Injection of freshly collected autologous adipose tissue in complicated pilonidal disease: a prospective pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is a frequent disorder. Treatment failure and recurrence are common, leading to significant morbidity. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact and need for repeated treatment of injected autologous adipose tissue into non-healing PSD wounds and primary anal-near PSD or anal-near recurrence. METHODS: At the Department of Surgery, Randers Regional Hospital, Denmark, a prospective pilot study was conducted on consecutive PSD patients with lack of healing 3 months after surgery (Bascom's cleft lift) or with primary or recurrent anal-near pilonidal sinus disease from December 2018 to March 2020. The primary endpoint was time to healing. Autologous adipose tissue was harvested from the patients and injected into the lesions after surgical revision. Patients were examined 2 and 12 weeks after surgery. Patients with lack of healing after 12 weeks (undermining or no skin coverage) were offered re-injection. RESULTS: We included 30 patients [26 men and 4 women, median age 24 years (range 18-59 years)]. Complete healing was achieved in 25 patients [83.3%; 95% CI (69.9-96.7)]. Two patients had recurrence (6.7%). The median time to complete healing was 159 (189) days. The mean operation time was 70.6 ± 23.7 min and the mean amount of injected autologous adipose tissue was 19 ± 10 ml. There were no major complications. CONCLUSION: Freshly collected autologous adipose tissue injected into chronic non-healing or primary and recurrent PSD lesions near the anal verge is safe and efficient.

Tear Trough Ligament Release and Autologous Fat Injection as a New Method for Tear Trough Deformity Correction.

BACKGROUND: Even though the tear trough (TT) deformity is only 2 cm in length, it can give a worn, even haggard appearance on the face. The authors developed a novel approach and presented findings from the clinical effect. METHODS: Between February 2018 and January 2021, the medical records of patients treated with autologous fat injection for TT deformity were researched. The fat was placed under the orbicularis oculi muscle with a sharp cannula. During that period, the TT ligament was also released with the cannula. After the fat was injected entirely, we still needed to repeatedly puncture this ligament to release it until there was no puncture resistance. Improvement was evaluated by measuring patients' and investigators' global aesthetic improvement scale. RESULTS: 152 of 173 patients completed the follow-up plan and were enrolled in this study. The most common complications reported were temporary swelling and lumpiness. At 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months, the satisfaction rate of patient self-assessment was 93.4%, 89.5%, 86.8%, 84.3%, and 82.4%, respectively. The Investigator Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale showed 94.1% of patients' improvement after one month, 83.6% after three months, 78.3% after six months, 75% after 12 months, and 71.8% after 24 months. CONCLUSION: Fat injection based on TT ligament release to correct TT deformity is a novel, easy and effective treatment that deserves to be further used. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Superior Ophthalmic Vein Embolism Following Forehead Augmentation with Autologous Fat Injection.

BACKGROUND: Facial rejuvenation and reconstruction with autologous fat injection are a common and effective procedure used worldwide. Most surgeons and patients are satisfied with the favorable outcomes. However, catastrophic complications from arterial and venous occlusion resulting in visual loss and stroke may occur. CASE PRESENTATION: We herein report a case of isolated venous occlusion from fat embolism. The patient developed acute painful proptosis and blurred vision of her right eye while undergoing an esthetic autologous fat injection into her forehead. Based on her clinical manifestations and radiologic findings, the patient was diagnosed with superior ophthalmic vein occlusion. Symptomatic and supportive treatments were given. Spontaneous clinical improvement occurred without secondary complications. Therefore, the initially planned endovascular therapy with transfemoral transvenous embolectomy of the right superior ophthalmic vein was canceled. CONCLUSIONS: Facial augmentation with autologous fat injection can cause superior ophthalmic vein embolism. Surgeons should therefore perform this procedure very cautiously. Prompt ophthalmological evaluation and proper management are important for improving clinical outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

15 Years of Upper Eyelid Micro-fat Graft: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

This report is the product of investigation to review the result of Micro-fat graft (MFG) for upper eyelid rejuvenation compelled by Dr. Mark Codner and discusses the variety of suboptimal outcomes and rationale for their occurrence. METHODS: This retrospective review included 1047 patients who underwent upper eyelid rejuvenation between 2001 and 2016. RESULTS: The follow-up ranged from 3 to 190 months. Twenty-one patients were judged to have bad outcomes, and on four patients, the results were categorized as "ugly". These undesirable outcomes are categorized and discussed. CONCLUSION: This report documents a variety of poor outcomes and the rationale for their development over a long-term follow-up and discusses the way in which these can be minimized. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Personal Strategy to Avoid Fat Embolism During Fat Grafting: Brisk Withdrawal of Cannula While Injection.

