TIGR® Matrix to be a hot topic of discussion during ISAPS 2012 in Geneva.

Hilton Becker, MD, F.A.C.S, F.R.C.S from Boca Raton, Florida will be speaking first at SOFTissue (http://novusscientific.com/softissue/), an event hosted by Novus Scientific at the InterContinental Hotel in Geneva on Friday 7^th September and then as an ISAPS presenter on Saturday 8^th September. His presentation, entitled “ The Use of Synthetic Mesh in Cosmetic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery” is scheduled for the 11.50 – 12.30 session of Free Paper presentations (11) at the ISAPS conference venue, CICG in Geneva.

Dr. Becker has been in plastic surgery practice since 1981 and is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He received his medical degree from the University of Witwatersand, Johannesburg, South Africa, and completed his plastic surgery residency at the Medical College of Virginia. In addition to being a highly-skilled plastic surgeon, Dr. Becker is also an accomplished author and inventor, the latter of which has resulted in considerable air-time on TV networks. He has two published books, has contributed to numerous chapters in several plastic surgery text books and written over 50 plastic surgery articles. He is the developer of the much acclaimed ‘Mentor Becker Adjustable Implant,’ as well as several other innovative plastic surgery devices.

Dr. Becker is the recipient of many awards, but is most renowned for his practice of reconstructive and cosmetic breast surgery utilizing complimentary techniques for optimum results. His views on the topic of synthetic (resorbable) mesh were recently documented in abstract postings (Breast Augmentation) at the 3^rd SICAAAMS 2012 ‘Cutting Age’ Advanced Body Aesthetics in Geneva (Saturday 21^st April 2012) and are reproduced below:

“Synthetic surgical mesh has been widely used in hernia repair, pelvic floor reconstruction and abdominal wall repair. With the advent of acellular dermal matrices, the use of these biological meshes have gained popularity in  reconstructive  and  cosmetic breast surgery procedures. Due to restraints and complications with acellular dermal matrices, we have resorted to the use of synthetic meshes in breast surgery cases. Several types of meshes are currently available that are suitable for use in breast surgery, these include absorbable, non- absorbable  and combination meshes.

We report on the use of synthetic mesh in over 50 cases. The categories of breast surgery include  breast augmentation astopexy, augmentation mastopexy and  revisional breast surgery. Initially non absorbable mesh was used this included  prolene (Ethicon) and infinite mesh (gore). These meshes proved to be too rigid. Ultrapro (Ethicon) which is a combination mesh – (Proline and absorbable Monocryl ) was then used. This mesh was still found to be too rigid. Absorbable mesh – Vicryl (Ethicon) was used, but only had a temporary effect.

Recently developed long-term absorbable meshes were then used. Bio A (Gore), a scaffold material was used. Due to its rigidity it had to be meshed and was found to have little long term effect.

Over the last year we have been using TIGR® Matrix Surgical Mesh (Novus Scientific), a copolymer of glycolide, lactide and trimethylene carbonate. It is a long-term absorbable mesh that retains 50% of its strength for up to nine months and is completely resorbed in three years. It has sufficient strength to hold tissues in position until tissue integration has taken place. It also stimulates collagen synthesis which appears to be an added advantage. The success rate has been encouraging with a low incidence of complications. These include increased seroma formation and one case of infection

Other early complications seen include loss of inframammary fold, recurrent ptosis and rippling in patients with very thin skin flaps.”