Faster postoperative recovery, low-cost production, and a safer environment for patients and surgical personnel are common goals in new medical devices. Above all, safer surgery is always a benefit. Faster postoperative recovery reduces strain on healthcare systems. Low-cost manufacturing enables less-privileged communities to access lifesaving and life-altering operations. New devices offer greater safety for surgical …
Retractors are an essential tool in body contour plastic surgery. Unlike facial applications (read our article on facial plastic surgery retractors here), specifically dealing with the nose, lips, and mouth, body contour surgery seeks to refine the body’s shape and appearance. This can be for reconstructive or beautifying purposes. It involves procedures such as the …
What Retractors Are Used in Body Contour Surgery Such as Tummy Tucks? Read More »
Retractors play a pivotal role in facial plastic and facial cosmetic surgeries, including: Cleft lip and palate repair Congenital facial anomalies (blepharoplasty, rhytidectomy) Lip surgery So-called nose jobs Surgery during and after skin cancer …among many others. Commonly used retractors used are the Freeman facelift retractor and Sheen nasal retractor, while modern, handheld, cordless lighted …
What Retractors Are Used in Facial Plastic Surgery? Read More »
Surgical retractors are key surgical tools in a wide range of surgical procedures. They have been for decades, even centuries. But nothing’s perfect, and retractors have shortcomings, both in actual surgery, and related to factors like cost and maintenance. Some main problems with retractors include the force required to use them, devices being left behind/inside …
Problems with Surgical Retractors (and Solutions) Read More »
Handheld retractors are surgical devices that separate bodily tissues during surgery. Unlike larger retractors, they can be held in a single hand. Self-retaining handheld retractors can be locked into place with no need for manual force to keep them open. But often a handheld retractor requires continual manipulation. This type of retractor is especially useful …
Handheld Retractors: Background, Benefits, and Options Read More »
Tracheotomy is a surgical procedure in which an incision is made into the anterior portion of the neck. Multiple surgical retractors are needed for this sometimes-urgent surgery. The purpose of a tracheotomy is to gain access to the trachea to insert a tube to aid breathing. Tracheotomies may be conducted for conditions such as infection, …
Orthopedic surgeries use a range of surgical retractors because orthopedic surgeons deal with bones of many shapes, sizes, and constitutions. These retractors’ primary purpose is easier to see and access the surgical field. Retractors in orthopedic surgery are also used to elevate bones, provide traction, and aid in placing orthopedic fixtures. This article covers retractors …
Retractors used in oral surgery or dental surgery are primarily involved in moving tissue away from the surgical site to improve both visibility and access. They are also used to move buccal tissue away from the site. Some retractors are used to retract the palate to provide access to the posterior portion of the oral …
The demand for breast (mammary) surgeries continues to increase, for clinical and curative surgeries, and for cosmetic surgeries. Retractors are essential devices for these surgeries, to ensure safe separation of the tissue and clear visibility for the surgeon. A challenge in breast surgery is achieving the appropriate operative field. Surgeons have to dissect deep spaces …
Lighted retractors (or light retractors) are surgical tools that both separate bodily tissues and provide light inside the bodily cavity. This light feature gives the surgeon greater visibility as it holds body parts open, which is the conventional function of surgical retractors. Lighted retractors also eliminate or reduce the need for secondary light sources. In …