INTRODUCTION: Complications of fat grafting by means of injection may lead to unwanted passage of substrate into vessel lumens resulting in catastrophic complications. Likewise, a similar trend of complications is observed with non-autologous fillers regardless of an almost generalized use of blunt cannulas, the latter being implicated in the majority of serious vascular complications of hyaluronic acid injection. This report is the product of investigation to review all cases that underwent an original technique of fat injection: "The smart fat injection" during the cannula's brisk withdrawal technique. The aim of this research was to document the safety of this technique by searching if fat embolism had occurred and if yes, its incidence in this group of fat injection surgeries. METHOD: This retrospective review included 3039 patients who underwent the smart fat injection at the facial or corporeal level between 2001 and 2019. The study focused on the search for complications linked to fat yet also cruorical embolism, as the latter may resemble the clinical symptoms of fat embolism. RESULTS: The assessment of the 3039 patients who underwent the smart fat injection during cannula's brisk withdrawal, resulted in none presenting clinically detectable fat or a cruorical embolism. CONCLUSION: This report documents the safety of the smart fat injection developed over a period of 22 years. It further explains the rationale of the technique for avoiding fat embolism while simultaneously enhancing fat take. This technique should not be implemented without appropriate in vitro training. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine Ratings, please refer to Table of Contents or online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Autologous fat grafting for the treatment of sclerotic lesions and scars.

INTRODUCTION: Microfat grafting is a well-known technique that is underutilized in dermatology. Instead of removing sclerotic tissue, microfat grafting preserves the tissue and uses stem cells for remodeling its structure into normal tissue. We performed a retrospective study of patients treated with microfat grafting for sclerotic and atrophic skin lesions and scars. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-two microfat grafts were performed using the Magalon technique under general anaesthesia for the treatment of sclerotic and atrophic skin lesions. We performed grafts for different indications, such as scars (n=55) and sclerotic and atrophic skin lesions (n=17: Parry-Romberg syndrome, morphea). The main outcome was assessed for satisfaction during follow-up. In addition, an independent committee judged the results based on photographs. RESULTS: Satisfaction levels (e.g. results were judged to be "good") were almost 91% (n=50/55) for scars and 100% (n=17/17) for atrophic and sclerotic skin lesions. Satisfaction levels according to the independent committee were 94.1% for sclerotic and atrophic lesions and nearly 51% for scars. CONCLUSION: Satisfaction was high after microfat grafting for atrophic and sclerotic skin lesions. Microfat grafting enabled restoration of the skin texture by exploiting stem cell properties. It is an efficient dermatological therapy for sclerotic and atrophic lesions, for which there are few alternative treatments.

Injection of freshly collected autologous adipose tissue into non-healing wounds after closed incision pilonidal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Chronic non-healing wounds are a major problem after closed incision pilonidal surgery. Freshly collected autologous adipose tissue injected into perianal fistulas in patients with Crohn's disease seems to promote healing. We investigated this technique in patients with non-healing wounds after cleft-lift surgery for pilonidal sinus disease (PSD). METHOD: In a prospective interventional pilot study conducted at our institution autologous adipose tissue from the abdominal wall was harvested, and injected into chronic non-healing PS wounds after surgical revision, healing rate being the primary outcome. The wounds were left open. Patients were followed every 2 to 3 weeks until complete healing (skin coverage, no undermining). RESULTS: 7 male patients were included (mean age 24 ± 0,6 SD years) and complete healing was achieved in 6 patients (86%). Median time to healing was 90 days (range 36-403 days ) and mean follow-up time was 388± 45 days. All patients reported major symptom relief shortly after the procedure. The mean operation time was 80 ± 23 minutes and the mean amount of freshly collected adipose tissue injected was 27.4± 12 ml. There were no complications. CONCLUSIONS: Freshly collected autologous adipose tissue injected into chronic non-healing pilonidal wounds seems safe and efficient.

