Plastic surgery is not only aesthetic, but also reconstructive surgery, which plays an important role in restoring bodily functions and improving quality of life, and it continues to evolve in combination with various advanced technologies. Initially aimed at restoring the body after burns or accidents, it has now reached the level of mimicking the body’s original functions, such as recreating tactile sensations through artificial skin. These technologies have also expanded into robotics and healthcare, making it a key part of the future of healthcare.
In the 21st century, with students getting double eyelid surgery after graduation, celebrities going public with their plastic surgery, and being dubbed “plastic dolls,” plastic surgery has become an integral part of modern life. Plastic surgery has gone beyond the boundaries of cosmetic surgery to enhance appearance and has become an important medical field that improves quality of life and restores bodily functions. Korean plastic surgery, in particular, is recognized worldwide and is at the forefront of not only cosmetic but also reconstructive surgery. As medical technology advances, plastic surgery, combined with a variety of advanced equipment and techniques, is giving more people hope.
Plastic surgery was originally created for people with physical disfigurement due to accidents or illnesses, rather than for aesthetics. The field of reconstructive plastic surgery, which involves repairing the bodies of trauma victims, is an essential medical procedure to help them live a normal life, which is distinct from cosmetic purposes. For example, patients whose skin has been severely damaged by burns can have new skin grafted through reconstructive plastic surgery to protect the body from external infection or damage. The Burn Reconstructive Surgery Center at Hanlim University’s Hangang Sungshim Hospital is a leading center for this type of reconstructive surgery and has gained international credibility, with about 80 of the 2,000 patients who visit the center annually coming from China and Southeast Asia.
One of the important elements of reconstructive plastic surgery is artificial skin. Reconstructive plastic surgery focuses on restoring the skin’s natural function, rather than just restoring its appearance. To do this, it must mimic the skin’s natural properties such as elasticity, durability, and flexibility, as well as its ability to resist infection and dehydration. As a skin substitute, artificial skin must not only cover the skin, but also protect the damaged skin until it heals and help the patient with their daily activities.
The history of artificial skin dates back to 1981. Surgeon John F. Burke of Massachusetts General Hospital and MIT chemistry professor Ionias V. Janas developed the first artificial skin by combining collagen fibers derived from cowhide with long sugar molecules. It contained a lattice-like “polymer membrane” based on collagen, which served to keep the skin moisturized and prevent infection. However, early artificial skin lacked the ability to transmit sensation, and it didn’t feel natural when applied to the body.
With advances in science, artificial skin is now being developed that can feel touch and respond to body movements. Tactile sensation is one of the primary functions of the skin, with Pacini corpuscles sensing pressure, Ruffini corpuscles sensing temperature, and Meissner corpuscles sensing touch. To bring these sensations to artificial skin, researchers are using new materials such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and nanowires to deliver natural sensations. With these technologies, it is now possible to detect the sensation of a light ladybug sitting on the skin.
Advances in artificial skin technology are expanding its applications beyond reconstructive plastic surgery to include robotics, medical devices, and healthcare. For example, the application of tactile artificial skin to robotic hands could lead to robots with human-like sensitivity. This technology is also expected to be useful in developing prosthetic hands for patients with disabilities. A prosthetic hand that can feel touch is expected to provide patients with a sensory connection beyond physical function, giving them a sense of psychological security.
Artificial skin can also be utilized as a key component of wearable computers. Stretchable and durable, artificial skin-type wearable devices can conform to the skin to measure vital signs and monitor health conditions. In the near future, artificial skin that can perform nearly the same functions as human skin may be commercially available, offering hope to patients with full-body burns or severe trauma.
The art of reconstructive and plastic surgery has evolved dramatically over the past few decades. Artificial skin, once limited to simply covering burned areas, is now capable of reproducing sensations, creating skin-like textures, and even transmitting sensations via nerves. Future advances in artificial skin technology could soon allow patients to regain the sensation and function of their own skin.
The boundaries between plastic surgery and reconstructive plastic surgery are increasingly blurring, and the future of technological advances will bring new life to many more people.
