Plastic Surgery Update on Epigenetic Reprogramming of Aging (ERA): Mechanisms, Pathways and Strategies toward Cell-Free Aesthetic Rejuvenating Applications

Epigenetics can be defined as a heritable or reversible change in gene expression that is not accompanied by changes in DNA sequences.Epigenetics provides an additional layer of instructions that can affect where and when genes are expressed, modulating the aging process in response to an array of environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, genetics and disease.Subsequent changes at the gene level are likely to contribute to cell, organ and body senescence affecting the health and well-being of patients.In recent years, regenerative aesthetic medicine has been integrated in the management of aging skin to either replace or restore damaged and dysfunctional skin cells to acquire more youthful appearance and function.In the past decade, small moleculebased pre-clinical studies are investigating partial epigenetic reprogramming intervention strategies for epigenetic rejuvenation to reduce or reverse these infirmities through modifications of epigenetic marks and gene expression patterns.