Auricular reconstruction · Craft and technology
Evolution of Craft Skills in Ear Reconstruction: A Narrative Review From the Perspectives of an Anaplastologist and a Plastic Surgeon
This narrative review traces auricular reconstruction from early skin flaps and carved rib frameworks to contemporary alloplastic, CAD-CAM, and 3D-printed approaches. It argues that digital tools can reduce selected manual steps but do not replace the surgeon’s need for sculpting precision, vascular judgment, and aesthetic decision-making; modality selection should remain individualized to age, anatomy, hearing status, and available expertise.
Complex reconstruction · Multidisciplinary care
The Importance of Plastic Surgery in Multidisciplinary Teams: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Comparative Studies
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 30 comparative studies involving 9,614 patients found that plastic-surgery-inclusive teams were associated with fewer wound complications across extremity, abdominal wall, spine, and abdominoperineal procedures. The findings also signal lower reoperation odds and shorter length of stay in selected reconstructive pathways, supporting formal integration of plastic surgeons into complex multidisciplinary care.
Pediatric reconstruction · Partial ear defects
Evaluation of Techniques and Outcomes in Pediatric Partial Ear Reconstruction: A 15-Year Experience
This 15-year institutional experience addresses large partial auricular defects in children who did not pursue total ear reconstruction. The study emphasizes tailoring technique to defect anatomy, skin characteristics, scar visibility, surgical readiness, and postoperative compliance—factors that materially shape functional and aesthetic success in pediatric ear reconstruction.
Complex chronic wounds · Topical adjunct
Adjunctive Moist Exposed Burn Ointment for Complex Chronic Wounds: A Case Series Highlighting Clinical Improvement and Potential Tissue-Remodeling Mechanisms
This case series describes three difficult wounds—a diabetic hand infection, a Wagner grade IV diabetic foot ulcer with osteomyelitis and necrotizing fasciitis, and a traumatic degloving injury—managed with debridement, individualized medical care, and adjunctive Moist Exposed Burn Ointment. The reported clinical improvement is hypothesis-generating rather than comparative evidence, but the authors frame moisture balance, inflammation control, antimicrobial activity, and epithelialization as potential mechanisms requiring controlled validation.
Diabetic foot ulcers · Translational wound design
Hydrogel dressings for diabetic foot ulcers: microenvironment-informed design, clinical scenario matching, and translational challenges
This review organizes hydrogel strategies around the dominant barriers in diabetic foot ulcers, including ischemia, biofilm, persistent inflammation, oxidative stress, protease-rich exudate, and abnormal biomechanics. It proposes matching formulation type—topical, injectable, patch, microneedle, or 3D-printed—to clinical scenario while highlighting sterilization, batch variability, regulatory classification, and health-economic evidence as key translation bottlenecks.
Diabetic wounds · Responsive hydrogel
Self-regulating hydrogel for diabetic wound healing: From animal models to a pilot clinical study
The GPP@ZnBG hydrogel responds to glucose and oxidative stress, releasing zinc early for antibacterial activity and later releasing zinc, calcium, and silicate ions to support angiogenesis and tissue repair. In diabetic mice it improved vascularization, collagen deposition, and closure; a pilot clinical study reported a 94.57% relative reduction in wound area at four weeks without adverse events, warranting larger controlled trials.
Diabetic wounds · Exudate management
Multifunctional Self-Pumping Janus Dressing for Exudate Management and Diabetic Wound Healing
This multifunctional Janus nanofibrous dressing combines asymmetric wettability for one-way exudate transport with curcumin delivery and antibacterial and antioxidant activity. The platform is designed to reduce maceration and reshape the inflammatory microenvironment in diabetic wounds, with preclinical evidence supporting further translational development.
Breast reconstruction · Extended ADM coverage
Expanded prepectoral implant-based breast reconstruction: Long-term outcomes of the ray method
In 224 patients (232 breasts), the Ray method used extended acellular dermal matrix wrapping to provide complete implant coverage and added superior and periprosthetic support in immediate prepectoral reconstruction. At a mean 24.3-month follow-up, clinically significant capsular contracture was 2.2%, implant failure 1.3%, and infection 0.9%, supporting acceptable mid-term complication rates while awaiting comparative studies.
Full-thickness defects · Collagen dermal substitute
Wound Healing Efficacy of Novel Dermal Substitute TissueDerm Graft® in Full-Thickness Skin Defects
In a minipig full-thickness defect model, TissueDerm Graft—a collagen-based dermal substitute with uniform fibers, consistent pores, and elastin—was compared with bovine Matriderm and split-thickness skin grafting. TissueDerm supported favorable healing without excessive inflammation or scarring and improved visual outcomes versus the comparator graft constructs, but clinical efficacy remains to be established.
