Long-Term Improvement of Crow's Feet Wrinkles in Combination With Cervicofacial and Temporal Lifting: Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: The lateral orbital crow's feet area is one for which rejuvenation is most frequently requested by patients. Moreover, lateral canthal wrinkles are a common source of dissatisfaction after rhytidoplasty. Botulinum toxin injection has emerged as a most popular, easy, and effective solution; nevertheless, repeated injections are required periodically for long-term effect. Other nonsurgical options have also been described to have some demonstrable advantages. Orbicularis oculi surgical manipulations have been described as well. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic PubMed literature search was conducted to identify clinical cohort studies including more than 10 patients describing surgical approaches for improvement of crows' feet wrinkles in combination with face and/or temporal lifts. The search was complemented by Embase, Medline, and Cochrane searches in addition to screening of reference lists of selected studies and simple term searches about surgical treatment of crow's feet. RESULTS: Fourteen studies satisfied the inclusion criteria and were included in this review describing various muscle excision techniques including vertical strip excision, lateral partial resection, wedge resection, muscle resection in "C" pattern, and enlarged myectomy of about one-third of the whole orbital extension in addition to muscle manipulation modalities, including muscle splaying, muscle division, muscle division and splaying, muscle undermining with partial denervation, and muscle suspension. Interposition of fascia between orbicularis muscle and overlying skin was also reported. CONCLUSION: View the few studies retrieved and the wide spectrum of reported techniques, it is not possible to determine from this review the most effective modality. Nevertheless, it seems that subcutaneous undermining of the lateral canthal area combined with splaying and traction of the orbicularis oculi muscle and fixation to the temporalis fascia with or without muscle division would yield the best long-term results. This review indicates also that surgical correction of crow's feet during rhytidectomy or temporal lift could be a positive complement to improve aesthetic outcome. Unfortunately, if not underreported, it is definitely neglected. We believe that this review may be an eye-opener for surgeons.

Forgotten Pioneers of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery During the Medieval Period.

Sushruta who lived in India sometime between 1000 and 800 BC is traditionally recognized for being the "Father of Plastic Surgery." However, "plastic surgery" has been performed much earlier in antiquity, with the earliest origins of primitive procedures dating back to 1600 BC in Ancient Egypt on the southeastern shores of the Mediterranean. Some centuries later, simple plastic cosmetic surgeries were performed, as well on the Northern Mediterranean shores in ancient Greece and Rome to repair damaged parts caused by war mutilation, punishment, or humiliation. Afterward, there has been a historical gap moving rapidly from the Greco-Roman period to the European Renaissance. Ignoring valuable contributions made by surgeons of the Medieval period, like Albucasis and Avicenna, has denied scholars of the Arabic Golden Age that bridged the eastern and western cultures recognition. In fact, all Mediterranean populations, albeit not together or simultaneously, have participated in the development of plastic and reconstructive surgery art and science. All have made valuable innovations, together with others, which cumulatively have resulted in progressive buildup of knowledge and technical skills.

Origins of Maxillofacial Surgery in Mediterranean Medical History.

Maxillofacial and dental surgery has been around for a surprisingly long time. The first evidence of oral dental treatment can be traced back to Northern Italy 13,000 to 14,000 years ago. The first known evidence of dental filling with beeswax dates back to 6500 years ago in a site located in Slovenia. Fixing teeth with gold wires and prostheses and replacing them was performed for millennia in ancient Egypt and Phoenicia as well as in Etruria predating the Roman empire. In 1210, the earliest-known oral surgery group was formed in France leading to rapid advancement of the specialty over the following years with Pierre Fauchard, known as the father of modern dentistry, who turned dentistry from a craft into a profession. Despite diverse populations of various ethnic backgrounds, the Mediterranean civilization is truly one and unique. It was always at the forefront of scientific progress and technologic innovations in all fields of medicine and surgery and in particular in maxillofacial surgery.

A Narrative Review of Eye-Tracking Assessment of Esthetic Endpoints in Plastic, Reconstructive, and Craniofacial Surgery.

