Application of Microgravity Experiments in Plastic Surgery: A Literature Review.

Background: Interest in microgravity is growing in the medical and surgical fields. This literature review aims to synthesize existing evidence on microgravity applications in plastic surgery, focusing on experimental methods, outcomes, and prospects. Methods: All reported articles up to October 2023, including publications and news reports, were screened for inclusion using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The PubMed keywords and Boolean operators were "plastic surgery AND microgravity," "plastic surgery AND spaceflight," "wound healing AND microgravity," "skin aging AND microgravity," "skin cancer AND microgravity," and "melanoma AND microgravity." Results: A total of 201 articles were identified, and 14 studies were included. Plastic surgery procedures can be performed under microgravity, resulting in a delayed wound healing process. Four studies demonstrated that microgravity could reduce skin thickness and modify cell metabolism. In 2 studies, neoplastic melanoma cells have shown behavioral modifications under microgravity with induced apoptosis but increased potential for metastasis. Conclusions: Microgravity represents a unique environment with potential implications in plastic surgery, although further rigorous studies need to be conducted in humans. The anticipated rise and development of spaceflights render the study of biological changes in space an impactful and significant topic.