St. Louis Plastic Surgeons Advance Patient Safety in 2017

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 29, 2017 -- For the West County Plastic Surgeons of Washington University team in St. Louis, cosmetic surgery is about more than the physical procedures performed each day. They also work to improve the field by actively authoring publications and leading studies that explore topics focused on patient health and safety, with a long-range goal of improving outcomes for anyone seeking surgery throughout the state, country, and world.

As 2017 winds to a close, the team is looking back on more than a dozen published peer-reviewed articles, on subjects ranging from vaginal rejuvenation to the relationship between bacteria and breast implants. Some highlights from the year include:

• a discussion of the apparent higher tendency of textured implants to develop biofilms and bacteria growth when compared to lower rates on smooth implants, and this condition’s relation to the risk of large cell lymphoma—published in October

• a scrutinizing of data related to laser, radiofrequency, and other nonsurgical vaginal rejuvenation devices, seeking to fill the gaps in evidence supporting manufacturers’ marketing claims of improving laxity and other symptoms connected to menopause—published in September

• a comparison of two different types of common post-mastectomy breast construction techniques in addition to fat grafting, with a look at ultimate patient satisfaction rates—published in May

• an exploration of the merits of patient feedback, specifically in relation to its effect on improving or harming medical outcomes on a large scale if used to determine or influence physician rankings and compensation—published in January

“Committing to a role as an active and contributing member of the greater medical community is vital: to our own team, to our own patients and others, and to the industry as a whole,” said Dr. Terry Myckatyn, a board-certified plastic surgeon at West County Plastic Surgeons of Washington University and co-author of the articles listed above. “We must always be striving to make surgical procedures as safe and effective as possible. To do that, we have to question the status quo, shine a light on unexplored areas, and not be afraid to let go of long-held assumptions—if doing so allows us to advance into new areas of patient satisfaction and health.”

The year also saw half a dozen studies underway at the Washington University School of Medicine, with one—examining patient-reported post-surgical breast augmentation outcomes in relation to preoperative consultations that involve 3D imaging—completed. A lumpectomy vs. mastectomy with reconstruction study is still underway, and others are recruiting or about to recruit subjects.

To learn more about West County Plastic Surgeons of Washington University’s ongoing work outside of the operating room, visit the St. Louis practice’s website.

CONTACT:
314.996.8800
westcountyplasticsurgeons.wustl.edu