ABSTRACT: Reporting of esthetic outcomes in plastic surgery relies classically on ill-defined endpoints and subjective measures very often from the patients' and/or providers' perspectives that are notoriously characterized by subjectivity and questionable solid scientific validation. With the recent trend of increasing demand for all types of esthetic medical and surgical interventions, there is an urgent need for reliable and objective outcome measures to quantitate esthetic outcomes and determine the efficacy of these interventions. The current review is intended to analyze available evidence regarding advantages as well as limitations of eye-tracking (ET) technology in objectively documenting esthetic outcomes of plastic, reconstructive, and craniofacial interventions. Although gaze pattern analysis is gaining more attention, ET data should be interpreted with caution; how a specific visual stimulus directly influences one's sense of esthetics is still not clear. Furthermore, despite its great potentials, it is still too early to confirm or deny ET usefulness. Nevertheless, patient-reported outcomes being most indicative of an esthetic intervention success, measurement of patients' satisfaction by ET technology could offer a major breakthrough in objective assessment of esthetic outcomes that need further in-depth investigation. EVIDENCE LEVEL: Level III.

Letter to the Editor: An Optimized Method for Adipose Stromal Vascular Fraction Isolation and its Application in Fat Grafting.

Level of Evidence V This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Safety and Efficiency of Minimally Invasive Buttock Augmentation: A Review.

BACKGROUND: Volume restoration and enhancement of the gluteal region appearance has become nowadays a popular concern in particular for many women. Several options are available, none however are without complications and side effects. Volume enhancement with soft tissue fillers of the gluteal region is emerging as a highly attractive minimally invasive modality. It has led unfortunately to more unlicensed, nonmedical practitioners administering illicitly injections for buttock augmentation at relatively low costs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To determine safety, efficacy, and cost effectiveness of mostly used soft-tissue fillers for buttock augmentation, a systematic literature search of PubMed, Medline, and Embase was conducted to identify the mostly used fillers for gluteal augmentation. It was complemented by searching for each of the identified filler material separately to retrieve any missed reports. References of clinical studies and trials, reviews, and consensus reports were reviewed as well for the same objective. RESULTS: In the final analysis 12, mostly strongly biased clinical reports providing a low level of evidence, were identified for inclusion in the review. Two studies involved Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), 5 Poly-L-lactic acid, 1 Calcium hydroxyapatite and 4 hyaluronic acid filler injection. No studies were identified involving liquid silicone or Polyacrylamide hydrogel. The little available evidence provided by this review indicates that a specific brand of PMMA in Brazil has a demonstrable relatively good safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness record superior to surgical alloplastic gluteal augmentation or to lipofilling only when injected by experts. CONCLUSION: Gluteal augmentation with soft tissue fillers is not as simple and innocuous as advertised. Serious complications may occur. Moreover, optimal buttock contouring entails not only volume augmentation but also volume removal; thus, volume augmentation with soft tissue fillers may not be ideal. Popularizing this modality must also be approached with great care. Serious complications do occur; they become inevitable when performed illegally by non-specialized, non-authorized, and unscrupulous practitioners in non-accredited facilities. Patients must be warned that adherence to regulations is critical and that only well-trained certified experts practicing legally in accredited facilities can address safely and efficiently their concerns. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

A Narrative Review of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Objective Assessment of Aesthetic Endpoints in Plastic Surgery.

Notoriously characterized by subjectivity and lack of solid scientific validation, reporting aesthetic outcome in plastic surgery is usually based on ill-defined end points and subjective measures very often from the patients' and/or providers' perspective. With the tremendous increase in demand for all types of aesthetic procedures, there is an urgent need for better understanding of aesthetics and beauty in addition to reliable and objective outcome measures to quantitate what is perceived as beautiful and attractive. In an era of evidence-based medicine, recognition of the importance of science with evidence-based approach to aesthetic surgery is long overdue. View the many limitations of conventional outcome evaluation tools of aesthetic interventions, objective outcome analysis provided by tools described to be reliable is being investigated such as advanced artificial intelligence (AI). The current review is intended to analyze available evidence regarding advantages as well as limitations of this technology in objectively documenting outcome of aesthetic interventions. It has shown that some AI applications such as facial emotions recognition systems are capable of objectively measuring and quantitating patients' reported outcomes and defining aesthetic interventions success from the patients' perspective. Though not reported yet, observers' satisfaction with the results and their appreciation of aesthetic attributes may also be measured in the same manner.Level of Evidence III This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Surgical Management of Platysma Bands: A Narrative Review of Evolving Concepts and Changing Techniques for Neck Rejuvenation.

INTRODUCTION: Platysmal bands are an unappealing feature of the aging face. Incomplete understanding of anatomy and physiology of platysmal bands has led to a long period of flawed or incomplete treatment. This review aims to elucidate the correct study of platysmal bands along with the most recent surgical treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To identify all articles related to the topic of surgical management of platysmal bands, an extensive search was performed on PubMed and Medline databases for all articles related to platysmal bands from 1990 to 2023. The articles were then reviewed by 2 independent reviewers, and all relevant articles were selected. The search was narrowed down to clinical trials and cohort studies. RESULTS: 6130 articles were identified, of which 21 articles matched the inclusion criteria and were selected for the study totaling 2331 patients. Different surgical procedures were mentioned. Assessment of results was mostly subjective and done by the surgeon. CONCLUSION: Composite platysma-skin flap repositioning as opposed to wide skin undermining with or without submental incisions is being gradually accepted as a valid approach, with closed platysma myotomy and platysma denervation emerging as effective less invasive surgical modalities. Nevertheless, merits of more extensive procedures involving wide skin undermining and anterior platysma plication must not be lightly forgotten. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors   www.springer.com/00266 .

Surgical Correction of Tear Trough Deformity (TTD) with Orbicularis Retaining Ligament Release and Volume Augmentation for Periorbital Rejuvenation: Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Tear trough deformity is a hallmark of periorbital aging. It is not, however, an exclusive feature of old age. While protruding orbital fat results in lower lid bags that are traditionally corrected by excision, correction of TTD can constitute a real challenge requiring volume enhancement in addition to addressing prolapse of orbital fat and descent of cheek tissues. Described therapeutic options include minimally invasive soft tissue augmentation with fillers or structural autologous fat transfer as well as invasive surgical procedures concomitantly with lower lid blepharoplasty or other facial rejuvenation procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Six eponyms have been used in the literature to describe the condition: (1) naso-jugal fold, (2) naso-jugal groove, (3) naso-jugal ditch, (4) tear trough, (5) tear trough deformity, and (6) tear trough depression. A separate PubMed database search of each of the 6 terms was conducted in addition to an advanced literature and systematic PICO searches to identify all described clinical retrospective or prospective, comparative or simple cohort studies related to surgical correction of TTD. An additional screening of references of retrieved clinical studies was performed to identify any missed reports. RESULTS: A total of 435 publications were identified with the initial search. After excluding all none relevant studies, 44 papers were selected for review. 6 additional studies were identified by screening relevant references. CONCLUSION: Almost all authors agree on the necessity to release the tear trough retaining ligament together with volume enhancement. Transconjunctival and transcutaneous incisions are reported. Most recommend repositioning of the protruding orbital fat for volume enhancement to mostly subperiosteal, or pre-periosteal pockets. Other reported options include pedicled buccal fat pad transposition, segmental fat grafting, and minced micrografts. Internal as well as external fixation of repositioned fat flaps have been described. Despite lack of solid objective evidence, several of these techniques when properly executed for the proper indication in selected patients are reported to result in a rewarding and long-lasting outcome. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine the most appropriate technique that would universally yield the most pleasant and harmonious facial contour without creating an unnatural puffy appearance. It remains for the surgeon to identify the safe surgical approach that does not compromise lower eyelid function and achieves the most pleasing aesthetic outcome with the least complications and downtime. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Expanding horizons of reconstructive microsurgery in Lebanon: Reconstruction of complex traumatic wounds with anterolateral thigh perforator flaps in paediatrics patients less than 10 years of age.

Paediatric complex wounds pose a challenge to the reconstructive surgeon due to the intricacy of reconstructive options required. Developments in microsurgery and microsurgical technique have brought free tissue transfer ever closer to the comfort zone of the reconstructive surgeon for reconstruction of paediatric traumatic complex wounds. We present our experience of microsurgical reconstruction in Lebanon for complex traumatic wounds in paediatric patients under the age of 10 years using the free anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap. The ALT flap has proven its value as a safe, adaptable, and aesthetically acceptable reconstructive option in paediatric complex trauma.

Breast Implant Illness (BII): Real Syndrome or a Social Media Phenomenon? A Narrative Review of the Literature.

Breast implant illness (BII) is a condition characterized by elusive diagnostic criteria and self-reported diverse disabling and distressing physical and psychological symptoms. With currently significant increase in public awareness, BII is perhaps becoming the most controversial subject in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery, generating heated debates between those who do not believe such a condition exists and those who demand its acceptance as a recognized diagnosis. Silicone incompatibility has been associated with "autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants" (ASIA syndrome) or Shoenfeld's syndrome. It is still unclear, however, whether BII symptoms would have occurred if no implants had been placed in the first place. The purpose of this literature review is to analyze critically the current state of scientific evidence related to this condition. Though the psychosomatic theory is most likely, the mechanism of BII symptoms is probably multifactorial. At present, BII being an underlying connective tissue disorder cannot be confirmed; moreover, whether improved aesthetic outcome and patient's overall satisfaction with the profile of their reconstructed or augmented breasts translate into decreased self-reported BII symptoms is still not well elucidated. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Ptosis and Bottoming out Following Mastopexy and Reduction Mammoplasty. Is Synthetic Mesh Internal Breast Support the Solution? A Systematic Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Relying on soft tissues with low structural strength to provide long-term support of the breasts following aesthetic mammoplasty may be inadequate in many instances. To address the inherent weakness of tissues still present after surgery, use of synthetic non-autologous additional tissue reinforcement has been described. The current review is aimed at analyzing available evidence about safety and effectiveness of mesh support in various reduction mammoplasty, mastopexy, or augmentation-mastopexy. METHODS: An advanced PubMed and Medline search was conducted to identify clinical studies about the use of synthetic mesh in aesthetic breast surgery. An additional search of breast symmetrization and synthetic mesh was also conducted. Ten studies were identified and judged to be relevant to this review. RESULTS: Retrieved studies were relatively few, characterized by marked heterogeneity, lack of well-defined outcome end points, poor outcome measures, and inherent bias in outcome documentation providing low level of evidence. CONCLUSION: Despite reported relative safety and some promising results, available data indicate that meshes do not effectively prevent recurrent ptosis and bottoming out; they may not be superior to described techniques with superior pedicle and hammocks or "balcony" flaps. Well-conducted studies are yet to be conducted comparing internal bra technique to procedures with innovative autologous tissue support. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine Ratings, please refer to Table of Contents or online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Outcome Measurement of Beauty and Attractiveness of Facial Aesthetic Rejuvenation Surgery.

ABSTRACT: Aesthetic plastic surgery is a most unusual and unique subspecialty. Unlike other medical and surgical specialties driven primarily by objective medical diagnosis and outcome, aesthetic surgery is patient driven; it represents a special exercise in professional competence by adapting objective medical standards to a mostly subjective field. Given the subjectivity of facial beauty and of the projected aesthetic intervention outcome, in addition to be able to determine beauty of the final result as precisely and objectively as possible, it is also essential to be able to assess patient's satisfaction. However, lack of standardized facial measurements and clear definition of aesthetic outcome and beauty are still major obstacles preventing real change in the consultation dynamics to help better serve patients' expectations. Because of the tremendous increase in demand for all types of facial aesthetic procedures, an objective understanding of aesthetics and beauty is becoming of utmost importance. Recognition of the importance of science and evidence-based medicine is long overdue in our specialty. This study aims at identifying the most recently available evidence-based measures to quantitatively assess beauty and measure outcome of rhytidoplasty that can be useful in everyday aesthetic practice.

