Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
7
Hyaluronic Acid in Modern Cosmetic
and Reconstructive Surgery
Nikolaos P. Vrentzos, Ioannis E. Liapakis,
Miriam Englander and Eleftherios I. Paschalis
7.1 Introduction
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a ubiquitous substance that is found in
connective tissues, joints, muscles and in the skin. It is an essential
glycosaminoglycan that acts as a network to transfer essential
nutrients from the bloodstream to cells. Modern plastic surgery
employs various synthetic forms of HA to improve skin aesthetics,
to correct joint pathologies and to reconstruct the skin after injury.
This chapter outlines some of the important aspects of HA and its
implementation in modern reconstructive surgery.
7.1.1 Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty that focuses on the aesthetic
and functional reconstruction of various parts of the body, including
skin, the musculoskeletal system, craniomaxillofacial structures,
extremities, breast, trunk and external genitalia [1]. Recent
innovations in materials science and surgical techniques have enabled
surgeons to perform microvascular procedures, craniomaxillofacial
surgeries, liposuction, tissue transfer and to use dermal fillers
[1]. Within this chapter, we discuss the implementation of HA in
reconstructive procedures for modern plastic surgery.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search