Background There have been many studies examining risk factors for complications in expander-based breast reconstruction after mastectomy, and some patient factors have been identified as risk factors. However, most of the previous studies were based on Caucasian patients. Methods Asian patients who had a tissue expander placed for immediate breast reconstruction between January 2006 and Dece...

Tissue expansion using implantable expanders is a useful means of generating surplus tissue for reconstruction of defects such as scarring following burns. The authors describe their technique of incisions distant to the desired location of expander placement, and remote dissection of the expander pocket with hydrodissection and blunt forceps. A total of 81 expanders were placed in 30 consecuti...

INTRODUCTION The advent of acellular dermis-based tissue expander breast reconstruction has placed an increased emphasis on optimizing intraoperative volume. Because skin preservation is a critical determinant of intraoperative volume expansion, a mathematical model was developed to capture the influence of incision dimension on subsequent tissue expander volumes. METHODS A mathematical equat...

There was a time when breast reconstruction patients were content with simply having a breast mound or looking good in clothes; that time has passed. Many of today’s patients expect to look just as good or better than they did pre-mastectomy. They want breasts with a well defined IMF, curvilinear lower pole contour and a near-even distribution of implant volume i.e. upper and lower pole fullnes...

INTRODUCTION The force delivered during rapid maxillary expansion (RME) produces areas of compression on the periodontal ligament of the supporting teeth. The resulting alveolar bone resorption can lead to unwanted tooth movement in the same direction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate periodontal changes by means of computed tomography after RME with tooth-tissue-borne and tooth-borne ...

BACKGROUND Neck reconstruction is considered as one of the most important surgeries in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. The present study aimed to assess the results of reconstructive surgery of extensive face and neck burning scars using tissue expanders. METHODS This descriptive prospective study was conducted on 36 patients with extensive burning scars on the neck and face. Operation f...

BACKGROUND Botulinum toxin A has been successfully used in a variety of areas to temporarily obliterate muscle mobility for either functional or aesthetic gain. Tissue expander-based breast reconstruction has been plagued with pain and discomfort. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the role of a neurotoxin (Botulinum toxin A) in expander-based breast reconstruction. M...