Pluripotent stem cells can help recreate a variety of different tissues. Stem cells
are already in use in a variety of ways in the medical field but plastic surgeons
have particular interest because of the constant need to produce additional tissue
or mold existing tissue. More and more commercial products are being marketed with
far-reaching goals and some with proven and promising results. In this article, the
authors discuss the basic science behind stem cells and the theories on how they work.
They then discuss some active uses of stem cells that should be understood by all
plastic surgeons. The reader should then have an understanding and basis to evaluate
new technologies and commercial products as they develop.
Keywords
stem cells - fat grafting - cultured epidermal autographs