Biologics in Plastic Surgery

Edward M. Reece, MD, MBA

The field of plastic surgery is replete with extrinsic biologic modalities that work with the patient's physiology to positively impact the surgical outcome. These modalities will only increase in the future as tissue engineering becomes more robust and ubiquitous.

Paradoxically, as technology rapidly increases, sound surgical knowledge of the product outpaces traditional surgical education, and the practitioner must rely on information from companies and their representatives. Although helpful and filling the gap to inadequate surgeon knowledge, this trend is replete with conflict in interests as corporations must drive revenue and this mandate may not align with the goals of the surgeon.

With this rationale, Dr. Hollier and I are excited to present the Seminars in Plastic Surgery edition of Biologics in Plastic Surgery. Our hope is to shed light into this developing field that stands to greatly impact plastic surgery procedures. It is imperative that as contemporary practitioners we educate ourselves to build the knowledge base to best treat our patients.

We trust that this edition is both timely and pertinent to our practices and we look forward to embracing the future in which biologics in plastic surgery will certainly play a major role.