Topical agents used in association with cosmetic surgery

Effective cosmetic surgery depends on proper preparation of the skin prior to the procedure, excellent wound care, and an appropriate postoperative sk in maintenance program. Accomplishing this goal requires a thorough underst anding of topical agents. Substances applied to the skin can alter barrier function, permeability, transepidermal water loss, immune response, wound r epair, vasostability, collagen deposition, epidermal turnover, and melanin formation, to name a few. Each of these skin characteristics can affect the quality of the end surgical result. This article discusses topical agents used in association with cosmetic surgery. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saund ers Company.