This book discusses the current research concepts and the emerging technologies in the field of stem cells and tissue engineering. It is the first authoritative reference documenting all the ways that plastic surgical practice and regenerative medicine science overlap or provide a road map for the future of both specialties. The Editors have provided a valuable service by gathering in one place the leading voices in these two fields in clear and concise manner.
Divided into five parts, the book opens with a description of the elements of regenerative medicine including definitions, basic principles of soft and bone tissue regeneration, biomaterials and scaffolds. Current research concepts are explored in the second part of this book, for example mechanotransduction and the utility of extracellular vesicles. In the third part, the editors present the emerging technologies and highlight the novel perspectives on bionic reconstruction and biomimetics in surgery and regenerative medicine. Part four deals with translational aspects including practical information on moving scientific findings from bench to bedside. The final part then describes in detail applications in clinical plastic surgery.
Written by leading experts this book is an invaluable resource for researchers, students, beginners and experienced clinicians in a range of specialties.


'In your hands is a comprehensive encyclopedia of two rapidly converging fields. Drs Duscher and Shiffman have done an outstanding job of highlighting the interdependent relationship between plastic surgery and regenerative medicine. Ultimately, this is to the benefit of both fields.'
- Geoffrey C. Gurtner, MD, FACS
Johnson and Johnson Distinguished Professor of Surgery
Professor (by courtesy) of Bioengineering and Materials Science
Inaugural Vice Chairman of Surgery for Innovation
Stanford University School of Medicine

Dr. Dominik Duscher MD, PhD, is the director of the Division of Experimental Plastic Surgery at Technical University of Munich. He holds a doctorate of medicine and a research doctorate focusing on Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. After his medical education in Vienna (Medical University of Vienna), London (University College London) and Boston (Harvard Medical School) he graduated from a postdoctoral fellowship in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at Stanford University. For his research he received the Stanford University biomaterial research prize, and scholarships from the American Austrian Foundation and the Austrian Science Fund, among other distinctions. Dr. Duscher holds multiple patents, published more than 100 peer reviewed publications and authored more than 100 conference presentations. Dominik Duscher is the General Secretary of the European Plastic Surgery Research Council. He further acts as the Research Coordinator of the Microsurgical Education Center of the Kepler University Hospital Linz and the Young Forum of the Austrian Society for Surgery of the Hand.

Dr. Melvin A. Shiffman , MD, JD, FCLM, received his MD from Northwestern University School of Medicine in 1957 and completed his residency in general surgery in 1964 at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Long Beach, California. Since then he has been continuously involved in oncologic surgery, reconstruction, and cosmetic surgery. In 2002, Dr. Shiffman became Chair of the Section of Surgery at Tustin Hospital and Medical Center and in 2009-10 he served as President of the American College of Legal Medicine. He is Editor Emeritus of the American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery, a member of the Scientific Committee of the American Journal of Aesthetic Medicine, and an examiner for the International Board of Cosmetic Surgery. He is also a former Editor-in-Chief of both the American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery and the International Journal of Cosmetic Surgery. Dr. Shiffman is the recipient of many honors and is a fellow of various colleges and societies. He has