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© GETTY IMAGES CUTTING EDGE SURGICAL AESTHETICS 68 MARCH 2016 | Surgical Aesthetics Plasticine models are a valuable—and economical—tool for plastic surgery training, according to a new study published online in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (December 29, 2015). Researchers Chenyang Ji, et al, of the department of plastic surgery at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital and University in China, invited 57 medical interns to simulate certain surgical operations under the guidance of plastic surgery staff members using a plasticine model. The interns were then asked to rate the value of their experience with the models through survey questionnaires. All of the interns felt that remodeling the plasticine improved their understanding of the procedures they were assigned and helped clarify confusing operative details of the procedures. The most commonly cited fl aws of the training models were: "it is dif- fi cult to model into a vivid image" and "it is not suitable for all of the operation." Biotechnology company Arch Therapeutics has received European regulatory clearance to initiate a human clinical trial of its AC5 Surgical Hemostatic Device. AC5 is a synthetic peptide composed of naturally occurring amino acids; it is meant to control bleeding and fl uid loss due to surgery or trauma. In animal studies, it was found to achieve hemostasis in 15-30 seconds and even stopped bleeding in the presence of anticoagulants. Following 14 days of treatment, the tissue re- sponse was stable and consistent with the advanced stages of biological healing and showed no evidence of abnormal wound healing. Blood samples and other tissue testing from the AC5-treated animals similarly showed normal tissue and chemistry profi les. The upcoming randomized, controlled, single-blind investigation will assess the safety and effi cacy of AC5 in bleeding wounds created during a dermatological procedure in fewer than 50 patients, with a planned follow-up assessment 30 days following the procedure. Endpoints include product-related adverse effects and time to hemostasis. Some subjects will also take a therapeutic dose of antithrombotic medication during the study period. "We were very encour- aged by the preclinical data observed to date, and we believe that AC5 will have similar results in humans," said Terrence Norchi, MD, president and CEO of Arch Therapeutics. Gender, high body mass index (BMI) and combination proce- dures are the three most signifi cant risk factors for complications following facelift. Varen Gupta, et al, performed a prospective cohort study of patients undergoing rhytidectomy between 2008 and 2013 using the CosmetAssure database. Major complica- tions were defi ned as complications that required an emergency room visit, hospital admission or reoperation within 30 days of the procedure. The researchers used univariate and multivariate analysis to evaluate risk factors including age, gender, BMI, smok- ing, diabetes, combined procedures and type of surgical facility. They reviewed the outcomes of 11,300 facelifts; 8.8% of the patients were male; 2.7% were diabetic; 4.8% were smokers; and 38.5% were elderly (over the age of 59.2 years) or obese. The overall complication rates—including hematoma, infection and DVT was 1.8%. This rate increased to 3.7% for patients who underwent combined procedures. Male patients also were at higher risk of complications (3.9%) as were individuals with a BMI ≥ 25 (2.1%). The subjects underwent anywhere from one to seven pro- cedures. For the study, the procedures were categorized into three groups based on body region: face, body and breast. The rate of complications increased from 1.5% for facelifts alone to 2.5% when the facelifts were combined with procedures on two or more body regions. The study was published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal (January 2016). Facelift Risk Factors AC5 Hemostatic Device Begins Human Clinical Trial Plasticine Models Useful in Surgical Training