Medium-depth Trichloroacetic Acid and Deep Phenol-Croton Oil Chemical Peeling for Facial Rejuvenation: An Update.

ABSTRACT: Face-lift is an established rejuvenation modality; however, when performed alone, it lacks the ability to improve the appearance of fine wrinkles and dyschromias that are an important component of facial rejuvenation. Although it is only natural to be attracted by the latest technologically advanced innovative skin resurfacing techniques, chemical peeling has been proven to be a simple and effective method with a relatively good safety profile. Unfortunately, the practice of chemical peeling has relied for a long time on dogmas perpetuated by early reports without any real scientific basis. Moreover, application of peels has been hindered by difficult estimation of penetrance and control of depth. Three decades ago, a shift has occurred from early dogmatic empirical application to better understanding of the peeling formulations and mechanism of action together with appreciation of the interaction between the various components of the peeling formulations in addition to better estimation of clinical end points and peel depth. Given the increasing demand for none or minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, the current review is aimed at highlighting the recent applications of available medium-depth and deep chemical peels for optimal facial rejuvenation and for the treatment of photo-related aging skin changes.

An Update on Facial Skin Rejuvenation Effectiveness of Mesotherapy EBM V.

ABSTRACT: Although it appears to be a simple, easy, and financially attractive therapeutic modality, skin rejuvenation mesotherapy is a controversial cosmetic procedure and proof of its efficacy is still lacking. The authors have published a review about this therapeutic modality more than a decade ago. Few clinical studies evaluating its efficacy and safety were available then without any conclusive scientific evidence about its efficacy; nevertheless, mesotherapy has continued to be performed at a relatively high financial cost to patients by many nonmedical and medical professionals for antiaging purposes. The authors have published a review about this therapeutic modality more than a decade ago. The current review is an update aimed at identifying any evidence about the scientific validity and efficacy of this approach that has emerged since then. No clinical valuable new data and new information has been identified. As by American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) policy statement updated and approved in 2019, mesotherapy for skin rejuvenation is currently not Food and Drug Administration approved. Until more conclusive data is available, skin rejuvenation mesotherapy cannot be recommended for routine skin rejuvenation clinical application.

Evidence-Based Efficacy of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) in Aesthetic Body Contouring.

Being profitable procedures with little disposable costs, a number of noninvasive technologies have gained much popularity in recent years and are permeating the aesthetic marketplace. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) when focused at a targeted depth of 1.1 to 1.6 cm within subcutaneous tissue raises local tissue temperature at the focal point resulting in almost immediate cell death without damage to the surrounding tissues. Despite having gained popularity, little information is available regarding HIFU use for the treatment of localized fat and aesthetic body sculpturing. The current literature review is intended to investigate evidence-based efficacy of HIFU in aesthetic body contouring. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Percutaneous Thread Lift Facial Rejuvenation: Literature Review and Evidence-Based Analysis.

PURPOSE: Interest in noninvasive facial rejuvenation procedures continues to grow. With the advent of the so-called lunch-time face-lift, suture suspension facial rejuvenation has gained prominence and much popularity largely patient driven rather than data driven. We have published a decade ago a review about this rejuvenation technique. Despite its popularity at that time, serious long-term studies and peer-reviewed data about longevity and patient satisfaction were lacking to our surprise. As 10 years have passed, we have conducted a new systematic PubMed database search limited to the last 10 years interval. METHODS: The search identified 192 publications. After screening the titles and abstracts, 20 clinical and 2 experimental studies met the inclusion criteria and were selected for this review. RESULTS: Though thread lift facial rejuvenation is considered to be a promising modality, no new evidence has been added to the literature to support its use. CONCLUSION: Until evidence-based efficacy and robust data are objectively documented, patients requesting percutaneous facial rejuvenation must be well informed about adverse events, longevity of effect, and limited available data on efficacy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Social Media and Plastic Surgery Practice Building: A Thin Line Between Efficient Marketing, Professionalism, and Ethics.

