PIONEERING TREATMENT TO RESTORE PATIENTS' QUALITY OF LIFE
Regardless of reconstruction or aesthetic purposes, scientific advances throughout the years are slowly making plastic surgery more efficient and safer.
Microsurgical techniques, computer-assisted imaging and tissue engineering are a few examples of technology advances that have transformed the provision of plastic surgery today. However, many people are aware of the developments in cosmetic procedures, but little attention is being pointed towards reconstructive treatments.
The Restoration of Appearance and Function Trust (RAFT) is a medical research charity that aims to improve the treatment of physical trauma such as burns, accidents and cancers. It was founded in 1988 by four plastic surgeons – Roy Sanders, Brian Morgan, Douglas Harrison and Paul Smith – who were concerned with the lack of successful wound healing treatment options available to burns patients. Its research performed by their own team of scientists have been used in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, but their primary aim is geared particularly in the field of reconstructive plastic surgery.
“We are patient-focused. So for us, we start with patients and the problems they have and we end up bringing solutions to them," said Dr Elena Garcia, director of research at RAFT.
"That has been the case for the past 30 years, but for the past five years, we have a clearer strategy. Our strategy is to focus on tissue reconstruction after trauma. We do that using biomaterial science and tissue engineering."
Background picture credit: RAFT medical charity
One of the early contributions of RAFT’s research in improving patients’ lives was the development of an air mattress technology used in today’s hospital globally.
Professor John Scales, the first director of research took inspiration from a hovercraft to develop a prototype bed that allowed patient to ‘float’ on air, thus preventing the wounds of a burns patient from touching the bedding.
This innovation not only benefited burns patients but those who are at risk of developing pressure sores from the normal bedding.
According to RAFT, its research has helped save lives, improve treatment, speed up recovery times and influence health care policy in the UK. Today, more than 100 of RAFT’s projects are used in hospitals and clinics throughout the world, including the development of surgical techniques for facial palsy and 3D laser scanning to improve surgical outcomes for cleft lip and palate patients.
Background picture credit: RAFT medical charity
The team works on a wide area of research and their current projects include facial reconstruction using 3D printing, breast reconstruction after mastectomy and Smart Matrix wound healing technology.
​
Click on each button to learn more about the research
“There is an equal amount of development in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery but people seem to only talk about the cosmetic side of it. Yes, the cosmetic side keeps growing over time, but so does the reconstructive side. People don’t mention it, but there’s a lot happening. That’s for sure,” Dr Garcia stated.
Background picture credit: RAFT medical charity