title: Robot-assisted plastic surgery.
abstract: Robot assisted surgery is a technology that is being used frequently among multiple surgical specialties; robot assisted microsurgery (RAMS) and transoral robotic surgery (TORS) are applications relevant to plastic surgery that are being studied and clinically utilized. Advantages of RAMS include elimination of tremor and the ability to provide enhanced exposure. TORS facilitates oropharyngeal tumor excision and reconstruction without mandibular splitting. This article investigates current and potential uses of the surgical robot in plastic surgery as well as obstacles to its application.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, University of California San Diego, 200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92103, USA.
authors.forename: Aladdin H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hassanein
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Mailey
authors.forename: Marek K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Dobke
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012371:Robotics / Q000191:economics; D013524:Surgical Flaps