Social media sites and platforms have grown in numbers with an enormous potential to reach and disseminate information in real time. They are impacting tremendously for better or for worse on the current practice of plastic surgery. As the demand for elective plastic surgery, in particular for aesthetic procedures, continues to rise, there is a need to determine the influence of social media advertisements and how it motivates the public to undergo cosmetic procedures. Most importantly, there is an urgent need to determine how the social media are impacting plastic surgery practice building and what is proper and efficient marketing while upholding ethics of the medical profession? A thorough PICO tool-based comprehensive literature search was conducted. Fifty-one peer-reviewed publications, 15 patient-centered, 33 provider-centered, and three combined patient/provider were identified to be relevant to the use of social media in plastic surgery and were selected for this review. Evidence on how social media influences the medical practice and helps in practice building remains scarce; nevertheless, reliance of plastic surgeons on social media to improve their practice has been increasing steadily. Social media may be a powerful tool to promote one's career. It presents, however, serious professional, legal, and ethical challenges including maintenance of professionalism and protecting patient confidentiality. If misused, it may be a quick way to end a plastic surgery practice.Level of Evidence V This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Microneedling: Percutaneous Collagen Induction (PCI) Therapy for Management of Scars and Photoaged Skin-Scientific Evidence and Review of the Literature.

Demand for safe, less aggressive and cost-efficient treatment modality to improve skin quality and appearance following scarring or photoaging is increasing steadily. A treatment modality that preserves the epidermis while promoting regeneration rather than cicatrization would be ideal. Percutaneous collagen induction (PCI) therapy or microneedling is claimed to approach this ideal objective. The current comprehensive literature review is intended to analyze the scientific basis supporting this therapeutic modality and to evaluate the efficacy of PCI microneedling therapy versus no treatment of patients with photoaged skin and scars of various etiologies on aesthetic skin rejuvenation, skin tightening and scar quality in prospective, retrospective and experimental studies. Twenty-five published studies were identified and included in this review. Four publications are experimental animal studies; most clinical reports are case series or small cohort non-randomized studies or trials lacking methodological unity with a heterogenous mix of scars, wrinkles and skin laxity being treated. The majority are studies about management of scars of various etiologies while only 4 specifically investigated the effect of PCI on wrinkles and aging skin. One study compared burn scar erythema in the treated area to the untreated area, and 5 studies included histologic evaluation of biopsies. Despite PCI promising therapeutic benefits and its increasing cosmetic applications, the current literature review unfortunately revealed a limited number of high-quality studies mostly experimental. Data and conclusions of clinical studies must be carefully interpreted before translating the evidence presented into clinical recommendations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Nanofat Cell-Mediated Anti-Aging Therapy: Evidence-Based Analysis of Efficacy and an Update of Stem Cell Facelift.

BACKGROUND: Fat grafting has been extensively applied as natural filler and has been very promising in restoring volume loss. Lipografting has also been credited to reduce age-related skin changes due to the regenerative potential of adipose derived stem cells. Cell-mediated therapies in plastic surgery are rapidly evolving with growing applications. Nanofat, a bio-regenerative liquid suspension rich in stromal vascular fraction cells without viable adipocytes, has been described as an efficient cutaneous anti-aging therapy. We have published in 2013 a review entitled "stem cell facelift: between reality and fiction." Available clinical evidence at that time did not substantiate marketing and promotional claims of "stem cell facelift". The same year, the report about nanofat was published demonstrating striking clinical outcome. The current literature search is aimed at reviewing any evidence that has emerged since then regarding clinical efficacy of this modality. METHODS: A thorough PICO tool-based comprehensive literature search of PubMed database for "the efficacy of nanofat cell-mediated anti-aging therapy" was conducted with a time frame from 2013 till present. RESULTS: Despite apparent increasing popularity of stem cell rejuvenation, well-controlled clinical studies about this modality are surprisingly very scarce. Only seven papers published after 2013 were identified and were included in this review CONCLUSION: Though considered to be a safe procedure, and despite documented histologic improvement and striking clinical outcome in some reports, available evidence can hardly support clinical improvement of skin quality. Before cell-mediated aesthetic rejuvenation applications can be routinely undertaken, more robust evidence with well-defined primary outcome end points and objective outcome measures is required. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.