Recent Research and Trends in Plastic, Aesthetic and Regenerative Surgery

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Surgery".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 2292

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Prof. Dr. Agripa Ionescu Clinical Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: plastic surgery

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Guest Editor Assistant
1. Department 11, Discipline Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Bucharest Clinical Emergency Hospital, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
2. Clinic of Plastic Surgery, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Microsurgery, Emergency Clinical Hospital Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: plastic surgery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the field of Plastic Surgery, thorough analysis of the results obtained and innovation are essential. Consequently, sharing the latest conclusions and launching hypotheses contribute essentially to the development of this field. In this Special Issue, we aim to gather the most recent articles from all areas of Plastic Surgery, including interdisciplinary topics, in order to provide evolutionary support. Many of the topics are multidisciplinary in nature, especially those in the area of aesthetic surgery. While maintaining scientific rigor, we want to encourage authors to express their new approaches and results, even preliminary ones, and also to encourage them to build working hypotheses that will be subsequently validated. The presentation of avant-garde works is usually done within scientific events, but dedicating a Special Issue of a journal offers a special opportunity due to the much wider access it offers. Also, the objective of this Special Issue is to analyze some aspects within systematic or comprehensive reviews regarding the fastest evolving topics in the field. Equally important are rare cases that are often missed because they cannot be included in a series with standard statistical significance. For these reasons, we encourage potential authors to publish significant case series of rare pathologies. Finally, the scientifically supported opinions of authors are welcomed, even if they do not fit the mainstream opinion.

What kind of papers we are soliciting:

Article, Review, Systematic Review, Case Series, Hypothesis, Opinion.

Prof. Dr. Radu Jecan
Guest Editor

Dr. Cristian-Sorin Hariga
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • surgical techniques
  • microsurgical techniques
  • soft tissue tumors
  • breast surgery
  • breast implants
  • BIA diseases
  • breast reconstruction
  • tissue regeneration
  • PRP therapy
  • HA therapy

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 1097 KiB  
Article
Mapping Perfusion and Predicting Success: Infrared Thermography-Guided Perforator Flaps for Lower Limb Defects
by Abdalah Abu-Baker, Andrada-Elena Ţigăran, Teodora Timofan, Daniela-Elena Ion, Daniela-Elena Gheoca-Mutu, Adelaida Avino, Cristina-Nicoleta Marina, Adrian Daniel Tulin, Laura Raducu and Radu-Cristian Jecan
Medicina 2025, 61(8), 1410; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61081410 - 3 Aug 2025
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Abstract
Background and Objectives: Lower limb defects often present significant reconstructive challenges due to limited soft tissue availability and exposure of critical structures. Perforator-based flaps offer reliable solutions, with minimal donor site morbidity. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of infrared thermography [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Lower limb defects often present significant reconstructive challenges due to limited soft tissue availability and exposure of critical structures. Perforator-based flaps offer reliable solutions, with minimal donor site morbidity. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of infrared thermography (IRT) in preoperative planning and postoperative monitoring of perforator-based flaps, assessing its accuracy in identifying perforators, predicting complications, and optimizing outcomes. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 76 patients undergoing lower limb reconstruction with fascio-cutaneous perforator flaps between 2022 and 2024. Perforator mapping was performed concurrently with IRT and Doppler ultrasonography (D-US), with intraoperative confirmation. Flap design variables and systemic parameters were recorded. Postoperative monitoring employed thermal imaging on days 1 and 7. Outcomes were correlated with thermal, anatomical, and systemic factors using statistical analyses, including t-tests and Pearson correlation. Results: IRT showed high sensitivity (97.4%) and positive predictive value (96.8%) for perforator detection. A total of nine minor complications occurred, predominantly in patients with diabetes mellitus and/or elevated glycemia (p = 0.05). Larger flap-to-defect ratios (A/C and B/C) correlated with increased complications in propeller flaps, while smaller ratios posed risks for V-Y and Keystone flaps. Thermal analysis indicated significantly lower flap temperatures and greater temperature gradients in flaps with complications by postoperative day 7 (p < 0.05). CRP levels correlated with glycemia and white blood cell counts, highlighting systemic inflammation’s impact on outcomes. Conclusions: IRT proves to be a reliable, non-invasive method for perforator localization and flap monitoring, enhancing surgical planning and early complication detection. Combined with D-US, it improves perforator selection and perfusion assessment. Thermographic parameters, systemic factors, and flap design metrics collectively predict flap viability. Integration of IRT into surgical workflows offers a cost-effective tool for optimizing reconstructive outcomes in lower limb surgery. Full article
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Review

