title: The Facial Adipose Tissue: A Revision.
abstract: Recent advantages in the anatomical understanding of the face have turned the focus toward the subcutaneous and deep facial fat compartments. During facial aging, these fat-filled compartments undergo substantial changes along with other structures in the face. Soft tissue filler and fat grafting are valid methods to fight the signs of facial aging, but little is known about their precise effect on the facial fat. This narrative review summarizes the current knowledge about the facial fat compartments in terms of anatomical location, histologic appearance, immune-histochemical characteristics, cellular interactions, and therapeutic options. Three different types of facial adipose tissue can be identified, which are located either superficially (dermal white adipose tissue) or deep (subcutaneous white adipose tissue): fibrous (perioral locations), structural (major parts of the midface), and deposit (buccal fat pad and deep temporal fat pad). These various fat types differ in the size of the adipocytes and the collagenous composition of their extracellular matrix and thus in their mechanical properties. Minimal invasive (e.g., soft tissue fillers or fat grafting) and surgical interventions aiming to restore the youthful face have to account for the different fat properties in various facial areas. However, little is known about the macro- and microscopic characteristics of the facial fat tissue in different compartments and future studies are needed to reveal new insights to better understand the process of aging and how to fight its signs best.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Department, Wellcomet GmbH, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Ilja
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kruglikov
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Trujillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Ross University School of Medicine, Roseau, West Indies.
authors.forename: Quick
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Kristen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Ross University School of Medicine, Roseau, West Indies.
authors.forename: Kerelos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isac
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Ross University School of Medicine, Roseau, West Indies.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zorko
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Ross University School of Medicine, Roseau, West Indies.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fam
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Ross University School of Medicine, Roseau, West Indies.
authors.forename: Kasie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okonkwo
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Ross University School of Medicine, Roseau, West Indies.
authors.forename: Asima
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mian
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Ross University School of Medicine, Roseau, West Indies.
authors.forename: Hyunh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thanh
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Konstantin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koban
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Sclafani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Hanno
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Steinke
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Ross University School of Medicine, Roseau, West Indies.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cotofana
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D000375:Aging; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D000067548:Dermal Fillers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry*; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000067548:Dermal Fillers; D014867:Water; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D003094:Collagen