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. Face and Hand Transplants - Ready to Become Mainstream Medicine?

Embargo for Release: Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Though once inconceivable, face and hand transplants are quickly making themselves more present, both in the operating room and in the media. The world's first hand transplant was performed more than a decade ago, and the first partial-face transplant performed in the United States (and most extensive procedure to date) was completed this year. However, the advances in composite tissue allotransplantation also presents a number of multi-faceted issues including donor availability, patient selection, social perception, ethics, and complications. Consider this: the first-ever hand transplant was amputated after the patient failed to follow his life-long immunosuppressive regimen. Members of the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons and other leading surgeons in the field of face and hand transplantation will discuss whether, at this point, face and hand transplants are ready to become "mainstream" medicine at the ASPS Plastic Surgery 2009 conference, Oct. 23-27, in Seattle.

By the Numbers:

To date, there have been 7 partial-face transplants in the world and 8 double hand transplants in the world.

There were nearly 5 million reconstructive plastic surgery procedures performed in the 2008, according to ASPS statistics.

Panel: "East Meets West: Composite Tissue Allotransplantation - Have We Achieved Liftoff" is being held on Tues., Oct. 27, 1:45-2:45PM PDT, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.

The Healing Side of War: The Worldwide Reach of U.S. Military Plastic Surgeons

Embargo for Release: Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Since World War I, plastic surgery has been an integral part of wound healing and rebuilding lives, physically and psychologically. War has inspired groundbreaking advances in plastic surgery. And today, plastic surgeons in the U.S. armed forces continue to pioneer reconstructive procedures and develop innovative technologies and techniques to repair traumatic battlefield injuries and restore function. Additionally, U.S. military plastic surgeons are involved in many humanitarian and diplomatic efforts from the battlefields and underdeveloped countries... to Main Street USA. Military plastic surgeons, at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2009 conference, Oct. 23-27, in Seattle, will discuss:

• Project C.A.R.E.
• Humanitarian Assistance Missions
• Tri-Service Military Plastic Surgery
• War Casualty Burn Reconstruction
• Forward Deployed Casualty Reconstruction

Panel: "Military Plastic Surgery - A Global Update" is being held on Tues., Oct. 27, 9:00-9:45AM PDT, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.

Chinese Surgeons Introduce Facial Reanimation Procedures That Better Restore Smiles

Embargo for Release: Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Facial expressions help others to interpret our mood, intelligence, and intentions. Facial reanimation surgery gives those who never could smile or make certain expressions, the power to communicate. Plastic surgeons from China will present a new approach to performing facial reanimation procedures to their American counterparts at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2009 conference, Oct. 23-27, in Seattle. The new treatment involves harvesting muscles and nerves from a patient's stomach wall and transferring it to the side of the face to inhibit jaw movement. The procedure may improve facial expressions for people who've experienced facial paralysis, bells palsy, stroke, or trauma. Better functional and aesthetic outcomes may be achieved with the procedure over current protocols.

East Meets West Panel: "Complex Reconstruction II0" is being held on Tues., Oct. 27, 12:45-1:45PM PDT, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.

Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons