Healing, Inflammation, and Fibrosis

Joshua Vorstenbosch, MD, PhD, FRCSC

In all plastic surgery cases, regardless of complexity, success depends upon healing of the involved tissues. Therefore, all plastic surgeons apply their comprehension of fundamental healing processes of different tissue types across all subdisciplines of our specialty every day. Importantly, we also must recognize that healing does not always go according to plan. Various systemic and external factors can contribute to sustained inflammation and fibrosis, which compromise our reconstructive efforts. Furthermore, plastic surgeons—always innovating—have developed creative solutions to facilitate the healing process. It was with the central role in mind that healing, and complications associated with it, play in our day-to-day practice that I invited the authors in this issue to share their expertise concerning how different tissues heal, how inflammation and fibrosis impact various aspects of plastic surgery, and the innovative solutions that exist to facilitate the healing process.

It has been such an enriching experience to work with the authors of this issue on the papers presented here. I would like to thank all of them for sharing their expertise and assembling such comprehensive descriptions of these topics. Finally, I would like to thank the editor, Dr. Edward Buchanan, for the opportunity to present this issue of Seminars in Plastic Surgery on “Healing, Inflammation, and Fibrosis.” I hope that you would find this content to be a comprehensive resource and helpful for patient care.

Publication History

Article published online:
10 September 2021