Plastic Surgery 2009 news briefs

Plastic Surgery 2009 News Briefs are designed to keep you up-to-date on embargoed studies and other news being presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) held October 23-27 in Seattle. All briefs are embargoed until the date/time they are presented. To obtain an advance copy of study abstracts, for media registration, or to arrange interviews with presenters, please contact ASPS Public Relations at (847) 228-9900, media@plasticsurgery.org or in Seattle, Oct. 24-27 at (206) 219-4726. Experimental Stem Cell Therapy Shows Promise in Peripheral Nerve Repair

Embargo for Release: Saturday, October 24, 2009

The findings of an experimental study presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2009 conference, Oct. 23-27, in Seattle, suggest adipose-derived (fat) stem cells (ASCs) may help in the healing process of peripheral nerve injuries. Injuries to the peripheral nervous system are major and can result in paralysis. In the study, ASCs were administered to a group of rats with sciatic nerve injuries. Analysis after three and six month intervals showed a statistically significant improvement between nerves treated with ASCs and those without. Plastic surgeons hope to use ASCs in treatment of peripheral never injuries because stem cells are able to differentiate into new nerve cells and may be able help to increase growth factors that promote regeneration.

Study: "Functional and Structural Repair of Peripheral Nerve Injury by Adipose-Derived Stem Cells: An Experimental Study" is being presented in electronic format, Sat., Oct. 24 - Mon., Oct. 26, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.

Jury's In - Liposuctioned Fat, A Viable Alternative to Breast Implants

Embargo for Release: Saturday, October 24, 2009

There's been some debate over the safety and effectiveness of fat injections for cosmetic breast augmentation primarily due to a lack of research and concern that fat may calcify and obscure mammograms, be mistaken for cancer growths, or be re-absorbed by the body. But a new study presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2009 conference, Oct. 23-27, in Seattle, found using liposuctioned fat for breast augmentation may be a viable option for some women. The study looked at 50 women, ages 17-63, who had 55 fat grafting procedures (5 women were grafted twice) to their breasts with fat taken from their upper thighs, etc. To help make room for the injected fat and to increase the grafts' survival rate, patients wore a bra-like (external) tissue expander device several weeks before and after surgery. Long-term follow-up on patients ranged from 9 months to 5 years, with an average follow-up of 3 years.

The authors found:

• The procedure did not obscure mammography.
• No suspicious breast masses, nodules, or lesions that might interfere with cancer detection were reported.
• Excellent long term graft survival was achieved - graft survival averaged 85%.
• Average increase in breast volume at 6-12 months was 210 ml.
• Patients were pleased with the natural feel of their breasts and improved appearance of the liposuctioned areas.
• Procedure can safely be performed in 1.5 hours.
• Drawbacks included changes in breast volume were proportionate with BMI fluctuations and poor patient compliance with the use of the tissue expander device negatively affected breast volume.

By the Numbers:

Breast augmentation was the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure in 2008, with more than 307,000 procedures performed, according to the ASPS. It's also the most commonly requested procedure among women.

Study: "Autologous Breast Augmentation with Liposuctioned Fat: A Fifty Patient Prospective Study Over Five Years" is being presented Sat., Oct. 24, 1:00 - 1:05PM PDT, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.

Fat Injections Offer New "Perk" For Breast Lift Patients

Embargo for Release: Saturday, October 24, 2009

The majority of women who have a breast lift require some degree of augmentation to fill out their breasts, in which case, breast implants are typically used. But, a new study presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2009 conference, Oct. 23-27, in Seattle, found injecting fat into the breasts offers breast lift patients a new option for creating volume, provides superior fullness, and reduces some rates of complication seen with implants. Forty-six patients received fat injections to their breasts following a lift. The fat was taken from areas like the thigh or abdomen on the patient's body. After one-year, all patients had a significant improvement in breast size and shape and had breasts that were soft and natural in feel and appearance. Additionally, no abnormalities were reported in patients who had mammograms one-year postoperatively.

By the Numbers:

More than 92,000 breast lifts were performed in 2008, up 75 percent since 2000, according to the ASPS.

Study: "Single Staged Mastopexy with Autologous Fat Grafting" is being presented Sat., Oct. 24, 1:05 - 1:10PM PDT, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.

Say Goodbye to "Gummy" Smiles

Embargo for Release: Saturday, October 24, 2009

There's new hope for people whose smiles reveal excessive gum lines, reveals a new study presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2009 conference, Oct. 23-27, in Seattle. Ten female patients with excessive gum exposure were operated on between February and August 2008. The patients were filmed with a high-definition camera before the surgery and 6 months after. They were asked to perform their fullest smile and the maximum gum exposures were measured. The results: All patients experienced an aesthetic improvement in their smile with a reduction in gum exposure ranging from 1.59 mm to 4.83 mm. The procedure is done under local anesthesia and involves plastic surgeons making a series of incisions in the muscle that elevates the upper lip and lengthening the small piece of skin that connects the upper lip to the gums on the inside of the mouth.

