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Operative Procedures in Plastic, Aesthetic and
Reconstructive Surgery
Mark D. Walsh, MD
Book Review
Ari S. Hoschander, Christopher J. Salgado, Wrood Kassira,
and Seth R. Thaller, eds. Operative Procedures in Plastic,
Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery. Boca Raton, FL: CRC
Press, Taylor and Francis Group, 2015. ISBN-13: 978-
1466585591, ISBN-10: 1466585595, $199.95.
Reviewed by: Mark D. Walsh, MD
Operative Procedures in Plastic, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive
Surgery is a new procedurally oriented text, conceived and
edited by Drs. Hoschander, Salgado, Kassira, and Thaller.
The text seeks to fill a void in the plastic surgical literature,
which contains very few books dedicated to providing
trainees a concise, enumerated approach to the intraopera-
tive and perioperative details of a surgical procedure.
Despite the tremendous breadth of material, and potential
variability of operative techniques, the editors have done a
commendable job of putting forth a very relevant instruc-
tional textbook.
The book is comprised of 32 chapters distributed
across five subject headings: General Reconstruction,
Breast Reconstruction, Maxillofacial, Cosmetic, and Hand.
The basic format of each chapter varies in some instances
from discussion of a discrete procedure, such as carpal
tunnel release, to more general topics such as lower extremity
reconstruction. Each chapter attempts to follow a delineated
outline with section headings consisting of an introduction,
preoperative markings and needed equipment, intraoperative
steps, and postoperative care. Additionally, there is generally
a “Notes” section used by the authors to emphasize key
points. Finally, each chapter has a coding section listing the
CPT codes related to the described procedures. The print
Aesthetic Surgery Journal
2016, Vol 36(8) NP271–NP272
© 2016 The American Society for
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Inc.
Reprints and permission:
journals.permissions@oup.com
DOI: 10.1093/asj/sjw009
www.aestheticsurgeryjournal.com
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version also includes online access to an eBook version that
may be reviewed online or downloaded for offline use.
STRENGTHS
The layout of the chapters is consistent, well delineated,
and organized in a logical sequence that makes for easy
reading. With few exceptions, the editors have formulated
the chapter topics wisely, covering most of the commonly
performed procedures that would be of interest to a plastic
surgical trainee. The included sections emphasizing pre-
operative markings and postoperative care demonstrate
commendable insight into the current state of residency
training, and inclusion of these sections readily supple-
ments knowledge that trainees might not gain through
practical experience.
The chapters focusing on simple, straightforward, proce-
dures tended to be the most successful. Particular examples
include “Nipple Reconstruction” and the two chapters on
“Carpal Tunnel Release: Open” and “Endoscopic Carpal
Tunnel Release: Anterograde Single Incision.” Both chap-
ters made excellent use of good quality photographs for il-
lustration of the preoperative markings and for visual
depictions of the procedural steps. The combination of
well-selected images along with clear, concise text, provide
an excellent foundation to prepare for or reinforce what is
learned from the actual procedure.
Dr Walsh is an Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
Corresponding Author:
Dr Mark D. Walsh, Emory University Hospital Midtown, 550 Peachtree
Street NE, 9th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA.
E-mail: mark.walsh@emory.edu
NP272
An eBook version with online access is included with
purchase. The online version resembles the book closely
with only some minor formatting changes. User interface is
excellent with easy browsing and scrolling. A useful added
feature is the ability to download the book to up to 4
devices for portable offline use. Online images are compa-
rable to the printed version, and in some cases are more
easily visualized. Unlike other chapters, the chapter entitled
“Abdominoplasty, Panniculectomy, and Belt Lipectomy”
includes a good quality operative video of an abdomino-
plasty, which successfully enhances the written material.
WEAKNESSES
Despite the successful use of photographic images in a few
chapters, the book is plagued by the overall inconsistency
of the illustrations and figures. In many chapters the ac-
companying figures were of insufficient quantity or inade-
quate quality to support what otherwise might be well
written chapter. Some chapters were completely devoid of
photographs and relied on hand drawn images. The quality
of some of the artwork is below the standard of what many
journals would find acceptable for publication. In the
current era of digital media, high quality photography or
digital illustrations should be standard.
The editors, in their own words, sought to “dedicate an
entire chapter to teaching the reader how to perform the op-
eration.” For certain topics (especially “Lower Extremity
Reconstruction” and “Breast Reconstruction with Abdominal
Flaps”) they failed to adhere to this dictum. These chapters
were more topic-based than procedure-based. In these situa-
tions the volume of the material, and the need for more
figures than provided, overwhelmed the structured succinct
chapter design.
The impact of the book could have been significantly
strengthened with the inclusion of supplemental video
footage of the selected procedures. Of the 32 chapters, only
one video was provided, resulting in a missed opportunity
to provide a more detailed depiction of the various opera-
tive steps.
In certain instances, more detail would have strengthened
the impact of the book. Notable chapter omissions include
breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap, flexor/
extensor tendon repair, and superomedial pedicle/vertical
Aesthetic Surgery Journal 36(8)
scar breast reduction. Additionally, the provision of more
detailed coding advice in each chapter would be preferable
to providing the reader with a list of codes without guid-
ance on how they should be properly utilized.
SUMMARY
Operative Techniques in Plastic, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive
Surgery is an ambitious, instructional textbook that seeks to
describe operative procedures succinctly in a stepwise for-
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mat easily understood and assimilated by trainees. For the
medical student or junior plastic surgery resident, the
book is a valuable resource. The concise, outline format,
and included portable eBook, make it an excellent quick
operative reference. The book in its current iteration may
have less appeal for more experienced trainees or young
attending surgeons due to the lack of video material. For
those that have a fundamental understanding of the vari-
ous procedures, many may prefer the additional level of
detail that is conveyed through watching a video, in com-
parison to printed text and static images. However, despite
a few areas that would merit some improvement, it is a
commendable first edition and with subsequent refinement,
could easily become a must have resource for all plastic sur-
gery trainees.
RATING: 3 OF 5
To purchase: https://www.crcpress.com/9781466585591
Disclosures
The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with
respect to the research, authorship, and publication of this
article.
Funding
The author received no financial support for the research,
authorship, and publication of this article.