PREFACE

Recent Biological Advances in Facial Plastic Surgery

surrounding wound tension by chemodenervation of

O ver the last decade, significant strides have
been made in understanding several biological processes
that will result in new improvements in facial plastic
surgery. This issue of Facial Plastic Surgery describes
some of these recent and promising biological develop-
ments in facial plastic surgery. Due to this large amount
of information that has accumulated, it can be difficult
for the practicing facial plastic surgeon to be informed
of these many developments. This publication provides
an interesting overview and insight into several “cut-
ting-edge” areas of biomedical investigations that will
affect facial plastic surgery.
Several exciting subjects are covered in this issue.
Commercial blood products have recently been publi-
cized to aid in hemostasis, wound healing, and tissue
adhesion. One article describes the present state of
these blood products and their future potential in facial
plastic surgery.
The innovative use of botulinum toxin has been
demonstrated to reduce scar formation. Another article
shows promising clinical results to improve the cos-
metic appearance of cutaneous scars by reducing the
underlying muscles.
The use of various soft tissue replacements has
become more available to the facial plastic surgeon. One
article discusses some of these homologous tissue ma-
trix materials at our disposal.
The following article reviews how the past, pres-
ent, and future uses of bone substitutes have evolved over
time for facial recontouring. Much progress has been
made in the orthopedic realm with bone substitutes that
will inevitably make a major impact in facial plastic
surgery.
A subsequent article describes the use of tissue
engineering methods to grow cartilage outside the body
for later reconstruction. The benefits of extracting living
chondrocytes and embedding them into biodegradable
polymers would make it possible to replace cartilage de-
fects with pretailored shapes and sizes.
In facial plastic surgery, the impact of growth
factors to influence wound healing has emerged. Vari-
ous soft tissues of the head and neck area (skin, mucosa,
and nerve) are being investigated with growth factors to
improve wound repair. This topic is reviewed in respect
to facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. In adminis-
tering such growth factors, effective methods for deliv-
ery are crucial to control their dosages and duration.
This subject describing possible methods of growth fac-
tor delivery is discussed in the next article.
In summary, this publication presents many ex-
citing biological developments in facial plastic surgery.
This issue does not intend to include all of the recent
biological advances related to facial plastic surgery but
describes some recent areas of interest.
It has been a pleasure to have had the opportunity
to edit this issue of Facial Plastic Surgery. I would like to
thank the contributors to this issue for their hard work and
participation in this endeavor. I hope you find this issue of
Facial Plastic Surgery both informative and fascinating.
David B. Hom, M.D., FACS
Guest Editor 1

Recent Biological Advances in Facial Plastic Surgery; Editors in Chief, Fred Fedok, M.D., Gilbert J. Nolst Trenité, M.D., Ph.D., Daniel G.
Becker, M.D., Roberta Gausas, M.D.; Guest Editor, David B. Hom, M.D., FACS. Facial Plastic Surgery, Volume 18, Number 1, 2002. Address
for correspondence and reprint requests: Dr. David B. Hom, Department of Otolaryngology, Hennepin County Medical Center, 701 Park
Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55415. 1Department of Otolaryngology, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN. Copyright © 2002 by
Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel: +1(212) 584-4662. 0736–6825,p;2002,18,01,001,002,
ftx,en;fps00411a.