Stem Cell Applications in Plastic Surgery

Abstract

In the realm of medicine today, plastic surgery stands out among all internal and surgical fields. This priority stems from the fact that the procedures have their own conceptual and scientific underpinnings. However, the procedures applied must be artistically and technically detailed. An effective and current model shift in plastic and reconstructive surgery applications is made possible by the efficient use of stem cell therapies and applications utilized for the repair and regeneration of the same or other tissues and organs. In the last seven to ten years, stem cell-assisted therapies have become a widely preferred method due to their ability to self-renew and multi-potential differentiation. According to the findings of the studies, adult mesenchymal stem cells provide the ideal stem cell population for practical regenerative medicine, even though the use of embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells is very important in clinical studies. However, adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), which are among the easily accessible cells, have been shown to have the potential to distinguish between mesenchymal, ectodermal, and endodermal lineages. Since ASCs are a plentiful source, diverse across several lineages, simple to collect, and easy to obtain, they might be thought of as a good option in the field of plastic surgery and aesthetics. Adipose tissue is also easier to obtain and propagate as it yields a high number of ASCs per tissue volume. Stem cells have grown more desirable for plastic surgery due to their usage in a variety of aesthetic procedures, such as the treatment of burn scars, breast augmentation methods, defining facial contours, and postponing the onset of indications of aging, particularly on the hands and face. This situation has given promising results in the current preclinical and clinical studies on the use of stem cells in the field of aesthetics. However, prospectively, there is a limited investigation into the efficacy and potential of stem cell-based therapy for use in aesthetic and plastic surgery. This chapter focuses on the state-of-the-art and most recent advancements in stem cell therapies for cosmetic and plastic surgery, as well as the possibilities for tissue engineering and cell-free therapy in this area. Applications in research and medicine, as well as their benefits and drawbacks, are also covered.

Cite this article as: Balkan BC, Erbaş O. Stem Cell Applications in Plastic Surgery. JEB Med Sci 2024;5(1):129-133.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.