Internal Carotid Artery Embolism After Autologous Fat Injection for Temporal Augmentation.

BACKGROUND: There have been several reports of patients experiencing cerebral embolisms following the injection of autologous fat into the face during cosmetic surgery. These embolisms likely resulted from unintentional introduction of fat particles into facial arteries, which then reached the cerebral arteries by retrograde motion. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe here a patient who developed an internal carotid artery (ICA) embolism after autologous fat injection for temporal augmentation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a pathologically proven ICA embolism after fat injection into the face. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the fat particles reached the cerebral arteries via a previously unknown pathway. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Effects of Stromal Vascular Fraction on Breast Cancer Growth and Fat Engraftment in NOD/SCID Mice.

BACKGROUND: To overcome unpredictable fat graft resorption, cell-assisted lipotransfer using stromal vascular fraction (SVF) has been introduced. However, its effect on cancer growth stimulation and its oncological safety are debatable. We investigated the effect of SVF on adjacent breast cancer and transplanted fat in a mouse model. METHODS: A breast cancer xenograft model was constructed by injecting 2 × 106 MDA-MB-231-luc breast cancer cells into the right lower back of 40 NOD/SCID mice. Two weeks later, cancer size was sorted according to signal density using an in vivo optical imaging system, and 36 mice were included. Human fat was extracted from the abdomen, and SVFs were isolated using a component isolator. The mice were divided into four groups: A, controls; B, injected with 30 µl SVF; C, injected with 0.5 ml fat and 30 µl saline; group D, injected with 0.5 ml fat and 30 µl SVF. Magnetic resonance imaging and three-dimensional micro-computed tomography volumetric analysis were performed at 4 and 8 weeks. RESULTS: Tumor volume was 43.6, 42.3, 48.7, and 42.4 mm3 at the initial time point and 6780, 5940, 6080, and 5570 mm3 at 8 weeks in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. Fat graft survival volume after 8 weeks was 49.32% and 62.03% in groups C and D, respectively. At 2-month follow-up after fat grafting in the xenograft model, SVF injection showed an increased fat survival rate and did not increase the adjacent tumor growth significantly. CONCLUSION: Fat grafting with SVF yields satisfactory outcome in patients who undergo breast reconstruction surgery. NO LEVEL ASSIGNED: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Autologous fat transfer with SEFFI (superficial enhanced fluid fat injection) technique in periocular reconstruction.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the aesthetic and functional outcomes of autologous fat transfer using the SEFFI (superficial enhanced fluid fat injection) technique for reconstruction of the periocular area. METHODS: Autologous fat injections prepared with the 0.5 mL and 0.8 mL SEFFI technique were used in four patients for periocular rehabilitation. RESULTS: Case 1 (C1): A patient with left-sided progressive facial hemiatrophy underwent ipsilateral volumizing with 0.8 SEFFI in the superior, temporal, and inferior periorbital areas, and 0.5 SEFFI in both eyelids. C2: A 21-year-old female with a post trauma frontal scar, left ptosis, and lower eyelid retraction was treated with 0.5 SEFFI applied in the scar area associated with an upper eyelid conjunctivomullerectomy and resection of the lower eyelid retractors. C3: A patient with previous left-eye evisceration and orbital floor and medial wall fractures underwent socket reconstruction with buccal mucosal graft in the lower fornix and 0.5 SEFFI injections in both superior and inferior eyelids. SEFFI was also applied in the intraorbital space for correction of the enophthalmos. C4: A patient with lower lid retraction post blepharoplasty was treated with 0.8 SEFFI injections in lower eyelids and malar areas, complemented with a bilateral lateral cantopexy. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous fat transfer with SEFFI technique is an effective and safe procedure in cases of periocular rehabilitation.

Segmental ischaemic infarction of the iris after autologous fat injection into the lower eyelid tissue: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Autologous fat injection is getting popular in cosmetic procedures, however, still has a risk of fat embolism. Herein, we report the first case of segmental ischaemic infarction of the iris, which occurred after autologous fat injection into the lower eyelid. CASE PRESENTATION: A 28-year-old Korean woman complained of the discolouration of the iris after the fat injection. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy revealed segmental depigmented atrophic iris with sectoral sphincter palsy. CONCLUSIONS: We found that iris atrophy could be caused by autologous fat transplantation. The plastic surgeons should pay more attention to possibility of fat embolism-induced ocular complications in the procedure of fat injection.

