Facial Plastic, Recontructive, and Trauma Surgery by Robert W. Dolan, ed. Is a comprehensive text covering the basics of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. The stated purpose of the book is “for use in preparing for board examination and patient care.” Overall the book is an excellent addition to the library of any practicing resident or physician who considers facial plastic surgery a significant portion of their practice.The book is divided into chapters covering the gamut of topics related to facial plastic surgery. The first few chapters of the book deal with basics such as wound healing, facial esthetics, and anesthesia in facial plastic surgery. The chapter on anesthesia is a particularly useful chapter for the practicing surgeon who deals with various methods of anesthesia from local blocks to MAC and general anesthesia. The chapter on skin lesions is also comprehensive and a good basic guide for the practicing surgeon. The next sections on use of local and regional flaps are also comprehensive. The figures for these chapters are somewhat vague and nonuniform and additional figures may be useful, especially those who are unfamiliar with the basics of each flap (e.g. melolabial, island transposition). In particular the lack of additional figures for lip reconstruction is not desireable. The sections on free flaps and pedicaled musclefasciocutaneous flaps are well done and outline in detail uses for repair of specific defects encountered. This section is unique to this book and a valued addition compared to some of the other all-encompassing facial plastic surgery texts I have encountered.The sections on congenital anomalies are quite comprehensive with the exception of cleft lip rhinoplasty which is not extensively covered. Additional information on this subject would perhaps be a better use of resources then additional figures and time spent on synostosis which the majority of facial plastic surgeons do not manage. The sections on prosthetics and their use is unique to this text and a very interesting and valuable addition. Techniques of facial nerve rehabilitation are also gone over in detail, again the lack of specific diagrams for less experienced physicians may make this information harder to assimilate.

The sections on traumatic injuries is quite comprehensive and an excellent addition to this text. It is one of the more comprehensive reviews I have seen, with multiple figures and CT scans to help augment the text. The sections on cosmetic facial plastic surgery is probably the weakest point of the book. There is not enough detail given to the techniques of rhytidectomy and mid-face lifts as well as minimally techniques which are available today. Granted these are not well covered in any text I have seen.

Overall this book is an excellent addition to any facial plastic surgeon’s practice. The text is all encompassing, moreso then any other text I have seen. The figures particularly the handdrawn ones could be clearer and more esthetically pleasing. The text for the most part is well done and organized appropriately and flows well. The authors purpose for board review is definitely accomplished. This text is valuable for all practioners of facial plastic surgery.