ABSTRACT
I. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 425
II. Anatomy of the Breast ..................................................................................................... 425
III. Clinical Impetus ............................................................................................................... 426
IV. Standard of Care .............................................................................................................. 427
A. Implants and Expanders........................................................................................... 427
B. Autologous Tissue.................................................................................................... 428
V. Overall Tissue Engineering Strategy............................................................................... 429
VI. Materials as Scaffolds ...................................................................................................... 430
A. Natural and Synthetic Polymer Foams and Non-Woven Meshes........................... 430
B. Hydrogels ................................................................................................................. 431
VII. Materials as Delivery Vehicles for Adipogenic Factors ................................................. 433
VIII. Future Considerations ...................................................................................................... 433
References..................................................................................................................................... 433
The augmentation of the breast, or restoration of the breast following tumor resection in breast
cancer patients, presents a challenge in plastic surgery.
