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Background:. This study evaluates a specific breast augmentation (BA) technique in patients with pectus excavatum(PE) and its results in improving this deformity, augmenting the breasts, and correcting the concurrent breast asymmetry. Methods:. Twenty-eight patients with PE were treated from 2017 to 2021. All patients who visited our private practice were aiming to augment their breasts, correct their breast asymmetry, and improve their PE. The mean age of the patients was 25 years. In most cases, the submuscular dual-plane technique was chosen. Patients’ quality of life regarding their chest wall deformity was assessed using the Single Step Questionnaire (SSQ). Subjects’ quality of life regarding general self-esteem, psychosocial well-being, and physical function were assessed at initial screening and 24-month follow-up using the BREAST-Q V2 questionnaire. Also, patients filled out a pain-evaluating questionnaire concerning the first 5 postoperative days to determine the recovery of this specific technique. Results:. No complications were observed. The SSQ revealed high satisfaction (mean score=73) and significant (P = 0.001) improvement following the operation. The improvements regarding psychosocial well-being, sexual well-being, and satisfaction with the BREAST-Q were also equally high (P = 0.001). The pain was minimal during the first five postoperative days. This is the first prospective study that evaluates the quality of life using both the SSQ, the validated BREAST-Q, and the pain score when performing BA in patients with PE and breast asymmetry using breast silicone implants. Conclusions:. BA is a procedure that can give excellent results both regarding chest wall deformity and BA in PE patients.

Background:. The shape and fullness of the lips are essential in facial aesthetics. We describe a safe injection technique of hyaluronic acid (HA), based on the well-known golden number Φ (phi), for lip augmentation. Methods:. The name given to that procedure is “the step-by-step Φ technique.” Firstly, “step-by-step” because we never inject more than 1–1.5 ml of HA in 1 session, and “phi” because we apply the golden ratio 1.618—broadly known as Φ—to identify the proper points for injection. Using a specific caliper, we identified 3–4 points in each upper half of the lip. We injected 0.01–0.05 ml of lower concentration (25 mg/g) HA in these particular areas of the upper lip, from the vermillion border into the vermillion. We took into consideration the existing lip volume to decide the proper amount of HA to be injected in every single site, as lips are often asymmetric. On the lower lip, we use the same caliper to identify again the proper injection points. If necessary, the next 2 sessions are performed at an interval of 15–30 days. Results:. Our technique was performed in 833 patients. Mean age was 30.2 years (range: 18–72 years), and most patients were very satisfied. With this technique, we avoid severe complications such as arterial embolism or venous occlusion and unnatural results. The most common side effects were swelling, redness, and mild pain. Conclusion:. The step-by-step Φ technique is safe, easy to learn and perform, and can provide natural results in lip augmentation.

Summary:. Median and lateral neck areas are quite challenging to improve. Three-dimensional cryolipolysis is a noninvasive technique for localized fat reduction. We investigated the efficacy and safety of the technique when applied to these areas. A prospective study of patients treated with one session of 3-dimensional (3D) cryolipolysis is performed. Clinical outcomes are assessed using caliper measurements, patient surveys, and independent, blinded plastic surgeons’ photographic evaluation. The studies are conducted using a commercially available noninvasive medical device for 3D cryolipolysis. All patients received gentle massage of the treated areas for 3 minutes, and the final follow-up is after 3 months. Thirty-nine patients are enrolled in our study from June 2018 to December 2018. All 39 subjects received treatment on at least one intended area (median, right, and left lateral neck). Comparison of the pre- and posttreatment caliper measurements demonstrated a significant reduction of the treated areas at 3 months. Posttreatment, 82.05% of patients marked the results of fat reduction as exceptional or very improved, 12.82% as improved, 5.13% as no result, and 0% as worse. Improved patients and the blinded plastic surgeons noticed at these patients’ groups a bonus tightening effect. No serious adverse reactions are observed; thus, 3D cryolipolysis considered as a safe and effective noninvasive localized fat reduction technique with an extra, almost regularly observed, tightening effect.