Transcervical fat injection laryngoplasty for unilateral vocal fold paralysis: an easy way to do the job.

Unilateral vocal fold paralysis resulting in glottic incompetence can cause impairment of laryngeal functions, including airway protection and phonation. The objective of this study is to present an easy new technique for harvesting and injection of abdominal fat into the vocal fold for patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis. This is a retrospective study of patients carried out on 16 patients suffering from unilateral vocal fold paralysis resulting from different etiologies. All patients were subjected to the protocol of voice assessment pre- and postoperatively. All patients were subjected to fat injection of the paralyzed vocal fold. There was a statistically significant difference between the pre- and postoperative grade of voice parameters. Vocal fold injection using fat medializes a paralyzed vocal fold by increasing vocal fold volume. Fat injections are safe and easily mastered; and in the absence of the standard settings for fat harvesting and injection, it could be performed with minimal equipment that are readily available in any operating room.

Massive Cerebral Infarction Following Facial Fat Injection.

BACKGROUND: Autologous facial fat injection is becoming popular around the world. Semiliquid fat grafts are used for correction of deformities or aesthetic purposes. Fat transfer is a mini-invasive surgical procedure, but causes severe complications occasionally. METHODS: A 30-year-old female patient presented to our hospital with sudden unconsciousness and left limb weakness 8 h after facial fat injection. Brain arteriography (CTA) and venography were performed immediately after her admission. Frontal temporoparietal decompressive craniectomy plus multiple treatments was scheduled for the patient. RESULTS: The patient was diagnosed with extensive cerebral infarction of the right hemisphere. CTA showed that both external and internal carotid arteries were obstructed. A sectional filling defect could be seen at the telecentric segment of the right carotid artery. No development was observed during the full course of the treatment at the carotid bifurcation, external carotid artery, or internal carotid artery. CONCLUSION: Routine cosmetic procedures of facial fat injections could cause devastating and even fatal complications to patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the A5 online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Periorbital Lipogranuloma Following Facial Autologous Fat Injections: Non-surgical Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Periorbital lipogranuloma following autologous fat injection into the forehead for cosmetic facial augmentation is a recently described adverse outcome. Patients have typically been treated with surgical excision. This study evaluates the clinical characteristics of periorbital lipogranulomas, and the non-surgical treatment outcomes of these patients. METHODS: This is a noncomparative, interventional case series. A retrospective analysis of clinical data and radiographic images was performed of patients with periorbital lipogranuloma following autologous fat injection. Objective treatment outcomes after intralesional triamcinolone injection and/or oral prednisolone were evaluated by measuring the size of the lipogranulomas pre- and post-treatment. Cosmetic outcomes were also assessed by the subjective satisfaction at the last visit. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients were identified with periorbital lipogranuloma following facial autologous fat injection. All patients were female, the mean age was 40 ± 10 years, and 19 patients received cryopreserved fat. Twenty-one patients underwent non-surgical corticosteroid treatment. 'Resolution' was achieved in 15 patients (71%), and 'Partial Resolution' was achieved in 5 patients (24%). One patient (5%) who took oral prednisone alone showed 'No Response'. Cosmetic outcomes were classified as 'Very Satisfied' in 16 patients (76%), 'Satisfied' in 4 patients (19%), and 'Dissatisfied' in 1 patient (5%) after corticosteroid treatment. CONCLUSION: Periorbital lipogranuloma following autologous fat injection may be diagnosed by history, physical exam, and orbital imaging. Non-surgical corticosteroid treatments showed a good response with few adverse effects and should be considered as a first line of treatment of periorbital granulomas prior to conducting surgical excision. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Dystrophic calcifications after autologous fat injection on face.

Autologous fat injection is widely used procedure for various functional and aesthetic purposes. However, it could result in many immediate or delayed complications including dystrophic calcifications. Almost all of the case reports about dystrophic calcification after autologous fat injection were result from the iatrogenic tissue trauma of breast augmentation. This is a report of a 30-year-old patient who developed pathologically proven multiple dystrophic calcifications on the face after autologous fat injection.

Internal and external carotid artery embolism following facial injection of autologous fat.

