Preface to the Second Edition

The illustrious history of the specialty of plastic surgery, which spans two and a half millennia and includes the contributions of Sushruta, Tagliacozzi, Gillies, Buncke, and Tessier, among scores of other luminaries, demonstrates a consistent stream of advances that are seamlessly interwoven with quantum leaps in a way that no other surgical specialty can match. The playground of the plastic surgeon encompasses “the skin and its contents,” as many of us are apt to proudly quip. The plastic surgeon is widely considered the innovator, the “aesthetic eye,” the “surgeon’s surgeon,” the last link in the reconstructive chain when all other options have been exhausted. With those references come great expectations on the part of the patient and great responsibility on the part of the plastic surgeon.

The first edition of Plastic Surgery Secrets hit the shelves of bookstores around the world in 1999. In the decade since, it has become one of the best-selling books of its kind, with worldwide distribution and translations into four languages. It has served as a reliable and quick reference source for thousands of medical students, residents, and practicing plastic surgeons as well as trainees and colleagues in multiple other specialties.

During this period, the field of plastic surgery has made innumerable great strides in diverse directions to better address a myriad of complex clinical problems. These include the innovation of novel disruptive technology to enhance the treatment of complex craniofacial anomalies and problematic wounds, the development of advanced microvascular techniques to further define the boundaries of flap design, and the expansion of concepts set in motion more than a half century ago when Dr. Joseph Murray—a plastic surgeon—performed the first successful kidney transplant, subsequently receiving the Nobel Prize for his lifesaving accomplishment that ushered in the field of organ transplantation.

To address the explosive progress of our specialty over the past decade, the second edition of Plastic Surgery Secrets has been expanded to incorporate 35 new chapters dedicated to topics that reflect the growing complexity of our evolving field since the publication of the first edition. Chapters have been dedicated to facial transplantation, conjoined twins, perforator flaps, hand transplantation, principles of VAC, management of vascular disorders and compartment syndrome of the upper extremity, cleft and aesthetic orthognathic surgery, the pediatric hand and wrist, body contouring after massive weight loss, nonsurgical rejuvenation of the aging face, advances in basic science research, as well as multiple aspects of craniofacial distraction osteogenesis, including distraction of the cranium, midface, and mandible, and numerous other salient topics. To explore the legalistic subtleties and complexities of our specialty, chapters have been dedicated to CPT coding strategies, liability issues, and ethics.

Almost 300 authors have participated in the gargantuan task of revising, updating, and expanding the original edition to create one that contains 155 succinctly and cleverly crafted chapters. I am indebted to each of them. The introduction of full color to this volume and the larger dimensions of the text further enhance the book’s strength as an educational tool. At the end of the day, the more easily and enjoyably a book serves as a resource, the more frequently it will be used as a reference. It is hoped that the second edition of Plastic Surgery Secrets will meet these expectations.