The advantages of the endoscopic implantation of tissue expanders are a reduction in expansion time, a shorter hospital stay, less patient discomfort, and the prevention of complications (hematoma, seroma, infection, wound dehiscence).

Purpose. The ultrasound imaging of the soft tissues of the face and neck in the vertical position of the patient and determining the degree of participation of each of them in the age-related changes in the contours of the face and neck. Methods. In this review, we discuss the ultrasound anatomy of the soft tissues of the face and neck, the importance of ultrasound for planning surgical treatment, and the results of clinical studies that report ultrasound imaging of the soft tissues of the cervicofacial region. Results. Ultrasound imaging allows for the determination of the causes of age-related changes in the contours of the soft tissues of the cervicofacial region as well as determining the further tactics of surgical treatment. Ultrasound results help the plastic surgeon at all stages of treatment including intraoperative evaluation of the effectiveness of correction. Conclusions. A review of the literature has shown the need for wider use of ultrasound in aesthetic surgery as an important diagnostic procedure that should be performed with the upright position of the patient that allows for an objective assessment of the degree of participation of each of the tissues (skin, adipose tissue, muscles, submandibular salivary glands, etc.) in the formation of age-related changes in the face and neck.

In reconstructing patients with massive midface losses, the authors required a vascularized bone graft that could be used to reconstruct the palate and orbital floor, provide vertical maxillary support, and provide soft tissue. The inferior angle of the scapula appears to be a promising source of vascularized bone stock, and until now, there has been no clear description of its vascular anatomy. The purpose of this study was to define the vascular anatomy of the inferior angle of the scapula. Thirteen fresh cadavers were studied. The subscapular artery was injected with Microfil (Flow Tec, Carver, MA) at its origin. Two branches of the subscapular artery were found to converge on the angle of the scapula: the descending osseous branch of the circumflex scapular, and the transverse branch of the thoracodorsal. The descending osseous branch of the circumflex scapular artery supplied the inferior angle of the scapula in 100 percent of cases. The transverse branch of the thoracodorsal artery supplied it in 76 percent of cases. The descending osseous branch of the circumflex scapular artery is the principal artery supplying the inferior angle of the scapula.

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Background. The reconstructed human epidermis (RE) is an in vitro tissue-engineering construct similar to the native epidermis. Objective. To develop a full-layer RE. Describe its structure: determine the presence of all layers of the epidermal component, including basal, spinous and granular layers and stratum corneum of the epidermis; detect the basement membrane, the border between the epidermal and mesenchymal component. Materials and methods. Isolation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts from human donor skin. Cultivation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts in vitro under 2D conditions, cell subculturing and 3D modeling of RE, obtaining cryosections, histological staining, immunohistochemical (IHC) study with antibodies to cytokeratins 14 and 10, Ki67 protein, loricrin, laminin 5 and plectin. Results. A technique was developed for the formation of RE. Histological examination showed that the stratification of keratinocyte layers occurs during the formation of RE. Layers are formed including basal, spinous and granular layers and stratum corneum. The IHC study has shown the proliferative activity of keratinocytes of the basal layer and has detected the presence of marker proteins of keratinocytes at different stages of differentiation. RE basal keratinocytes, like native ones, form hemidesmosomes and synthesize basement membrane proteins. Conclusions. A full-layer human RE was obtained in vitro. RE meets all the characteristics of the native epidermis and it is suitable for basic and practical research in the field of skin biology, dermatology, and cosmetology.