Three-dimensional printing in plastic and reconstructive surgery

Abstract Plastic surgery is one of the leading surgical specialties that have embraced the applications and innovations of three-dimensional (3D) technology and biomechanics of tissues. The development of realistic simulations of tissue structures such as breast, hand, or head and neck structures provides the ability to develop individualized patient-specific models of the missing tissues, accurately assess the tissue deficit, and precisely plan the reconstructive surgical procedure. Furthermore, tissue engineering combined with 3D printing may allow the precise regeneration of tissues with properties similar to those of the missing tissues; development and use of neoskin in burn surgery and/or complex bioprinted tissues in cases of congenital anomalies, oncological resections, or posttrauma tissue defects are examples of the expanding fields for numerous applications of bioprinting in plastic and reconstructive surgery.