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 skin maintenance program. Accomplishing this goal requires a thorough understanding of topical agents. Substances applied to the skin can alter barrier function, permeability, transepidermal water loss, immune response, wound repair, 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.