Latest episode of Medicina Futura — StileTV HD, Channel 78 Digital Terrestrial
In the latest episode of Medicina Futura, the television programme on StileTV HD (Channel 78), cameras enter Ospedale del Mare in Naples to showcase the centre of excellence in reconstructive plastic surgery directed by Prof. Alfredo Borriello. A journey through operating theatres, outpatient clinics and wards to discover how the Ospedale del Mare team restores quality of life to patients through the most modern reconstructive techniques. The episode showcased the full spectrum of the department's activities: from post-oncological breast reconstruction to polytrauma management, from skin cancer surgery to regenerative medicine.
The plastic surgery department at Ospedale del Mare is the only reconstructive plastic surgery unit within ASL Napoli 1, serving an extremely large catchment area covering the entire metropolitan area of Naples. As highlighted by the Medical Director during the episode, Prof. Borriello is a figure of recognised competence at both national and international level, capable of attracting new talent and training future generations of plastic surgeons.
The centre operates in close multidisciplinary collaboration with the departments of breast surgery, neurosurgery, orthopaedics and vascular surgery, offering patients a complete and integrated care pathway. This synergy between different specialties is essential for tackling complex cases that require cross-disciplinary expertise, such as polytrauma or post-oncological reconstructions involving multiple anatomical districts.
The team comprises highly specialised plastic surgeons, including Dr Maria Vozza (medical director specialising in skin cancers and melanomas), Dr Maestro (specialist in trauma centre collaboration), Dr Antonio Zaffiro (body contouring surgery) and Dr Sobbino (outpatient management and follow-up). The team is completed by a dedicated nursing coordinator and specialised nursing staff.
The centre's primary focus is breast reconstruction for women who have undergone breast carcinoma surgery. In collaboration with the hospital's breast surgery department, the team offers a complete pathway that allows women to leave hospital without visible mutilation, with a significantly reduced psychological impact. Techniques used include: breast implants, tissue expanders, autologous flap reconstructions (such as DIEP flaps or latissimus dorsi flaps) and nipple reconstruction.
During the episode, Prof. Borriello performed a live breast lipofilling procedure on a patient who had previously undergone mastectomy and radiotherapy. The technique, performed with the latest-generation BodyJet device, allows the patient's own fat to be aspirated from other body areas, automatically purified from blood and cellular debris, and re-grafted into the breast with a 70-80% take rate. The entire procedure was performed under sedation, without the need for general anaesthesia.
Lipofilling is a particularly important technique for patients who have undergone radiotherapy, as autologous fat has regenerative properties that improve the quality of irradiated tissues. In some cases, lipofilling can be used as an alternative to implants to reconstruct the breast entirely with the patient's own tissue, through multiple successive sessions.
The reconstructive plastic surgery centre at Ospedale del Mare covers a broad spectrum of surgical and outpatient activities:
Each condition is managed within a Multidisciplinary Oncology Group (GOM) comprising an oncologist, dermatologist and plastic surgeon, ensuring comprehensive patient care from all necessary specialists. This integrated approach is particularly relevant for melanomas, where early diagnosis significantly improves prognosis.
Ospedale del Mare is a reference point for emergency care and polytrauma in the Naples metropolitan area. The plastic surgery team works closely with the trauma centre for acute trauma management, complication prevention and soft tissue reconstruction using advanced microsurgical techniques.
Microsurgery, through the use of magnification systems such as loupes and operating microscopes, enables microvascular sutures to connect tissues at distance. These techniques are essential in post-oncological breast reconstruction with free flaps and in post-traumatic lower limb reconstruction, where vascularised muscle flaps enable coverage of bone exposures and preservation of function.
As Dr Maestro explained during the programme, the team's shared goal is to manage trauma acutely and ensure a prospect of complete functional recovery, especially for young and adult patients who need to return to an active life after road traffic or workplace accidents.
Outpatient activity is extensive and includes post-operative check-ups, treatment of vascular ulcers and difficult wounds with advanced devices such as negative pressure therapy (VAC therapy) and advanced dressings based on collagen, hyaluronic acid and growth factors. The clinic is also open for first visits for patients requiring reconstructive procedures, without needing to go through the emergency department.
The care pathway does not end with surgery: patients are followed with progressive wound care at regular intervals — at two days, one week, and then progressively for up to one full year of follow-up. Assistance is also extended to patients from other hospital departments (orthopaedics, vascular surgery, neurosurgery) requiring specialist wound care.
A particularly innovative aspect is the regenerative medicine outpatient clinic, the only one in ASL Napoli 1, where platelet-derived growth factors (PRP), peripheral blood-derived monocytes and other autologous cellular components are used to accelerate the healing of chronic wounds and ulcers resistant to conventional treatments.
"Plastic surgery is a multidisciplinary branch covering many aspects: from tumours to trauma, to regenerative medicine. Here at Ospedale del Mare we strive to offer patients everything needed for their recovery." — Prof. Alfredo Borriello
The centre welcomes specialist trainees from Vanvitelli University (formerly the Second University of Naples) through a partnership that allows young doctors to train in all aspects of plastic surgery and actively contribute to the training process directly in the operating theatre. Trainees actively participate in surgical procedures under the team's supervision, gaining hands-on experience in microsurgery, lipofilling and reconstructive surgery techniques.
As the Medical Director highlighted, specialisation and hyper-specialisation are a fundamental added value to guarantee patients the highest level of care. The presence of leading figures like Prof. Borriello is essential not only for daily clinical activity, but also for attracting new professional talent and preparing future generations for the challenges of modern reconstructive surgery, which requires increasingly advanced skills in microsurgery, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
How can I access the plastic surgery centre at Ospedale del Mare?
You can access the centre through a first outpatient visit, bookable via the ASL Napoli 1 Centro CUP booking system with a GP referral. The clinic is open for reconstructive plastic surgery visits without needing to go through the emergency department. For traumatic emergencies, access is directly through the Ospedale del Mare emergency department.
Is breast reconstruction after mastectomy covered by the National Health Service?
Yes, post-oncological breast reconstruction is fully covered by the Italian National Health Service (SSN). The procedure falls within the Essential Levels of Care (LEA) and can be performed simultaneously with the mastectomy (immediate reconstruction) or at a later date (delayed reconstruction). At Ospedale del Mare, the pathway is integrated with the breast surgery department to ensure continuity of care.
What is breast lipofilling and how long do results last?
Breast lipofilling is a technique that uses the patient's own autologous fat — harvested from the abdomen, hips or thighs — to reconstruct or enhance breast volume. The fat is aspirated, purified and re-injected with a 70-80% take rate. The result is permanent for the surviving fat, but multiple sessions may be needed to achieve the desired volume. The main advantage is the use of the patient's own tissue, without foreign materials.
What treatments are available for chronic wounds and ulcers?
The regenerative medicine outpatient clinic at Ospedale del Mare offers advanced treatments for difficult wounds and chronic ulcers (vascular, diabetic, post-traumatic). Therapies include negative pressure therapy (VAC therapy), advanced dressings and, most importantly, regenerative medicine with platelet-derived growth factors (PRP) and autologous cellular components. It is the only clinic in ASL Napoli 1 offering this type of regenerative treatment.
This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not in any way replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For any medical questions or concerns, it is essential to consult your physician or a qualified specialist.
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