Autologous fat injection is a common aesthetic procedure for soft-tissue augmentation of the face. Although this procedure is generally regarded as safe, several patients have experienced acute visual loss or cerebral infarction after these injections. We describe a case of internal and external carotid artery fat embolism that occurred following injection of autologous fat into the face. It appeared that the injected fat entered a branch of the left external carotid artery and that the embolus likely migrated into the left internal carotid artery and distally into the left ophthalmic artery, left anterior artery, and middle cerebral artery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 5:

Long-term volumetric retention of autologous fat grafting processed with closed-membrane filtration.

BACKGROUND: Some practitioners have criticized the unpredictable retention associated with autologous fat transfer. Potential causes of variations in predictability include intrinsic (patient-related) or extrinsic factors, such as harvesting, processing, and graft-delivery technique. OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to determine the long-term retention of autologous fat graft processed with a closed-membrane filtration system, to compare this retention with centrifuge-processed fat, and to analyze factors that affect graft retention. METHODS: This was a prospective analysis of 26 female patients (representing 52 hemi-midfaces) who underwent autologous fat transfer to the midface via the closed-membrane filtration system. The Vectra 3D camera and software were employed for all photography, which was then analyzed to compare immediate preoperative images with long-term follow-up images (obtained at least 10 months postprocedure). The authors compared the findings with data from their previous study of centrifuge-processed fat grafts (historical controls). RESULTS: Mean values were as follows: age, 55 years; follow-up period, 17 months; amount of autologous fat injected, 8.88 mL; absolute volume augmentation measured at the last postoperative visit, 3.71 mL; and retention, 41.2%. Results of Welch's t test, in which the membrane-filtration data were compared with the previous centrifuge data (31.8% long-term retention), showed a significant difference (P=.03). Retention in this study was significantly higher in patients younger than 55 years (53.0% vs 31% for older patients; P=.001) and lower in patients who underwent rhytidectomy (23.8% vs 47.6% for nonrhytidectomy patients; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Autologous fat processed by closed-membrane filtration had a significantly higher long-term retention rate than did centrifuged-processed fat injected by the same surgeons. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Comparison the Effect of Conventional and Nanofat Injection Methods on Nasolabial Fold Lipofilling: A Case- Control Study.

Background: Nasolabial folds are a common sign of aging, accompanied by various manifestations such as skin and tissue loosening, wrinkles, lip corner drooping, mandibular angle loss, platysmal bands, and skin pigmentation changes. Limited research has explored Nanofat injection methods. this study was done with the aim of comparing the effect of fat injection by two methods, conventional and Nanofat, in nasolabial folds. Method: The study conducted in 2020-2021 at the skin clinic in Ilam, western Iran was a case-control study. Participants were divided into two groups, and lipofilling procedures were performed using conventional and nanofat methods with autologous fat. Data collection utilized a researcher-made questionnaire and radiographic results. Follow-up visits occurred on the 30th, 90th, and 180th days to assess complications and recovery rates. After 6 months, participant's photographs were taken and compared with pre-intervention photographs using the GIAS criteria. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS22 version software. Results: The average age of the participants was 37.80±8.30 yr. The treatment response in the conventional fat injection group was significantly better than the nanofat group (P<0.05). Both groups were satisfied with the treatment methods, but high satisfaction was reported in the conventional group, but there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: Both methods of improving wrinkles were effective, but the improvement and response to treatment in the conventional method was better than the Nanofat method, and its effect was felt by the participants for an average period of 3 months.

New autologous fat implantation technique for face lifting: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Autologous fat injection techniques are specially performed to restore the lack of face volume. AIM: However, no reports have focused on the effect of sides of injection on the sagging appearance improvements and facial lifting. This study aimed to evaluate face lifting using the autologous fat injection in to sides of the face as a new technique. METHODS: Ten patients with aging face were involved in this study. The procedure was done in an anaerobic method. To improve the method, to make patients more satisfied and gain better cosmetic outcomes autologous fat was injected on the sides of the face. To give a lifting effect to the face, the fat was injected on the hairline in the temple area, next to the ear, the angel of the jaw and the angel of the mandible leaning behind the ear to cause face lift. The patients were appraised clinically and photographically. RESULTS: The results showed that this autologous fat injection technique has significant improvement in face lifting. CONCLUSION: This new fat injection technique in sides of the face can create superior results on face lifting without any adverse side effects.