Fat Transfer

Scottsdale – How does facial fat grafting work? Currently, there are three major theories describing fat graft survival.

On the one hand, researchers have proposed the host cell replacement theory.

This theory states the body’s one scavenger cells, living at the face, eat away the fat injection cells and fat molecules to become fat cells themselves. Thus, the fat graft is replaced by host cells. This theory is not supported today as much as it was in the past.

A second theory is called the cell survival theory.

In this theory, the oxygen and nutritional circulation is restored to the injected fat cells in a manner similar to the revascularization of a skin graft. Most plastic surgeons believe in the cell survival theory. New blood vessels can be seen in the fat graft as early as 4 days after plastic surgery.

A third theory suggests that adipose derived stem cells repopulate the fat grafts.

Some researchers have proposed that fat harvest cells (after these are injected) are destroyed and it is the adipose derived stem cells carried along with the fat cells that repopulate the facial areas. Some protocols for fat grafting preparation are designed to destroy mature fat cells, which allows the separation and harvest of the youthful fat cells and stem cells. These are then injected in the desired location.

What’s the bottom line with this type of facial plastic surgery?

For facial fat grafting, a combination of all three theories probably is the underlying mechanism of fat cell graft survival. Theory #2 and #3, I believe contribute the most. More research involving stem cells will hopefully clarify just how exactly all this works. Fat grafting has a variety of applications including Brazilian butt lift, facial rejuvenation and lipofilling.