Lipotransfer as an adjunct in head and neck reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE
To present our technique of lipotransfer and to evaluate a single center's experience in the use of lipotransfer as an adjunct to head and neck reconstruction.


METHODS
A retrospective review of all patients undergoing lipotransfer over a 5-year period by the senior author was undertaken. A total of 23 patients with a minimum follow-up of 1 year were available for analysis.


METHODS
Patient records were retrospectively reviewed to assess functional (in the case of palate augmentation) and esthetic outcomes.


RESULTS
Twenty-three patients undergoing lipotransfer as part of their reconstructive effort included (1) eight patients undergoing temporal fossa augmentation following temporalis muscle flap reconstruction for extirpative skull base surgery, (2) six patients undergoing facial defect augmentation following traumatic atrophy, (3) three patients undergoing palatal augmentation for correction of velopharyngeal insufficiency, and (4) six patients undergoing soft tissue augmentation following flap reconstruction of the face. Twenty of the 23 patients had excellent maintenance of graft volume. An adequately vascularized recipient bed appears to be an important factor in determining ultimate graft survival using our technique.


CONCLUSIONS
Lipotransfer of the head and neck represents a simple, effective adjunctive technique providing for large amounts of readily available, well-tolerated soft tissue filler material. Patient selection is important, specifically in regard to determining that there is adequate vascularity of the recipient bed.
Ducic
Yadranko
Y
Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Univresity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA. yducicj@aol.com
Pontius
Allison T
AT
Smith
Jesse E
JE
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D000328:Adult; D004954:Esthetics; D005145:Face / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015187:Lipectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D010159:Palate / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting