Microsurgery · Robotics
Comparison of Robotic-assisted and Conventional Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Flaps: A Retrospective Cohort Study
In a 68-patient cohort of DIEP flap breast reconstructions, robotic-assisted approaches (including perforator-to-perforator anastomoses) showed similar overall complication rates and length of stay compared with nonrobotic microsurgery. Notably, the perforator-to-perforator robotic group required significantly less postoperative opioid-equivalent analgesia, suggesting a meaningful recovery benefit without sacrificing safety.
Microsurgery · Supermicrosurgery
The Application of Supermicrosurgery in Lower Extremity Reconstruction and Future Implications.
This review frames supermicrosurgery (vessels <0.8 mm) as an enabling capability for perforator-to-perforator work, small-part replantation, and lymphatic procedures. It emphasizes that progress is tightly coupled to advances in imaging, ultrafine instrumentation, exoscopes/high-magnification visualization, and the emergence of robotic microsurgery platforms to improve precision at the submillimeter scale.
Microsurgery · Robotics
Effectiveness and safety of robotic microsurgery in free-flap reconstruction: A systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis.
A PRISMA-aligned systematic review synthesized 13 clinical studies (264 patients) of robotic microvascular reconstruction, predominantly using the SYMANI system. Across 338 anastomoses, pooled flap survival was high (96%) with mean anastomosis time about 39 minutes, supporting feasibility and safety while highlighting the need for comparative and longer-term outcomes data.
Orthoplastic · Robotics
The application of robot-assisted microsurgery in orthoplastic surgery
In an 18-patient prospective experience of robot-assisted free flaps for complex extremity trauma within an orthoplastic approach, the team reported no conversions to conventional technique and no complete flap losses. Complications were limited (one arterial thrombosis salvaged; one partial flap loss), suggesting early feasibility of robot-assisted microsurgery in high-complexity limb reconstruction.
Oxygen Therapy · RCT
Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Portable Continuous Topical Oxygen Therapy for Chronic Wound Management: A Randomised Controlled Trial
This two-arm randomized trial (88 patients) evaluated portable continuous diffusion topical oxygen therapy versus moist wound therapy. The topical oxygen group showed greater reductions in wound area and depth at day 28 and a higher early healing rate, with a shorter time to healing by week 12 and no therapy-related adverse events reported.
Dressings · Prospective Study
Effectiveness of silicone superabsorbent polymer dressings for chronic wound management: a prospective single-arm clinical study.
In an 80-patient, multi-site prospective study of exuding venous leg ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers, silicone superabsorbent polymer dressings were associated with clinically meaningful wound area reduction for most participants over 6 weeks. Complete re-epithelialization occurred in about a quarter of patients, and median wear time was four days, supporting efficient exudate control and wound bed improvement.
Smart Dressings · Systematic Review
Biosensor Technologies and Smart Dressings for Chronic Wound Monitoring: A Systematic Review.
This implementation-focused systematic review summarizes early clinical studies of sensors measuring wound temperature, pH/oxygen, bioimpedance, plantar stress, and biomarkers such as MMP-9. It highlights promise for objective monitoring and earlier detection of deterioration, but notes persistent adoption barriers including workflow complexity, incomplete data capture, device malfunctions, and integration with existing systems.
Decision Support · Validation
Validation of a Clinical Decision‐Support Algorithm for Chronic Wound Classification and Treatment: An Expert Consensus
Using 30 standardized chronic-wound cases rated by expert panels, a transparent rule-based algorithm achieved substantial agreement with expert consensus (κ=0.70) and 86% diagnostic accuracy. The work suggests decision support can improve standardization, while also documenting how inter-expert reliability varies by wound type.
Breast Reconstruction · ADM Safety
The Use of Acellular Dermal Matrix May Not Increase 30-Day Complications in Direct-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction: A Multi-institutional Analysis of 10,177 Cases.
A large NSQIP analysis (10,177 direct-to-implant reconstructions) found no increased adjusted odds of 30-day surgical or medical complications with ADM use compared with no ADM. The findings support continued ADM use for selected patients while reinforcing that short-term infection, dehiscence, and bleeding rates were broadly comparable.
Breast Reconstruction · Long-term Outcomes
Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction: Early and Long-Term Complications and Outcomes of Total Coverage Acellular Dermal Matrix and Implants Vs Polyurethane-Coated Implants Without Use of Acellular Dermal Matrix
In a retrospective cohort (135 breasts) comparing ADM-covered implants vs polyurethane-coated implants without ADM for immediate prepectoral reconstruction, polyurethane was associated with substantially lower early seroma and infection rates. At 5 years, severe capsular contracture was higher in the ADM group, and blinded aesthetic assessment favored the polyurethane approach, underscoring how device/material choice can shape long-term morbidity.
