Innovative Surgical Glue Aims to Help Patients Recover Faster

Inova Fair Oaks Hospital is one of the first hospitals in the country to offer patients new tissue adhesive that may help to reduce fluid collections
following large flap plastic surgery procedures

FAIRFAX, VA – (December 13, 2012) – Inova Fair Oaks Hospital is one of the first hospitals in the United States to participate in a new clinical trial for TissuGlu® Surgical Adhesive, a new product that may help patients heal faster–and better–after certain kinds of surgery.  Dr. Joseph Michaels, a board-certified plastic surgeon, has successfully used TissuGlu® on more than thirty five patients who have undergone an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) to help remove the excess skin of the abdomen following weight loss through either lifestyle modification or bariatric surgery.

“Before TissuGlu®, there wasn’t really an easy and effective way for surgeons to adhere the skin that was raised during a tummy tuck to the underlying muscle layer. This leaves a potential space, where fluid can collect, and often requires a drain that can cause discomfort during recovery. It will take the analysis of this multicenter clinical trial to see whether there has been effective reduction in fluid accumulation, infection, and the need for drains.” says Dr. Michaels. TissuGlu® helps the skin flap to adhere to the underlying muscle and places the flap and muscle in a good position which may help patients heal faster and also make them more comfortable by reducing the need for post-surgical drains.

To schedule an in-person or phone interview with Dr. Joseph Michaels, a board-certified plastic surgeon with Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, please call Amy Richards at 703.391.3390.

About Inova
Inova is a not-for-profit health care system located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, serving over two million people with over 1,700 licensed beds based in Northern Virginia.  Inova consists of five hospitals including the area’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care unit.  Inova encompasses many health services including the nationally and internationally recognized Inova Heart and Vascular Institute (IHVI), Inova Translational Medicine Institute (ITMI) on genomics, Inova Neuroscience Institute and Inova Children’s Hospital.  Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research.  More information and statistics about Inova is at www.inova.org.
#  #  #