Overview of major considerations in fat grafting: from harvesting to placement in the recipient site
| Stage | Key issues | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Donor selection | Donor age | Younger donors may have higher proliferation rates and regenerative potential |
| Donor sex | Potential hormonal influences affecting adipose tissue-derived stem cell (ASC) functionality | |
| Donor health status | Conditions like obesity, diabetes, and systemic inflammation can impair ASC functionality | |
| Anatomical site of fat harvesting | Variability in cellular composition, vascularity, and stem cell content based on the harvest site | |
| Fat harvesting | Technique | Methods such as liposuction technique (manual vs. power-assisted) can impact cell viability |
| Harvest site | Different body areas may yield varying quality and quantity of ASCs | |
| Processing | Isolation of ASCs | Techniques for isolating ASCs from fat can affect the viability and functionality of the cells |
| Purification methods | Methods like centrifugation or filtration can influence the quality of the graft | |
| Additives and enhancements | Use of growth factors, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), or other additives to improve graft outcomes | |
| Graft preparation | Volume of fat | The amount of fat prepared for grafting can impact integration and survival |
| Cell concentration | The optimal concentration of ASCs within the graft is crucial for success | |
| Placement technique | Injection technique | The method of injecting fat (e.g., microdroplet, linear threading) affects distribution and survival |
| Layering and integration strategy | Proper layering techniques to promote vascularization and integration | |
| Postoperative care | Monitoring and follow-up | Regular monitoring to assess graft survival and integration |
| Management of complications | Addressing issues such as fat necrosis, cyst formation, and infection | |
| Optimization of patient health | Ensuring optimal patient health to support graft survival and integration | |
| Long-term outcomes | Graft retention rates | Variability in retention rates ranging from 10% to 80% within the first year |
| Assessment of functional and aesthetic results | Evaluating both the functional improvement and aesthetic enhancement over time | |
| Impact of donor-related factors | Long-term studies on how donor characteristics influence outcomes |