Autologous Fat Transfer in Craniofacial Surgery

Abstract

Over the past two decades, autologous fat transfer has garnered significant recognition and widespread adoption within esthetic and reconstructive surgical domains. In craniofacial surgery, fat transplantation is frequently employed to address soft tissue volumetric deficiencies and asymmetries that influence facial contours. While adipose tissue (AT) is widely regarded as an optimal choice for augmentation due to its abundant availability and biocompatibility, the unpredictability and heightened resorption rates observed with traditional lipofilling techniques present a challenge for clinicians. Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) housed within the grafted tissue play a pivotal role in graft survival and offer avenues for tissue repair due to their angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and immunosuppressive properties. Micro Fragmentation of Adipose Tissue (MFAT), utilized in several FDA-approved processing devices, has demonstrated promising outcomes in treating osteoarthritic joints, with success primarily attributed to enhanced paracrine function of ASCs via preservation of the perivascular niche. Currently, its application for treating bone or articular defects in the craniofacial region, including abnormalities of the temporomandibular joint, remains limited. This scarcity underscores the need for further investigation prior to its widespread integration into clinical practice.