Europe has always been an area of dynamic development in plastic surgery. Its great strength has been the lack of uniformity of this development because of differing cultures, different traditions, and differing medical and surgical philosophies. Over the recent years, these changes have been even more striking and rapid. The developments have been those which have radically changed the face of plastic surgery: for example, microsurgery, tissue expansion, craniofacial surgery, and the spin-offs of these techniques into the area of trauma, the treatment of malignancy, and aesthetic surgery.
In order to coordinate these assorted national groups, the "European Journal of Plastic Surgery" creates a focal point for the input of new advances in clinical techniques and in research. It is thus an educational vehicle. In addition to this, the journal provides information on what is going on elsewhere in the world, and it is also willing to accept contributions from outside of Europe. Fields of interest include: general plastic and reconstructive surgery, head and neck surgery, aesthetic and craniofacial surgery, microsurgery, treatment of bones, trauma, basic research related to all aspects of plastic surgery, and burn management.