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15 pages, 303 KiB  
Review
The Role of Skin Substitutes in the Therapeutical Management of Burns Affecting Functional Areas
by Matei Iordache, Luca Avram, Ioan Lascar and Adrian Frunza
Medicina 2025, 61(6), 947; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61060947 - 22 May 2025
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Abstract
Considered one of the most severe types of trauma with a high impact upon patient survival, burns are the leading cause of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and are responsible for high morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, disfigurement and social stigma. Of particular interest are injuries that [...] Read more.
Considered one of the most severe types of trauma with a high impact upon patient survival, burns are the leading cause of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and are responsible for high morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, disfigurement and social stigma. Of particular interest are injuries that affect the functional areas: face, neck, hand and fingers, joints, feet and soles and perineum. Burns to these regions highly influence the day-to-day activities of patients due to the formation of vicious scars and contractures, which may affect both quality of life and functional capacity. One of the primary challenges in the management of burn patients is the effective coverage of tissue defects resulting from such injuries. Cases that have a large area of burned surface also have a limited amount of total available skin. As such, the importance of skin substitutes increases, particularly in the treatment of these areas. Skin substitutes are widely utilized in plastic surgery due to their ability to promote wound healing by providing an extracellular matrix. Consequently, ongoing research has focused on developing skin substitutes that can serve as alternatives to autografts, addressing the challenges associated with large-scale tissue loss. This article aims to present and compare the most used skin substitutes, highlighting their respective advantages and limitations. This topic continues to be a subject of significant debate, as an ideal substitute has yet to be created. The cost–efficiency ratio is a practical consideration that must be tailored to each specific medical system. The available data in the literature usually present general guidelines, not rules, and as such, they need to be adapted to each patient’s necessities. Full article

Other

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12 pages, 596 KiB  
Systematic Review
Scrotal Flaps for Penile Skin Reconstruction: A Systematic Review
by Sorin V. Parasca, Andrei Dumitrescu, Florin R. Stanescu and Ruxandra D. Sinescu
Medicina 2025, 61(6), 1052; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61061052 - 6 Jun 2025
Viewed by 832
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Infection, trauma, skin cancer, foreign substance injections and lymphedema are among the most frequent causes of penile skin defects. Scrotal flaps are a promising reconstructive option for penile resurfacing, offering improved functional and aesthetic outcomes; however, there is no [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Infection, trauma, skin cancer, foreign substance injections and lymphedema are among the most frequent causes of penile skin defects. Scrotal flaps are a promising reconstructive option for penile resurfacing, offering improved functional and aesthetic outcomes; however, there is no clear consensus on their superiority. Materials and Methods: A review of the literature was performed in PubMed Central and Scopus, and multiple keywords were employed. The initial search retrieved 9181 articles; 32 articles were finally selected, of which 13 were case reports and 19 were case series. Results: A total of 368 patients were included, the majority (71%) consulting for sclerosing lipogranuloma. Seven types of scrotal flaps were used: unilateral scrotal flap (n = 1), bilateral anterior scrotal flaps (n = 149), two-stage scrotal flap (n = 57), bipedicled bilateral anterior scrotal flaps (n = 140), apron-style scrotal flap (n = 1), scrotal pull-up (n = 13), and island dartos musculocutaneous flap (n = 7). Patient satisfaction was high in all studies. Outcome evaluation was typically conducted using subjective questionnaires with 2 or 5 items or visual analog scales. Few studies employed validated sexual function questionnaires, as the IIEF-5 or the EHS. Conclusions: Scrotal flaps provide good quality tissue for penile resurfacing, having the closest resemblance to normal penis skin. For a better understanding of the outcomes of different scrotal flaps, a thorough evaluation of postoperative complications should be made. The LOS and revision surgery rates may serve as surrogates for the financial burden of the procedure. Erectile function should be thoroughly evaluated with a 10-item Likert scale, IIEF-5, EHS, and POSAS. Full article
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