the implant to maintain a stable form. The anatomical shape provides less volume in the upper pole and more in the lower breast. Read more

Telemark Breast Score showed high agreement rates between surgeons evaluating surgery outcomes

The Telemark Breast Score for the assessment of breast-conserving and deep inferior epigastric perforator flap surgery outcomes showed a high degree of consistent agreement between breast surgeons and plastic surgeons, according to study results published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

The two groups being reviewed included 346 patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery and 31 undergoing microsurgical reconstruction using a deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap between 2001 and 2004. Patients in the breast-conservation group were photographed in three standard planes — one frontal and two 45-degree oblique views — which were taken at least 12 months postoperation and/or 6 months after completed radiotherapy. Patients in the DIEP group were photographed 1 year postoperation. Read more

Carolina Laser medical director offers free radiation tattoo removal for Breast Cancer Awareness month

Carolina Laser and Cosmetic Center announced that its medical director, Anne L. White, MD, is offering free laser tattoo removal of radiation tattoos for breast cancer patients in October for Breast Cancer Awareness month, according to a press release.

The center uses the PicoSure picosecond aesthetic laser for tattoo removal and the Revlite laser for removal of red pigment. The center has completed more than 15,000 laser tattoo removals since adopting the procedure in 2002. Read more

Suprafascial anterolateral thigh flap harvest has low donor-site morbidity

Suprafascial anterolateral thigh flap harvest is a safe alternative for head and neck reconstruction with a low rate of donor-site morbidity, according to study results published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

The researchers examined the effect of preserving the deep fascia and the medial branch of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve on donor-site morbidity. Between January 2013 and December 2013, a total of 61 patients were divided into two flap-type groups for head and neck reconstruction: suprafascial anterolateral thigh flap (n = 30) and subfascial anterolateral thigh flap (n = 31). Read more

Free thoracodorsal artery perforator flap has low donor-site morbidity rates

Use of the free thoracodorsal artery perforator flap donor-site has safe outcomes and low morbidity rates, according to study results published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

The researchers performed a retrospective review of 293 patients whose defects were reconstructed with free thoracodorsal artery perforator flap between January 2002 and December 2014, including cases in which segmental latissimus dorsi muscle was harvested. The mean patient age was 43.4 years (range, 4-89 years). Read more