David J. Gerth, MD Bethany King, MD Lesley Rabach, MD Robert A. Glasgold, MDMark J. Glasgold, MD
Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 34, Issue 7, 1 September 2014, Pages 985–994
Published: 01 September 2014
Abstract
Background
Some practitioners have criticized the unpredictable retention associated with autologous fat transfer. Potential causes of variations in predictability include intrinsic (patient-related) or extrinsic factors, such as harvesting, processing, and graft-delivery technique.
Objectives
The authors sought to determine the long-term retention of autologous fat graft processed with a closed-membrane filtration system, to compare this retention with centrifuge-processed fat, and to analyze factors that affect graft retention.
Methods
This was a prospective analysis of 26 female patients (representing 52 hemi-midfaces) who underwent autologous fat transfer to the midface via the closed-membrane filtration system. The Vectra 3D camera and software were employed for all photography, which was then analyzed to compare immediate preoperative images with long-term follow-up images (obtained at least 10 months postprocedure). The authors compared the findings with data from their previous study of centrifuge-processed fat grafts (historical controls).
Results
Mean values were as follows: age, 55 years; follow-up period, 17 months; amount of autologous fat injected, 8.88 mL; absolute volume augmentation measured at the last postoperative visit, 3.71 mL; and retention, 41.2%. Results of Welch’s t test, in which the membrane-filtration data were compared with the previous centrifuge data (31.8% long-term retention), showed a significant difference (P = .03). Retention in this study was significantly higher in patients younger than 55 years (53.0% vs 31% for older patients; P = .001) and lower in patients who underwent rhytidectomy (23.8% vs 47.6% for nonrhytidectomy patients; P < .001).
Conclusions
Autologous fat processed by closed-membrane filtration had a significantly higher long-term retention rate than did centrifuged-processed fat injected by the same surgeons.
Level of Evidence: 3