title: Improving fat graft survival through preconditioning of the recipient site with microneedling.
abstract: Although fat grafts are considered the ideal soft-tissue fillers, the main concern dealing with this technique is not being able to predict long-term graft survival due to high absorption rates. The purpose of this study was to investigate the angiogenic effects of preconditioning the recipient area with micro-needling and to determine its overall impact on fat graft survival. The study consisted of a sham, control and study group. The source of fat was the Wistar albino rat inguinal fat pad while the recipient area was a dorsal subcutaneous pouch. The dorsal area was preconditioned with standard technique micro-needling 1-week prior to fat graft transfer in the study group while the control group did not undergo micro-needling. At the end of 15 weeks, morphological, biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical evaluation was carried out. Fat grafts in the study group had better integrity and a higher level of vascularity compared to the control group. Volume analysis demonstrated higher graft survival in the study group in comparison to the control group. Histomorphometric and immunohistochemical evaluation showed better graft integrity and uniform adipocytes, less fibrosis, less vacuolisation and inflammation and better vascularisation in the study group. Although higher triglyceride concentrations were measured for the study group, the difference between the two groups was statistically insignificant. In conclusion, fat grafting performed in an area preconditioned with micro-needling results in higher graft volume, better integrity and vascularisation and an overall higher graft survival rate.
authors: Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Erzurum, Turkey. Electronic address: billursezgin@hotmail.com.
authors: Billur
authors: B
authors: Sezgin
authors: Gazi University Hospital, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Selahattin
authors: S
authors: Ozmen
authors: Numune Research and Training Hospital, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Hakan
authors: H
authors: Bulam
authors: Gazi University Hospital, Department of Histology and Embryology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Suna
authors: S
authors: Omeroglu
authors: Gazi University Hospital, Department of Biochemistry, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Seher
authors: S
authors: Yuksel
authors: Gazi University Hospital, Department of Biochemistry, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Banu
authors: B
authors: Cayci
authors: Gazi University Hospital, Department of Anatomy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Tuncay
authors: T
authors: Peker
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D000818:Animals; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006085:Graft Survival; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014180:Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: Adipose tissue; Fat graft survival; Fat grafting; Micro-needling; Microporation; Percutaneous collagen induction; Preconditioning