(Wired) – Cartilage cells that contain fat explain why some skeletal tissues are less rigid than others, and could one day be grown in labs to produce better materials for performing reconstructive surgeries.

A newly discovered cell type could transform how plastic surgeries are performed—from facial reconstructions to nose jobs.

Cartilage transplants are central to many procedures, being used to fix cleft palates, correct missing or misshapen ears, or to repair damage to someone’s larynx caused by cancer. They’re also common in elective nose augmentations.

But the results aren’t always stellar. Surgeons often resort to transferring cartilage from the rib, which is stiff, or using silicone implants, with neither material matching the real thing. (Read More)