Dermal matrices · Evidence synthesis
The Promises and Pitfalls of Dermal Regenerative Matrices in Reconstructive Surgery: A Narrative Review
This narrative review synthesizes 189 publications and 23 comparative studies across breast reconstruction, burns, chronic wounds, and complex soft-tissue defects. It finds that outcomes are context-specific: human- and bovine-derived matrices often show similar overall complication and implant-loss rates, while one-stage use may increase operative time, cost, and some early complications; the authors call for multicenter long-term and cost-effectiveness studies.
Implant reconstruction · ADM meta-analysis
Aesthetic outcomes and surgical complications of acellular dermal matrix in immediate direct-to-implant breast reconstruction: A meta-analysis of comparative studies
This meta-analysis compares immediate direct-to-implant breast reconstruction with and without acellular dermal matrix across 10 comparative studies. It evaluates whether the presumed aesthetic advantages of ADM are accompanied by differences in complications, drain duration, reoperation, infection, seroma, and implant-related outcomes, underscoring the need to weigh biologic benefit against added material and procedural burden.
Exosomes · 3D electrospun scaffold
Dental Follicle-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Exosome-Loaded Three-Dimensional Electrospun Poly(ε-caprolactone)/Gelatin Scaffold Accelerates Diabetic Foot Wound Healing
A three-dimensional electrospun polycaprolactone/gelatin scaffold loaded with dental-follicle mesenchymal stem-cell exosomes combined structural guidance with sustained paracrine signaling in diabetic rat foot wounds. Exosome-loaded scaffolds reached 92.5% closure by day 21 versus 61.4% for controls, with improved tissue organization, reduced inflammatory infiltration, and modestly increased VEGF, supporting further mechanistic and translational work.
Exosomes · 3D bioprinting
3D-printed dual-crosslinked hydrogel scaffold loaded with ginger-derived exosomes for enhanced infected wound healing
Researchers developed a photo-crosslinked, dual-network GelMA-PBA/PVA hydrogel printed into a wound-conforming scaffold and loaded it with ginger-derived exosome-like vesicles. In an infected full-thickness wound model, the construct accelerated closure, reduced inflammatory-cell infiltration, improved collagen deposition and angiogenesis, and showed antibacterial and macrophage-modulating activity.
Exosomes · dECM hydrogel
Tendon dECM Composited with Chitosan with Loading Skin Precursor Stem Cell Exosome for Enhanced Diabetic Wound Healing
This platform embeds skin-derived precursor-cell exosomes in a decellularized extracellular-matrix/chitosan hydrogel to address rapid exosome clearance in diabetic wounds. The biomimetic scaffold is designed to retain exosomes locally while supporting cell activity, angiogenesis, and tissue repair; the preclinical findings position controlled exosome delivery as the central translational challenge.
Stem cells · Skin repair
Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for skin repair and rejuvenation
This review evaluates mesenchymal stem cells and their paracrine products—including extracellular vesicles, exosomes, and conditioned media—for chronic-wound repair and skin rejuvenation. It emphasizes anti-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic, and extracellular-matrix-remodeling mechanisms while noting that cell source, manufacturing, delivery, durability, and clinical standardization remain unresolved.
Facial rejuvenation · RF microneedling + EVs
Radiofrequency Microneedling Combined With Topical Extracellular Vesicle Preparation for Facial Rejuvenation: A Randomized Split-Face Controlled Study
In a randomized split-face study of 60 adults, radiofrequency microneedling followed by topical extracellular-vesicle preparation improved wrinkle scores more than microneedling alone at 12 weeks, with a paired mean difference of 3.32 points. Texture, pores, erythema, hydration, and global improvement also numerically favored the combination, but the unblinded design and short follow-up call for cautious interpretation.
Facial rejuvenation · HIFU + RF-MN
Combined Fractional Radiofrequency Microneedling and High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound with Focus Dual for Facial Skin Rejuvenation: A 37-Patient Case Series
A 37-patient case series combined two HIFU sessions with six fractional RF microneedling sessions for photo- and chrono-aged facial skin. Median global wrinkle severity improved 12.1%, with the largest changes in cheeks, periorbital lines, nasolabial folds, neck, and marionette lines; no serious adverse events were reported, but controlled comparative studies are still needed.
