[Fifty years of plastic surgery in the Netherlands. IV. Treatment of children with cleft lip and palate]

During the last decades treatment of patients with cleft lip and palate exchanged a solitary for a multidisciplinary approach. This warrants a balanced development of cranio-maxillofacial growth yielding good results both in restoring facial contour and correcting functional defects. Nowadays, refinements in indications for treatment and in techniques, based upon scientific evidence are the goals. In the future more basic studies in the genetical and ecological field may provide tools for patient tailored counselling and effective prevention.

Overview of lasers in plastic surgery

The laser used today in plastic surgery has gone through many stages of development. This article examines the history of lasers, including the scientific background and the theory of selective photothermolysis in therapy. In addition, current trends and future developments in laser treatment are discussed.

[Recreation of tissue--the plastic surgeon's spring-board in to the 21st century]

During recent years, a new field has appeared, in which the principles of life sciences and engineering are applied to the development of methods of regenerating human tissue and organs. Since the emergence of this interdisciplinary field, plastic surgeons have been deeply involved in its development, both in the early stages and in introducing the methods into clinical practice. The article consists in discussion of the possibilities these methods offer and the impact they may have on the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery.

What's new in plastic surgery?

A review is made of the latest developments in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery. The subspecialty divisions are more pronounced in the modern era, but are still linked by a unified approach to soft-tissue management. Although cornerstone areas such as microsurgery have seen refinement, other fields, including aesthetic surgery, have been totally redefined by laser technology and the spread of endoscopic techniques.

Dermatologic surgery into the next millennium: Part I

Dermatologic cosmetic surgery is a subspecialty of dermatology that has recently been developed. In this four-part series, we describe many of the procedures performed in our ambulatory surgery setting. We also highlight the significant changes in the techniques and treatment environments for these procedures over the past three decades. In part one, we focus on liposuction and face lift operations. Patients increasingly expect less invasive procedures, decreased "down time," and superior results. These expectations create a greater demand for the dermatologic surgeon. The trends and prospects for dermatologic cosmetic surgery in the next millennium are illustrated.