By the Numbers:

More than 1.6 million cosmetic surgical procedures were done in 2008, according to the ASPS.

Study: "The Efficiency of Gummy Smile Correction Using the Myotomy of the Elevator of the Upper Lip Muscle" is being presented Sat., Oct. 24, 1:00-1:05PM, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.

Like Mother, Like Daughter - Study Proves Your Mother Truly Reflects How You'll Age

Embargo for Release: Saturday, October 24, 2009

Well it's true, a lot can be revealed about how you'll age by looking at your mother. A new study presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2009 conference, Oct. 23-27, in Seattle, examined 10 sets of similar looking mother-daughter pairs to measure changes in the aging female face. Using facial imaging and 3D computer modeling, the authors found a consistent pattern of sagging and volume loss specifically around the inner corners of the eye and lower eyelids in the mothers. Interestingly, volume loss in the lower eyelid ranged from 0.3 to 1cc, beginning in the mid 30s and continuing to progress steadily through life. The amount of volume loss was greater than previously estimated. To measure the full spectrum of aging, ages of the mother-daughter pairs ranged from 15 to 90 years old. These findings may act as a further guideline for cosmetic rejuvenation of the entire eye region.

By the Numbers:

Eyelid surgery was the fourth most popular cosmetic surgical procedure in 2008, with more than 221,000 procedures performed, according to the ASPS.

More than 190,000 women had eyelid surgery, making it the fourth most commonly requested procedure by women last year.

Study: "A Novel Three-Dimensional Analysis of Periorbital Aging" is being presented Sat., Oct. 24, 1:45 - 1:50PM PDT, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.

Dentures Help Facial Prosthetics Become Part of Body

Embargo for Release: Saturday, October 24, 2009

Titanium dental implants, traditionally used to hold dentures in place, are successfully being used by plastic surgeons to better treat patients in need of facial prosthetics as a result of cancer, burns, or trauma, new research suggests. Titanium is a material that successfully fuses into bone, which creates a structural and functional connection between the bone and dental implant allowing it to become part of the body. The prosthesis contains a magnet that when attached to the dental implant, allows it to better stay in its intended position and last longer. One-hundred-three patients successfully had reconstruction for ear, eye, or nose defects with an average of three dental implants used per defect. Initially, some implants used in previously radiated areas were lost and needed to be replaced. Consequently, caution is required when implants are used in radiated areas. Members of the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons (ASMS) will present the study at the ASPS Plastic Surgery 2009 conference, Oct. 23-27, in Seattle.

By the Numbers:

Nearly 5 million reconstructive plastic surgery procedures were performed in 2008, up 7 percent from 2007, reports the ASPS.

Study: "Facial Rehabilitation with Implant-Retained Prostheses: A 16 Year Perspective" is being presented Sat., Oct. 24, 9:45 -9:50AM PDT, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.

Pulling the Trigger on Migraines - Have We Found a Cure?

Embargo for Release: Saturday, October 24, 2009

For some patients, both the needle and knife appear to be effective medical tools for quelling the suffering from migraine headaches. The disability from migraine headaches is an enormous health burden affecting over 30 million Americans. In a five year study, presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2009 conference, Oct. 23-27, in Seattle, doctors first injected 100 migraine sufferers with botulinum toxin A to help identify the muscle groups that were triggering the headaches. Patients who reported improvement in their migraines lasting at least four weeks after the injection (89 patients), had surgery to deactivate the muscle groups or "trigger sites." Since the surgery, 79 of the patients have been followed for five years. Of those, the outcome has been promising. Ninety percent (71 patients) have maintained the initial positive response to the surgery. Twenty-eight percent (22 patients) had elimination of migraines entirely, 62 percent (49 patients) noticed a significant decrease, and only 10 percent (8 patients) experienced no change. This 5-year data provides strong evidence that surgical manipulation of one or more migraine trigger sites can successfully eliminate (cure) or reduce the frequency, duration, and/or intensity of migraine headaches.

Study: "Five Year Outcome of Surgical Treatment of Migraine Headache" is being presented Sat., Oct. 24, 1:05-1:10 PM PDT, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.

Course 333: "Management of Migraines with Botox and Surgery" is being held Sunday, Oct. 25, 4:00-6:00PM PDT, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.

Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons