Innovations

Making the surgical technique for improving nasal breathing more dynamic
Irregularities of the nasal septum (septum deviation) are the most common cause of nasal obstruction. For a number of years, many clinics worldwide have been changing to a surgical concept which was developed by PD Dr. med. Berndt Mayer in the 1990s, to improve on the old surgical technique first used by Cottle in the 1950s. Operation time is reduced by half and the occurrence of undesired changes in shape and complications is significantly reduced.
The first scientific paper on this was presented by PD Dr. med. Berndt Mayer in 1989 at the ISAPS Congress in Zurich. This was followed by written publications in scientific journals in 1990 and 1995 (see publications).

Aesthetic plastic reconstruction of soft tissue defects in the lateral cheeks of the face
PD Dr. med. Berndt Mayer introduced SMAS flaps for filling small to medium soft tissue defects arising after surgery to the parotid gland (parotid tumor). The SMAS flap also protects against the Frey's Syndrome (auriculotemporal syndrome). SMAS flaps were previously only used in facelift techniques. See list of publications.
In 1991, PD Dr. med. Berndt Mayer carried out the world's first operation to correct major defects in the lateral facial region after extensive tumour operations or for the disease hemiatrophia faciei, successfully using the microsurgical latissimus dorsi - serratus anterior fascia double split flap.

Simplification and enhanced speed of microsurgical free flaps transfer
Berndt Mayer was the first surgeon at all to develop connectors for the quick and simple transfer of microsurgical free flaps. The connectors are interposed between the vessels of the flap and the vessels of the defected area (Publications). This technique is now being used worldwide.

New dimensions for the vital storage of microsurgical free flaps, organs, body extremities and pieces of body tissue
Berndt Mayer developed methods and devices for preserving big flaps, organs and extremities for 168 hours in room temperature. Before the cold storage device was implemented, only a vital storage up to 20 hours was possible. With this device animal testing can be avoided in special cases and the number of animals used for testing can significantly be reduced.
Berndt Mayer obtained patents for this method in Switzerland, European Union, USA, Japan and Russia.