Author Archives: Meagan Henderson

Allograft versus Autograft

Leave a reply

Allograft versus Autograft

The last few posts offered information on autotransplantation, or the transplantation of tissue from one part of the body to another in the same individual as a means of reconstruction. Tissue transplanted by autologous procedure is referred to as an autograft or autotransplant. In this post, the allotransplantation will now be discussed.

Allotransplantation is transfer of tissue from another individual to the recipient. Allotransplantation is most effective when from a recipient from a genetically non-identical donor of the same species. The transplant itself is called an allograft, allogeneic transplant, or homograft. Most human tissue transplants are allografts.

Homografts may be called “homostatic” if biologically inert when transplanted, such as cartilage.

An immune response against an allograft is referred to as a rejection. An allogenic transplant can result in an immune attack, called Graft-versus-host disease. If you have additional questions or concerns regarding this topic, please call our staff today at 702.410.9800 for more information.

Flap Surgery Procedure: Part Two

Leave a reply

Flap Surgery Procedure: Part II

Regional and distant flaps are two more forms of flap surgery offered in reconstruction. While different from previously mentioned flap surgeries, there are some similarities as well.

Regional flaps

Regional or interpolation flaps are not immediately adjacent to the defect. Instead, the freed tissue “island” is moved over or underneath normal tissue to reach the defect to be filled, with the blood supply still connected to the donor site via a pedicle. This pedicle can be removed later on after new blood supply has formed.

Distant flaps

Distant flaps are used when the donor site is far from the defect. These are the most complex class of flap. Direct or tubed flaps involve having the flap connected to both the donor and recipient sites simultaneously, forming a bridge. This allows blood to be supplied by the donor site while a new blood supply from the recipient site is formed. Once this happens, the “bridge” can be disconnected from the donor site if necessary, completing the transfer. A free flap has the blood supply cut and then reattached micro-surgically to a new blood supply at the recipient site. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 702.410.9800.

 

Flap Surgery: Part One

Leave a reply

Flap Surgery

Flap surgery is a technique used in reconstruction concerning any type of tissue that is lifted from a donor site to be moved to a recipient site. Blood supplies must be intact. This may seem similar to a skin graft. A graft does not have an intact blood supply at the recipient site. A graft therefore relies on growth of new blood vessels. Flap surgery is done to repair or fill a defect or wound from injury or prior surgery. When the remaining tissue is unable to support a graft, or rebuild more complex anatomic structures such as breast or jaw, flap surgery is implemented.

Level of complexity is one way of classifying flaps. Surgeon should choose the least complex flap that will still achieve the desired effect. This concept is known as the reconstructive ladder.

Freeing a layer of tissue and then stretching this layer to fill a defect creates what is called a local flap . This least complex type of flap includes advancement, rotation, and transposition flaps.

Advancement flaps are formed by incisions extended parallel from the wound. This creates a rectangle leaving one edge intact. The rectangle is freed from deeper tissues and stretched forward to cover the wound in a process called advancement. With the flap disconnected from the body except for the uncut edge, blood supply feeds in horizontally.

Creating a rotation flap is similar to advancement except that instead of being stretched in a straight line, the flap is arced.

Finally, the more complex transposition flap rotates adjacent tissue. This results in the creation of a new defect. Further reconstructive surgery must then be performed in order to close this new wound.

The Technical Side of Augmentation

Leave a reply

bikini after surgery with plastic surgeons las vegasBreast augmentation and augmentation mammoplasty are plastic surgery terms for breast-implant and fat-graft mammoplasty methods used to increase size, change shape, or alter texture of female breasts.

In terms of reconstruction, augmentation can be for post mastectomy breast reconstruction, repairing the chest wound due to removal of a cancerous breast. It can also be done in order to correct congenital defects of the breast(s) or chest wall.

As an elective cosmetic surgery, primary augmentation changes the aesthetic, size, shape, and texture, of healthy breasts.

Surgical implantation affects global augmentation of the breast hemisphere using implants. Implants can be filled with saline-solution or silicone-gel. Surgical augmentation can include transplanted autologous skin flaps harvested from the body. Fat-graft transfer augments size and corrects contour defects with grafts of autologous adipocyte fat tissue, drawn from the body.

Cosmetic vs Plastic Surgery

Leave a reply

Cosmetic vs. Plastic Surgery

Tools for cosmetic surgery in Las Vegas

 

What is the difference?

Cosmetic surgery is a unique discipline of medicine that focuses on enhancing the appearance by means of surgical and medical techniques. This type of surgery can be performed on all areas of the head, neck and body. Due to the nature of treated areas being worked on function properly and are without ailment but lack aesthetic appeal, cosmetic surgery is considered an elective form of surgery.

Plastic surgery on the other hand, is defined as a surgical specialty dedicated to the reconstruction of facial and body defects. This defects may be due to birth disorders, trauma, burns, and disease. Plastic surgery is intended to correct dysfunctional areas of the body and is therefore considered reconstructive in nature.

Understanding the difference between “cosmetic vs plastic surgery” is important when considering entering into a procedure. Always keep in mind that cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery are not the same thing. Cosmetic surgery procedures are performed to enhance a person’s appearance toward some aesthetic ideal. Cosmetic surgery is practiced by doctors from a variety of medical fields including dermatologists, facial plastic surgeons, general surgeons, gynecologists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists, plastic surgeons, as well as doctors from other fields.

Unlike procedures performed in cosmetic surgery, those in plastic surgery focus on repairing and reconstructing abnormal structures of the body caused by birth defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors or disease.

As you can see, there is a big difference between cosmetic and plastic surgery.