AI Replaces Dermatology, 4 Lesion Tips, & Seb K vs BCC
Also: Why flaps beat grafts, punch biopsy pitfalls, & the Sunday quiz.
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Plastic Surgery
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Special Edition: Sub-Internships and Electives in Plastic Surgery
Also: Foundations update, the Sunday quiz, & events calendar.
10 Essential Tips to Prepare for Your Plastic Surgery Sub-Internship (Sub-I)
Securing a plastic surgery residency is no easy task, and excelling in your Sub-Is is arguably one of the most important steps. This guide offers 10 actionable strategies to prepare for plastic surgery sub-I rotations in the USA.
Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN): Risk Factors, Clinical Features, & Management
Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) is a severe dermatologic condition affecting >30% TBSA, triggered by drugs like sulfonamides and antiepileptics. Symptoms include painful skin detachment and mucosal erosions. Management prioritizes causative agents, supportive care, and adjunctive therapies.
Chemical Peels: Classification, Indications, & Complications
Chemical peels apply controlled acids to resurface skin and spark collagen repair. Superficial, medium, and deep depths offer escalating gains for photoaging, acne, and pigment issues, yet also rising downtime and risks; deep phenol/TCA peels need strict monitoring.
Prominent Ear Deformity: Assessment, Surgical Techniques, & Otoplasty Outcomes
Prominent ears (>30° tilt or >2 cm from skull) usually lack a defined antihelical fold or have a hypertrophic concha. Otoplasty reshapes cartilage with techniques like Mustardè or Furnas, restoring natural projection; recovery needs headband support and hematoma vigilance.
Textbooks That Talk Back, 3 Cleft Lip Lessons, & A Debate on Implant Illness
Also: Opening a second waitlist?, the Sunday quiz, & 3 recommended cleft lip reads.
Exploring Breast Implant Illness and Its Comorbid Conditions: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis
Systematic review (48 studies, 7,045 patients) found 49 % of breast-implant recipients reported BII symptoms: fatigue, joint pain, brain fog. After explantation, 57 % improved. Autoimmune, psychiatric, and cancer comorbidities were common; diagnosis remains unclear.
Waitlist Closing, JPRAS Journal Club + Breast Implant Everything.
Also: BIA-ALCL signs, the Sunday quiz, & 3 recommended reads.
Principles of Chest Wall Reconstruction: Anatomy, Indications, & Reconstructive Options
Chest-wall reconstruction restores support, organ protection, ventilation, & contour after tumour resection, trauma, or infection. Defects > 5 cm or ≥ 4 ribs need rigid mesh/PTFE/titanium plus vascular flaps (pectoralis, lat dorsi, rectus). Sepsis or poor lung reserve contraindicate.
Congenital Haemangioma: Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, & Management
Congenital haemangiomas are GLUT-1–negative vascular tumours fully formed at birth. They appear as solitary violaceous plaques and follow RICH (rapid), PICH (partial), or NICH (none) involution. Diagnosis is clinical; observe unless bleeding, ulcer, or cosmetic concern warrants surgery/laser.
Facelift: Anatomy, Clinical Assessment, & Techniques
Facelift repositions SMAS and skin to restore midface, jawline, and neck contours. Thorough pre-op assessment guides technique choice from skin-only to deep-plane/high-SMAS, balancing durability and risk. Nerve protection plus vigilant post-op care curbs hematoma, necrosis, and asymmetry.
Committees are Stagnant, Last Chance to Join Waitlist, & 4 Nasal Anatomy Essentials
Also: P'Fella's event calendar, the Sunday quiz, & 3 recommended reads.
Anatomy of the Nose: Landmarks, Structure, & Surgical Considerations
The nose is a layered unit: thin bony vault, cartilaginous middle/tip, and skin-soft tissue cloak. Key angles guide aesthetics (nasofrontal 115-130°, nasolabial 90-105°, Goode ratio). Septum, valve, & turbinates ensure airflow; rich carotid vessels and trigeminal nerves supply it.
Hartrampf’s Zones of Perfusion: Anatomy, Clinical Applications, & Modifications
Hartrampf divides lower‑abdominal TRAM/DIEP flaps into four perfusion zones around the dominant perforator: Zone I being best, and Zone IV worst. Later imaging showed ipsilateral lateral tissue (Zone III) may out‑perfuse contralateral medial (Zone II) & that patterns shift with perforator row.
Microsurgical Principles & Techniques: Setup, Instrumentation & Anastomosis Techniques
Microsurgery employs magnification, delicate tools, and 8-0–11-0 sutures to join vessels/ nerves ≤2 mm, powering free flaps, replantation, nerve and lymphatic repair. Outcomes rely on ergonomic setup, meticulous vessel prep, apt end-to-end or end-to-side stitches, and vigilant flap monitoring.
Textbook Images are Useless, 3 Cartilage Grafting Tips, & Foundations Pre-Orders Open
Also: New quiz champs, cortical vs cancellous, & a journal review.
Lipoma: Aetiology, Clinical Presentation, & Management
Lipomas are common benign tumours of mature adipocytes, presenting as soft, mobile subcutaneous nodules. Most need only observation, but imaging (US, MRI) and excision are advised for pain, rapid growth, deep/large size, or diagnostic doubt to exclude liposarcoma.
The Textbook That Doesn’t Expire, 3 Aesthetic Surgery Tips, & PRF Tutorial
Also: Gluteal danger zones, the Sunday quiz, & 3 recommended reads.
Cold Burns: Causes, Clinical Presentation, & Treatment
Frostbite is a freezing injury below 0 °C where ice crystals and micro‑thrombosis damage the skin. Re‑warm rapidly in 37‑39 °C water, give NSAIDs, aloe dressings; consider tPA or iloprost for deep cases. Surgery waits ≈6 weeks until clear tissue demarcation.
Epidemiology of Upper Limb Necrotising Fasciitis in England: A National Study (1998–2018)
Data (1998-2018) from a UK study show upper-limb necrotising fasciitis tripled, then plateaued; 64 % of 728 patients were men and mostly from deprived areas. Despite surgery, 30- and 90-day mortality rates were 14 % and 16 %. Early diagnosis & action remain vital, especially in high-risk groups.
Upper Limb Nec Fasc on the Rise, 3 Necrotising Fasciitis Diagnoses, & the Debridement Drill
In this week's edition 1. ✍️ Letter from P'Fella P'Fella on vacation mode! 2. 🤓 The
Injectable Fillers: Classification, Indications, & Injection Techniques
Injectable fillers restore volume and contour without surgery. HA gives lift; biostimulants like PLLA and CaHA spark collagen. The filler choice depends on the zone and goals. Adverse effects include bruising, occlusion, and rare blindness. These emergencies may require hyaluronidase.
Dead Textbooks, 3 DIEP Complication Tips, & Surgical Studio Updates
Also: Foundations in progress, podcast suggestions, & the Sunday quiz.
Blog
View allST3 Plastic Surgery Interview: Structure, Guides & Tools.
A guide to Plastic Surgery courses, companions, and questions for your upcoming ST3 plastic surgery interview.
6 min read
Key Notes on Plastic Surgery - Book Review
"Key Notes on Plastic Surgery" is a comprehensive guide to the field of plastic surgery, authored by Adrian Richards and Hywel Dafydd.
3 min read
4 Best Resources for Plastic Surgery Residency Interviews.
Online Plastic Surgery interviews resources are the best way to prepare for your residency interview. This article details the best methods and resources to prepare for your ST3 or residency interview.
4 min read