Herein we developed a multipurpose 4D printed implant.... The smart device was programmed to change size, under swelling, to better fit in the tissue cavity, resulting in a great potential for personalization, thus improving the aesthetic outcomes. The influence of the formulation and printing parameters on the morpho transformation was investigated through the swelling test, confirming the possibility to program the 4D shape.
Here's a new article from the International Journal of Pharmaceutics written by some scientists who essentially created 4D-printed implants that can expand on their own. While this is meant for cancer patients, you can imagine how this might get adapted by the plastic surgery world:QuoteHerein we developed a multipurpose 4D printed implant.... The smart device was programmed to change size, under swelling, to better fit in the tissue cavity, resulting in a great potential for personalization, thus improving the aesthetic outcomes. The influence of the formulation and printing parameters on the morpho transformation was investigated through the swelling test, confirming the possibility to program the 4D shape.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378517323005744