PLASTIQ

We Can Finally Reverse Aging! The Billion-Dollar Biotech Secret The FDA Just Cleared

Are we about to reverse aging? In this episode, we break down the first-ever FDA-approved human trial targeting cellular rejuvenation, the billion-dollar race led by Altos Labs and Jeff Bezos, and whether drugs like GLP-1s, rapamycin, and SGLT2 inhibitors could secretly extend lifespan. Science fiction is becoming reality—are we closer than ever to curing aging?

The Flap Revolution: New Workhorses, Smarter Breast Reconstruction & AI in Your OR

Are SCIP, SIEA, and PAP flaps about to replace your go-to reconstructive options? Should you be doing pre-pectoral implants over sub-pectoral? And is AI actually useful in your OR — or just another tech buzzword? In this episode we break down five fresh 2025 papers covering the biggest shifts in flap selection, breast reconstruction, and surgical technology. We cover the emerging SCIP/SIEA/PAP flaps and why they're being called the new workhorses for soft tissue reconstruction across all body regions, the latest on robotic-assisted LD flap and pre-pectoral reconstruction, and a concept most surgeons never learned in residency — flap autonomization, and why understanding its timeline actually matters for your postoperative decisions. We also cut through the AI hype with a 15-year systematic review on what machine learning can and can't do in plastic surgery, and wrap with a surprising RCT showing 3D telemedicine genuinely outperforms 2D for reconstructive follow-up. Essential listening for anyone who operates with flaps or is curious about where the specialty is heading.

Robots, Stem Cells & Exosomes: Is This the Future of Plastic Surgery — Or Just Hype?

In this episode, we dive into five cutting-edge papers that are collectively reshaping what's possible in plastic and reconstructive surgery. We start with the robots — and we mean it. Two systematic reviews and a narrative review converge on the same conclusion: robotic microsurgery is no longer a novelty. We break down what the Symani and Da Vinci platforms are actually delivering in DIEP flap harvest, lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA), and nipple-sparing mastectomy — with real outcome data including smaller fascial incisions, 100% patency in sub-0.3 mm vessels, and meaningful limb volume reduction in lymphedema patients. Is robotic LVA ready for your OR? We weigh in.

Why Perfect Faces Are Invisible: The Hidden Science of Beauty, Instagram Lies & the Future of Anti-Aging

What if the most attractive faces are the ones you barely notice? In this episode, we reveal the surprising science behind beauty—and why your brain is wired to ignore perfection but fixate on flaws. From eye-tracking studies that expose how we actually look at faces, to the disturbing rise of “Snapchat dysmorphia,” this episode dives into how social media is quietly reshaping what we think is beautiful. But that’s just the beginning. We also uncover the next generation of aesthetic medicine—where plastic surgery is no longer just about cutting and reshaping, but about regenerating tissue at a cellular level. Think stem cells, exosomes, and treatments that don’t just make you look younger—but may actually make your cells behave younger. And yes—AI is already entering the room.

Skinny People on GLP-1?! The Science That’s Changing Medicine

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have taken the world by storm—but what if weight loss is just the beginning? In this episode, we dive into the rapidly evolving science behind GLP-1 receptor agonists. Beyond their role in treating Type 2 Diabetes and obesity, new research suggests they may impact cardiovascular health, inflammation, addiction pathways, and even aging.