CC BY-NC 4.0 · Arch Plast Surg 2014; 41(05): 588-593
DOI: 10.5999/aps.2014.41.5.588
Idea and Innovation

Lymphedema Fat Graft: An Ideal Filler for Facial Rejuvenation

Fabio Nicoli
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Villa Salaria Clinic, Rome, Italy
,
Ram M. Chilgar
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Stamatis Sapountzis
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Davide Lazzeri
Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Villa Salaria Clinic, Rome, Italy
,
Matthew Yeo Sze Wei
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Pedro Ciudad
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Marzia Nicoli
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Villa Salaria Clinic, Rome, Italy
Department of Immunology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy
,
Seong Yoon Lim
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Pei-Yu Chen
Department of Pathology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Joannis Constantinides
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, UK
,
Hung-Chi Chen
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
› Institutsangaben

Lymphedema is a chronic disorder characterized by lymph stasis in the subcutaneous tissue. Lymphatic fluid contains several components including hyaluronic acid and has many important properties. Over the past few years, significant research has been performed to identify an ideal tissue to implant as a filler. Because of its unique composition, fat harvested from the lymphedema tissue is an interesting topic for investigation and has significant potential for application as a filler, particularly in facial rejuvenation. Over a 36-month period, we treated and assessed 8 patients with lymphedematous limbs who concurrently underwent facial rejuvenation with lymphedema fat (LF). We conducted a pre- and post-operative satisfaction questionnaire survey and a histological assessment of the harvested LF fat. The overall mean general appearance score at an average of 6 months after the procedure was 7.2±0.5, demonstrating great improvement. Patients reported significant improvement in their skin texture with a reading of 8.5±0.7 and an improvement in their self-esteem. This study demonstrates that LF as an ideal autologous injectable filler is clinically applicable and easily available in patients with lymphedema. We recommend the further study and clinical use of this tissue as it exhibits important properties and qualities for future applications and research.

This paper was presented at the 24th International Society of Lymphology Conference on September 16-20, 2013, in Rome, Italy.




Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 17. März 2014

Angenommen: 14. Juni 2014

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
02. Juni 2022

© 2014. The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, permitting unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

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