Lipo Definition in Thighs: Volumizing and Defining the Vastus Muscles by Fat Transfer

Abstract

Background: Volumizing muscles in the thighs by fat grafting to complement body contouring surgeries has not been adequately investigated. Our objective was to describe a technique (VDVFAT) that defines and volumizes thigh muscles by lipotransfer in the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles. Methods: VDVFAT was performed in 52 patients by the same surgeon at a private clinic in Lima, Peru, between 2018 and 2019. All patients were aged between 18 and 60 years, had no cutaneous flaccidity of the thighs, had a body mass index less than 28, and had Goldman surgical risk below Class II. Results: A total of 45 women aged 19–41 years (mean: 29.2 years) and seven men aged 24–41 years (mean: 33 years) were included. A mean of 173.36 cm3 of intramuscular fat was grafted to the vastus lateralis, resulting in increased muscle thickness of 21.09 mm, which is equivalent to 88.31% of the initial size of the muscle (P < 0.0001). An intramuscular fat mass of 123.53 cm3 was grafted into the vastus medialis, resulting in increased muscle thickness of 30 mm, which is equivalent to 87.02% of the initial size of the muscle (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Volumizing and defining the vastus muscles by fat transfer is a safe and reproducible method for defining and volumizing muscles. However, further studies are necessary to determine the durability of fat grafts.

Echo-guided Lower-back Sculpture and Volumization as a Complement to High-definition Liposuction (XPINE-FAT)

“…Regarding vascularization of the ESMs, provided by branches of the intercostal and lumbar arteries, the vessels in this region have a smaller caliber; hence, the risk of injury and thromboembolism is lower. 10,28,29 During follow-up, no changes were observed in muscle function, deformities, or asymmetries in the muscle groups under treatment (Figs. 3-6).…”

“…Regarding vascularization of the ESMs, provided by branches of the intercostal and lumbar arteries, the vessels in this region have a smaller caliber; hence, the risk of injury and thromboembolism is lower. 10 , 28 , 29 …”

“…Regarding the above, there are several surgical techniques that allow fat to be grafted at a muscular level, such as in the upper limbs, where Hoyos and Perez 6 performed grafting in the deltoids and pectorals. Similar procedures include those by Matlock and Simopoulos 7 in the biceps and triceps; Viaro et al 8 , who performed grafting in the rectus abdominis through ultrasound guidance for the UGRAFT technique; Danilla 9 , who performed fat grafting in the rectus abdominis during lipoabdominoplasty using the RAFT technique; and Cipriani et al, 10 who described a fat grafting technique in the lower limbs called VDVFAT and used the FAT-TRAP technique in the trapezoids.…”

Intramuscular Posterior Thigh Volumization: An Aesthetic and Harmonious Transition to the Gluteal Region (Hv-FAT)

“…When enhancing the profile view, we should also aim at a harmonic transition between the hip and thigh (lower body profile), which can be achieved by extracting fat from this region or using the volumizing and defining vastus with intramascular fat grafting (VDVFAT) procedure for volumizing the upper vastus lateralis muscle. 13 In the lower body profile, we should aim at a harmonic transition between the gluteal region and the posterior thigh, for which we propose the Hv-FAT procedure (Figs. 5 and 6 ).…”

“…Fat grafting is being increasingly used to volumize muscle groups, especially as a complement to body contouring surgery, styling, and highlighting with liposuction results and few adverse events. [8][9][10][11][12][13][18][19][20][21] The results showed that the increase of the thickness in the immediate postoperative period is evident and 1-month follow-up ultrasound measurements highlighted a decrease in the muscle thickness in relation to the immediate postoperative period in all fat-grafted muscle groups (long head of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus muscles), bilaterally. Nevertheless, despite these results, the patients maintained a good distribution of muscle thickness 1 month after surgery, and this decrease is minimal when compared with the thickness initially obtained after fat grafting, which suggest that the results are possibly sustainable over time (Table 4).…”