Scalpel-Free Facelift
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the use of a new disposable surgical cutting and coagulation tool. The PlasmaBlade Needle, developed by medical device company, PEAK Surgical, Inc., is the newest advancement in facial plastic surgery.
The PlasmaBlade Needle has been designed to cut through all types of soft tissue, including skin, fat and muscle, and has proven to be the leading device for surgical incisions. Unlike typical scalpels and electrosurgical devices, the PlasmaBlade Needle uses the PULSAR Generator which supplies it with radiofrequency energy to make precise incisions while controlling tissue damage.
Benefits of the New PlasmaBlade
For years, plastic surgeons have had to use both traditional scalpels and electrosurgical devices when performing delicate procedures such as facial plastic surgery. This is because the scalpel, designed for precision cutting, cannot control blood loss. And, electrosurgical devices, designed to control blood loss, cannot make precise cuts.
A study examining the benefits of the new PlasmaBlade revealed that not only is it able to cut precisely, but that it also controls blood loss, resulting in less thermal tissue damage when cutting through tissue than any other device on the market. This means that the healing time will be significantly less following aesthetic procedures.
Details of the Study
Authors of the study compared the PlasmaBlade to the standard scalpel and a traditional electrosurgery needlepoint tip by making a series of surgical incisions on human abdominal tissue. Blood loss and thermal tissue injury were measured following all the incisions to determine how the new tool compared.
After comparing the results, the authors found the new PlasmaBlade to produce 50 percent less damage to the tissue than the standard scalpel and electrosurgery tip. The PlasmaBlade also resulted in significantly less amount of blood loss from the incisions.
Breakthrough in Aesthetic Surgery
Because Americans have become so dependant on plastic surgery and appearance, plastic surgeons are constantly trying to stay on the cutting edge of new technology that will make the results better for their clients.
Although it is only a matter of time before a newer, better cutting device will hit the market; for today, the PlasmaBlade proves to be the newest advancement in facial plastic surgery, positioning PEAK Surgical, Inc. as the leader in medical devices.
Dr. Gregory S. Keller, the lead study investigator and the co-director of the Facial Plastic Surgery Fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical School and clinical associate professor of surgery at UCLA, presented the study Sept. 18 at the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) Annual Fall Meeting in Chicago.
The study results were also presented in a Sept. 20 panel discussion.
