Defining Skin Regeneration in Aesthetic Medicine: A Framework

Skin regeneration is a central concept in aesthetic medicine, yet the term is applied to interventions that stimulate collagen production, accelerate wound healing, or improve appearance without restoring nat43ive tissue architecture and function. This conceptual ambiguity has contributed to inconsistent terminology and interpretation of regenerative claims. We propose a biologically grounded framework that distinguishes true skin regeneration from tissue remodeling, rejuvenation, and repair. Regeneration is defined by the biological state achieved rather than by the procedure performed and requires coordinated restoration toward site-appropriate native architecture, cellular composition, physiological function, and durability. We introduce four biological criteria and a separate clinical requirement for determining whether an aesthetic intervention can legitimately be considered bioregenerative, together with a multidomain framework for assessing structural, cellular, molecular, functional, and long-term regenerative outcomes. Current resurfacing procedures, biostimulators, biologic therapies, adipose-derived treatments, and combination approaches are evaluated according to the strength of evidence supporting a regenerative claim rather than overall clinical efficacy. Available evidence indicates that most established treatments produce improvement through tissue repair and remodeling, whereas comprehensive restoration of native skin biology remains incompletely demonstrated. Multimodal approaches combining controlled resurfacing with biologically active adipose-derived therapies provide a biologically plausible strategy for engaging multiple regenerative domains, although comprehensive regenerative efficacy has not been demonstrated. This framework provides a foundation for evaluating regenerative claims and guiding objective validation of true skin regeneration in aesthetic medicine.