Biomaterials · ADM Alternative
Engineered silk matrix as a substitute for acellular dermal matrix in breast reconstruction surgery.
This preclinical work introduces an engineered silk fibroin matrix positioned as an alternative to traditional ADMs, aiming to improve cellular integration while minimizing infection/seroma risks. In vitro and in vivo (porcine) results suggest enhanced fibroblast density, collagen deposition, and vascularization compared with collagen matrices, supporting further translational evaluation for implant support and soft-tissue regeneration.
Breast Reconstruction · Meta-analysis
Prepectoral breast reconstruction with and without acellular dermal matrix: a systematic review and meta-analysis
A meta-analysis of nine observational studies (1,455 patients) found no significant differences in most complications between prepectoral reconstruction with and without ADM. Subgroup signals suggested higher seroma and infection in tissue-expander-based cases than direct-to-implant, reinforcing the importance of technique-specific risk counseling.
Exosomes · Hydrogel Dressing
A Dual-Dynamic Crosslinked Polysaccharide-Based Hydrogel Loaded with Exosomes for Promoting Diabetic Wound Healing
A ROS-responsive, dual-dynamic covalent hydrogel (borate ester + Schiff base chemistry) was engineered to deliver MSC-derived exosomes in an oxidative diabetic wound environment. In a diabetic mouse model, the exosome-loaded hydrogel promoted macrophage polarization toward an M2 phenotype and accelerated healing, positioning stimulus-responsive delivery as a practical route to more consistent exosome bioactivity.
Biofilm · Exosomes + Nanozymes
Self-healing quaternized chitosan-phenylboronic hydrogel with ceria nanozymes and stem-cell exosomes simultaneously eradicates MRSA biofilm and regenerates diabetic wounds.
This multifunctional hydrogel integrates antibacterial quaternized chitosan chemistry, ceria nanozymes for ROS scavenging, and embryonic stem cell exosomes to drive regeneration. In MRSA-infected diabetic mouse wounds, the platform cleared biofilm, improved collagen deposition, and achieved near-complete closure within 12 days, illustrating a combined anti-infective + regenerative strategy.
Exosomes · Clinical Translation
Stem Cell-Derived and Plant-Derived Exosomes: Promising Therapeutics for Skin Healing and Regeneration.
This systematic review synthesizes how stem-cell and plant-derived exosomes influence immunomodulation, angiogenesis, differentiation, and collagen remodeling across wound repair and skin rejuvenation. It highlights therapeutic promise spanning chronic wounds and aesthetic indications, while implicitly underscoring the need for better standardization of exosome sourcing, characterization, and dosing to support reproducible clinical outcomes.
Hydrogels · Hypoxia
Oxygen‐Releasing Exosome Hydrogels for Hypoxic Wounds: A Combined Approach to Enhance Healing in Chronic Ulcers
This narrative review argues that pairing oxygen-releasing hydrogels with exosome therapy addresses two dominant barriers in chronic ulcers: hypoxia and inadequate regenerative signaling. It summarizes preclinical evidence for reduced inflammation, improved vascularization, and faster re-epithelialization, and outlines key optimization needs for co-delivery and durability.
Energy Devices · Meta-analysis
Helium Plasma Radiofrequency for Aesthetic Subdermal Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
A meta-analysis of 34 studies (3,508 patients) evaluating helium plasma radiofrequency for subdermal skin laxity reported pooled complication rates in the single-digit range for RF-only and RF+liposuction and high patient satisfaction (pooled 92%). The synthesis supports broad safety with heterogeneous study designs, and suggests satisfaction increases with longer follow-up.
Radiofrequency · RCT
Efficacy and safety of a novel monopolar radiofrequency device for skin tightening: a multicenter, randomized, 6-month, assessor blind, positive parallel-controlled, non-inferiority trial
This multicenter, assessor-blinded randomized trial evaluated a novel monopolar radiofrequency platform for skin tightening over 6 months in a non-inferiority design. While device-specific details vary by protocol, the study adds higher-level evidence to a space often dominated by small cohorts, supporting the trend toward more rigorous evaluation of energy-based tightening technologies.
Post-procedure Care · Split-face Trials
Efficacy and Safety of a Topical Skincare Regimen with Tripeptide/Hexapeptide following Aesthetic Procedures: Analysis of Two Randomized, Split-Face Trials in Asian Subjects.
