A Commentary on the Need for Minimum Information for Studies Evaluating Biologics in Plastic Surgery
April 2026
in “
Journal of Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
”
New to Platelet-Rich Plasma? There is a guide in the encyclopedia. Read the guide → Studysummary This article reviews the use of biologics like platelet-rich plasma and mesenchymal stem cells in plastic surgery but highlights a lack of standardization in reporting platelet concentrations, which limits the systematic evaluation of their efficacy and application. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
The commentary highlights the need for standardized reporting in plastic surgery studies involving biologics like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Current literature suffers from inconsistent reporting, hindering evidence synthesis and clinical application. The orthopedic field addressed similar issues with the MIBO guidelines in 2017, but voluntary adoption has been poor. The authors propose that plastic surgery journals mandate MIBO checklist completion for PRP and MSC studies to improve research quality, enable meaningful meta-analyses, and help clinicians identify optimal protocols. This would align with the 2013 ASPS Task Force's vision for plastic surgery to lead in biologics innovation.
