A more scientific approach to structural fat grafting.
Structural fat grafting has been considered as a valid option for soft-tissue augmentation in cosmetic surgery.  However, its result has often been considered poor or unpredictable and is largely surgeon dependent. Less desirable outcome after  fat grafting is probably due to lack of "good" surgical technique. In order to help plastic surgeons to gain more insight to this valid fat  grafting technique, the author conducted a critical review of the current literature in this subject. To better address the findings of the  study, the fat grafting technique was arbitrarily classified into 4 essential steps to determine how the donor sites should be selected  and how the fat grafts should be harvested, processed, and placed. It becomes clear that several basics in an established fat grafting  technique have gained much of scientific support and should be followed in order to achieve an optimal outcome for our patients.  These basics include the proper selection of donor sites, to harvest fat grafts with an atraumatic technique, to process fat grafts with  centrifugation in an appropriate setting, and to place fat grafts with a unique fashion.
Division of Plastic Surgery, University of California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. lee.pu@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Li Qun
LQ
Pu
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000379:methods*; D019737:Transplants