Two randomized split-face studies evaluated a peptide-based topical regimen used after aesthetic procedures in Asian subjects. The trials contribute pragmatic evidence that standardized post-procedure skin care can influence recovery markers and patient-perceived outcomes, an often under-studied lever in device-based practices.
Aesthetic Medicine · Evidence Synthesis
Nonsurgical Management of Submental Fullness for Double Chin Reduction: A Systematic Review
A PRISMA-guided review of nonsurgical double-chin interventions (2010–2025) found the most consistent evidence for injectable deoxycholic acid and supportive evidence for energy-based options such as cryolipolysis, radiofrequency, and HIFU. Reported adverse events were typically mild and localized, emphasizing that modality selection can be tailored to downtime tolerance and anatomic goals.
Breast Reconstruction · RCT
Clinical Outcomes Following Autologous Fat Grafting for Breast Reconstruction: An Interim Analysis From a Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Lipoaspirate Processing Techniques.
In a randomized trial of fat processing methods for breast reconstruction, three approaches (active wash/filtration, low-pressure decantation, and wash with surfactant) produced broadly similar 3-month volume retention (~55–63%) without statistically significant differences. The interim findings suggest incremental processing modifications may yield modest gains, but large effect sizes may be unlikely without adjunctive biologics or recipient-site optimization.
Breast Reconstruction · Systematic Review
Efficacy and safety of fat grafting in breast reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analyses of outcomes following mastectomy.
A systematic review found moderate pooled volume retention after non-enriched autologous fat grafting and no significant differences across major complication categories. Enriched techniques (e.g., SVF/ADSC augmentation) trended toward higher retention but were too heterogeneous for pooling, highlighting the need for standardized volumetric methods and technique stratification.
Augmentation · SVF-enriched Fat
(722) Superior Penile Girth Retention with Stromal Vascular Fraction–Enriched Autologous Fat Grafting: A 1-Year Comparative Study Versus the Centrifuged (Coleman) Technique
In a comparative series, SVF-enriched fat grafting for penile girth augmentation demonstrated higher 12-month retention than standard Coleman processing, alongside high satisfaction and no apparent erectile-function deterioration. Although the study is retrospective, it reinforces the broader CAL trend: coupling adipose grafts with regenerative cellular fractions may stabilize long-term volume.
Assisted Lipotransfer · Network Meta-analysis
Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Different Assisted-fat Transplantation Methods: A Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
This network meta-analysis of 47 randomized trials (2,244 participants) compared assisted fat transplantation additives and found that not all adjuncts improve retention versus controls. The strongest retention signals were observed for stem cell-, PRP-, and SVF-assisted approaches, offering a comparative framework for selecting adjuncts when aiming to reduce resorption and reoperation.
Aesthetic Practice · AI/Robotics
Technological Integration in Aesthetic Practice: A Systematic Review of Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality and Robotics in Cosmetic Procedures.
This systematic review surveys how AI, augmented reality, and robotic platforms are being incorporated into cosmetic procedures and practice workflows. It positions these tools as emerging enablers for planning, intraoperative guidance, and consistency, while implicitly highlighting ongoing gaps in standardized validation and real-world implementation.
Acute Care Surgery · Governance
Navigating the artificial intelligence landscape in trauma, critical care and emergency general surgery: insights from the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) 2025 Annual Meeting Panel Discussion
An AAST panel synthesis outlines near-term AI applications in surgery—documentation support, ICU monitoring, surgical education feedback, and interpretable risk prediction—while stressing bias auditing, external validation, and human-in-the-loop deployment. The article is a useful governance lens for adopting AI tools in surgical services without over-relying on opaque models.
Medical Robotics · LLMs
AI‐Driven Revolution of Medical Robotics Across Surgical Innovation, Rehabilitation Intelligence, and Multimodal Healthcare Delivery
This review frames a shift from teleoperated robots toward more intelligent systems built on computer vision, reinforcement learning, and large language models to support perception and decision-making. It also maps translational barriers—ethical, regulatory, and technical—that must be addressed before higher autonomy becomes routine.
Surgical Robotics · Real-time AI
The first reported case using real-time artificial intelligence with single-port robotics for colorectal surgery.
A first-in-report case describes pairing real-time AI with a single-port robotic platform during colorectal surgery, illustrating how intraoperative decision support is moving from retrospective analytics to live assistance. While not plastic surgery-specific, it signals the direction of interoperable AI overlays that could translate to reconstructive and aesthetic workflows.