Facial rejuvenation · Evidence review
Radiofrequency Microneedling for Facial Rejuvenation: A Systematic Review
This systematic review synthesizes the recent evidence on radiofrequency microneedling across efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction outcomes. Its clinical value is strongest as a minimally invasive remodeling modality, while protocol heterogeneity, variable follow-up, and inconsistent outcome measures limit direct comparison and durable conclusions.
Energy-based devices · HIFU + RF
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound and Radiofrequency in Non-Invasive Skin Rejuvenation: Mechanisms, Clinical Evidence, and Combined Therapeutic Approaches
This review examines the mechanisms, clinical evidence, safety profile, and combined use of high-intensity focused ultrasound and radiofrequency for noninvasive skin rejuvenation. It frames HIFU as a deeper structural-tightening modality and RF as a dermal-heating and remodeling tool, while emphasizing patient selection, treatment parameters, and the need for better comparative trials.
Fat grafting · Systematic review and meta-analysis
Autologous Fat Grafting for Breast Augmentation and Breast Remodeling: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Complications, Radiologic Outcomes, Graft Retention, and Patient-Reported Satisfaction
A PRISMA 2020 review of 40 studies involving 5,684 patients found a pooled 12-month fat-retention rate of 61.3% and 93.1% patient satisfaction after autologous fat grafting for breast augmentation or remodeling. Fat necrosis was the most common adverse event; SVF/PRP-enriched grafts showed higher retention than conventional grafts, but heterogeneity and the absence of pooled oncologic outcomes limit certainty.
Breast reconstruction · Fat retention
Efficacy and safety of fat grafting in breast reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analyses of outcomes following mastectomy
Across 13 studies, nonenriched graft retention after mastectomy reconstruction ranged from 26.0% to 74.8%, with a pooled mean of 47% and 35.1% after sensitivity exclusions. The review found no significant increase in complication categories and consistently improved patient-reported outcomes, while calling for standardized volumetric assessment and technique-specific reporting.
Fat grafting · Cell enrichment
Adipose-Derived Stem Cell-Enhanced versus Conventional Fat Grafting for Breast Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
This systematic review and meta-analysis compares adipose-derived stem-cell-enhanced grafting with conventional fat grafting for breast reconstruction. It addresses whether cell enrichment improves graft survival and soft-tissue quality, while highlighting the need to interpret promising biologic signals alongside variation in cell processing, dosing, follow-up, and clinical endpoints.
Fat grafting · Vascular imaging
Photoacoustic Imaging of Vascular Structure After Breast Reconstruction with Autologous Fat Grafting: A Pilot Study
This pilot study used contrast-free photoacoustic imaging to visualize vascular structures in breasts reconstructed with autologous fat grafting. The approach offers a noninvasive way to quantify recipient-bed vascularity and neovascularization, potentially helping explain variable graft retention and guide future monitoring, although the sample was limited to eight patients.
Artificial intelligence · Field mapping
Artificial Intelligence in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: A Bibliometric Study of the 50 Most-cited Articles
A bibliometric analysis of the 50 most-cited AI papers in plastic and reconstructive surgery found that imaging assessment dominates the literature and craniofacial surgery is the leading subspecialty represented. The analysis also shows uneven adoption across PRS, providing a practical map of where evidence and influential work are concentrated—and where development remains sparse.
3D imaging · Breast morphometrics
Development and validation of a photogrammetry-based preoperative method (BREAST-E) for quantitative breast morphometric analysis and volume estimation of breast in reconstructive surgery
The BREAST-E photogrammetry method converts 2D photographs into 3D breast models for low-cost preoperative volume estimation. In clinical validation against mastectomy specimens, the method showed strong correlation, low mean absolute error, and high reliability, with more variability in moderate and severe ptosis; its accessibility is particularly relevant to resource-limited settings.
AI communication · Patient expectations
Visualising a Possible Postoperative Body: Patient Experiences of 3D and AI-Generated Simulations in Reconstructive Plastic Surgery
Interviews with 12 reconstructive-surgery patients found that anatomy-based 3D visualizations were generally interpreted as provisional aids, whereas photorealistic AI imagery was more likely to be read as a predicted outcome and to anchor expectations. The authors recommend explicit uncertainty, provenance, clinician accountability, privacy safeguards, and patient control over viewing and reuse.
AI and robotics · Breast reconstruction
Recent advances and future directions in AI and robotics in plastic reconstructive breast surgery including 3D imaging
This review tracks AI-supported vascular mapping, 3D surface rendering, 3D-printed anatomic models, robotic assistance, and preoperative through postoperative applications in microsurgical breast reconstruction. It presents these tools as decision-support and precision-enhancement technologies rather than substitutes for surgeon judgment, with implementation, validation, and governance remaining central constraints.