Optimizing the patient for surgical treatment of the wound

Plastic surgeons often are consulted to close wounds that fail or are difficult to heal. Optimizing the patient's medical condition before surgical closure of a wound can mean the difference between a successful outcome and an undesirable one. It is imperative that plastic surgeons have an extensive knowledge of the modifiable risk factors affecting the wound-healing process and their subsequent complications. This knowledge allows the surgeon to tailor the treatment options and intervene when appropriate to optimize outcomes for successful surgical closure of a wound. Whether the impairments to wound healing and closure are local or systemic, they must be addressed appropriately.