Editorial: Reconstructive and aesthetic surgery of the face: new frontiers in research and clinical applications

The face occupies a central place in human experience. It represents the primary medium of interpersonal communication and a fundamental component of individual identity, conveying emotions, intentions, and social cues. At the same time, it is one of the anatomical regions most frequently affected by cutaneous malignancies, often necessitating surgical excision followed by reconstruction (1). The dual functional and symbolic value of the face makes any therapeutic intervention particularly delicate, as surgical treatment inevitably extends beyond the mere removal of disease and may significantly influence a patient’s appearance, self-perception, and quality of life (2). For these reasons, considerable efforts have been devoted over the years to refining reconstructive strategies capable of achieving optimal oncologic control while preserving form and function. Techniques have evolved from secondary intention healing and skin grafting to increasingly sophisticated local and microsurgical flaps, allowing tailored solutions based on defect size, depth, and anatomical subunit. A similar degree of attention has characterized the management of aesthetic concerns and age-related changes of the face, including tissue ptosis, volume depletion of facial fat compartments, blepharochalasis, and alterations in skin quality. Advances in surgical expertise and technological innovation have led to highly specialized and progressively less invasive procedures, such as endoscopic approaches in forehead lifting, as well as a growing integration of regenerative techniques and energy-based devices (3). The aim of this Research Topic is therefore to provide a comprehensive overview of current standards and emerging perspectives in facial treatment, encompassing reconstructive and aesthetic surgery alongside regenerative medicine and minimally invasive or non-invasive therapies.