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Laser tattoo removal

The authors, experts in dermatologic laser surgery, provide us with a comprehensive review on the use of lasers for tattoo removal. The advanced development in laser devices that can be used for tattoo removal has helped patients and clinicians attain...

The medial gastrocnemius flap

This classic muscle flap is now being used with increasing frequency following revision knee joint surgery. Following the Nahai and Mathes classification, the gastrocnemius muscle is a Type I muscle with a single dominant vascular pedicle (Figure 1). The gastrocnemius...

Living confidently with a distinctive face or body

The visual impact of having a face which has scars from an accident or burns like mine or a birthmark, a cleft lip and palate, a Bell’s palsy or a skin condition is arguably not taken seriously enough by clinical...

Looking unusual: what it’s like and how skin camouflage can help

Appearance matters, nowadays more than ever. We live in a global culture where a smooth, blemish-free and consistent complexion, symmetrical features and perfect teeth are highly prized and believed to be the passport to happiness and success. If you are...

Immediate versus delayed post mastectomy breast reconstruction

The authors review and analyse the current literature comparing the psychosocial outcomes of immediate versus delayed post mastectomy breast reconstruction. Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women and has a lifetime incidence of one in nine. Mastectomy may...

We need to talk about amputation – a difficult conversation in the developing world

What do you do when a patient refuses amputation? The author shares various cases and outlines her team’s approach to this scenario in Gaza. What to do when a patient refuses amputation for a severely damaged lower limb that will...

An epidemic of lower limb gunshot injuries

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact upon us all, the author, a reconstructive plastic surgeon, provides a thought-provoking account of a different type of epidemic that is having devastating consequences. The Oxford English Dictionary defines an epidemic as “a...