Topical Skin Treatment and Its Influence on Surgical Healing: Review of Literature and Underlying Physiology

TriHex Technology (Alastin Skincare, Carlsbad, CA) has been shown clinically to promote healing and outcomes post procedures and has been demonstrated clinically to improve lipid droplet dissolution and patient-reported outcomes post procedure. Histologically, the formulations have proven to regenerate collagen and elastin. The use of the technology to prepare the skin for surgical procedures combined with its use post procedure was assessed through clinical study outcomes, histological evidence, and gene expression analyses and demonstrated remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), accelerating healing, and initiation of anti-inflammatory genes. While the improvement in clinical signs and outcomes has been validated, the changes taking place at a molecular level need to be explored. The interaction of cells (adipocytes, macrophages, fibroblasts) and the ECM proteins (collagen, elastin) secondary to the effects of the topical agent application are discussed. It appears that the manipulation of fat during body contouring surgery and the resultant adipocytolysis precipitates a molecular profile that can be positively directed toward hastened healing by using adjuvant topical applications as preconditioning prior to surgery and after the surgical procedure. Here, we review the literature and underlying physiology relating to these products and describe how interleukin 6 appears to be the primary facilitator of these effects.