Personalized Technologies in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery: From Imaging to Regeneration

A special issue of Journal of Personalized Medicine (ISSN 2075-4426). This special issue belongs to the section "Regenerative Medicine and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 July 2026 | Viewed by 835

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail
Guest Editor
1st Department of Oncological Surgery with a Subunit of Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery, Maria Sklodow-ska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Interests: plastic surgery; craniofacial surgery; reconstructive; microsurgery; head and neck cancer; lymphedema; breast cancer; breast reconstruction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The integration of personalized technologies is transforming plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery, enabling more precise, patient-specific planning and interventions. From point-of-care ultrasound and digital imaging to 3D printing, biomaterials, and regenerative scaffolds, modern tools are reshaping surgical strategies and improving both functional and aesthetic outcomes.

This Special Issue invites contributions that explore the clinical and translational applications of these technologies. Topics of interest include AI-assisted planning, image-to-implant workflows, scaffold and prosthetic design, tissue engineering, and digital tools that support individualized care. We welcome the submission of original research and reviews that highlight innovation and best practices at the intersection of surgery, engineering, and personalized medicine.

The goal of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for sharing cutting-edge developments that bring us closer to safer, more effective, and truly personalized surgical care.

Dr. Dominik Walczak
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Personalized Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • personalized surgery
  • plastic and reconstructive surgery
  • point-of-care ultrasound
  • 3D printing
  • digital surgical planning
  • regenerative medicine
  • biomaterials
  • artificial organs

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

16 pages, 10304 KB  
Article
The Forgotten Healer: The Role of Adipose Tissue in Spontaneous Healing After Free Flap Finger Reconstruction
by Macarena Vizcay, Giorgio E. Pajardi, Alessandro Mastroiacovo and Luigi Troisi
J. Pers. Med. 2026, 16(2), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm16020110 - 12 Feb 2026
Viewed by 584
Abstract
Background: Digital pulp reconstruction with toe-based flaps reliably restores sensibility and contour, yet the healing behavior of viable subcutaneous fat remains underexplored. Because adipose tissue exhibits patient-specific regenerative and volumetric responses, its preservation represents a key element of personalized fingertip reconstruction. This study [...] Read more.
Background: Digital pulp reconstruction with toe-based flaps reliably restores sensibility and contour, yet the healing behavior of viable subcutaneous fat remains underexplored. Because adipose tissue exhibits patient-specific regenerative and volumetric responses, its preservation represents a key element of personalized fingertip reconstruction. This study evaluates the outcomes of toe pulp flaps with targeted fat preservation to assess how individual tissue biology influences contour and functional recovery. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive digital reconstructions performed with free toe flaps and several variations (pulp toe flap, chimeric pulp toe flap, trimmed great toe flap and chimeric pulp+ trimmed great toe). Particular attention was given to healthy subcutaneous fat that was deliberately maintained or exposed to help shape the final contour. All patients were followed clinically and photographically until complete healing occurred. Results: A total of 126 patients underwent a finger reconstruction with free toe flaps and several variations. The preserved fat layer was intentionally left exposed to promote healthy granulation and spontaneous epithelialization, contributing favorably to the final contour of the distal pulp as the nail advanced. All wounds healed without the need for skin grafts. All patients achieved good to excellent functional and esthetic outcomes with minimal donor-site morbidity. Conclusions: This large retrospective series confirms the reliability of a healthy flap to help shape the digital reconstruction, highlighting the regenerative potential of viable digital fat. Incorporating this concept into the flap design may reduce the need for grafting, minimize donor-site morbidity, and enhance reconstructive outcomes in hand surgery. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop