title: Wet and dry techniques for structural fat graft harvesting:  histomorphometric and cell viability assessments of lipoaspirated samples.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autologous fat transplantation is among the surgical procedures performed most commonly by plastic surgeons for cosmetic and/or reconstructive purposes. In the procedure, autologous fat is harvested and infiltrated during the same operation, and the success of this procedure relies on harvesting and transferring viable adipocytes. This study was designed to assess the histomorphometric characteristics and viability of the lipoaspirated cells that were harvested through different techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study enrolled 65 patients undergoing lipofilling for reconstructive purposes. Subcutaneous fat samples were collected manually through the wet and dry techniques using a two-hole Coleman blunt cannula attached to a 10-cc Luer-Lok syringe. Fat tissue preservation was assessed through conventional histomorphometry and a cell viability assessment, evaluating the mitochondrial function through the MTS CellTiter 96 Aqueous One Solution Assay (Promega Corp., Madison, Wis.).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were observed between adipocyte samples harvested with or without tumescent solution. The morphometric analysis and adipocyte viability assessment confirmed the visual findings: the mean surface area and shape (circularity index) of the adipocytes were not significantly different in the lipoaspirate collected through the different techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results from the present study provide the first histologic evidence and cell viability assessment to demonstrate that there are no substantial differences in the adipose tissue specimens harvested with the wet and dry techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic, V.
authors.affiliation: Florence and Pisa, Italy From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive and the Department of Anatomy, Histology, and Forensic Medicine, Section of Histology, University of Florence, and the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hospital of Pisa.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Agostini
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lazzeri
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pini
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Li Quattrini
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bani
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dini
mesh_terms: D052438:Adipocytes, White / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D000328:Adult; D002470:Cell Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015187:Lipectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*