title: Soft Tissue Engineering.
abstract: There is a recognized need to reconstruct and restore complex craniomaxillofacial soft tissues. The objective of this article is to focus on the role that tissue engineering/regenerative medicine can play in addressing various barriers (vascularity, tissue bulk, volitional control, and esthetics) and impediments (timing, regional applicability/dissemination, and regulation by the US Food and Drug Administration) to optimal tissue reconstruction of complex soft tissue structures. We will use the lips as an example to illustrate our points.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Towsley Center Rm G1114, 1515 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5222, USA.
authors.forename: Roderick Youngdo
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Towsley Center Rm G1114, 1515 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5222, USA.
authors.forename: Sam Seoho
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Towsley Center Rm G1114, 1515 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5222, USA. Electronic address: sefein@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Stephen Elliott
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Feinberg
mesh_terms: D004954:Esthetics; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D023822:Tissue Engineering
keywords: Composite flap; Craniomaxillofacial surgery; Head and neck reconstruction; Lip reconstruction; Oral and maxillofacial surgery; Oral mucosa; Prelaminated; Soft tissue engineering