Long-term clinical outcomes of fat grafting by low-pressure aspiration and slow centrifugation (Lopasce technique) for different indications

Abstract

Autologous fat grafts have been used successfully for structural fat grafting in facial, lip, and hand rejuvenation, body contour improvement, and traumatic defect restoration. The purposes of this study were to define a new fat graft harvesting and processing technique, which is named the “Lopasce technique” (low-pressure aspiration and slow centrifugation technique), and to evaluate the late clinical outcomes of fat grafting by this technique for different indications. A retrospective study was performed using the medical records of 21 patients (17 women and four men). The mean injected fat volume was 33.2 ± 34 cc (range 6–125 cc). The mean follow-up period was 13.2 ± 5.6 months (range 6–26 months). Postoperative results were evaluated by subjective and objective methods. In the subjective evaluation, 19 patients stated that there had been little resorption and that it was not necessary to repeat the fat grafting, one patient reported that the fat was resorbed in part, and one patient reported that the fat was resorbed completely. In the objective evaluation, the amount of fat graft taken in the recipient sites was between 60%–80% (average 70%) when compared with preoperative and late postoperative photographs of the patients at the 6- and 26-month follow-ups. Fat grafting is a simple, effective, and reproducible technique with a high satisfaction rate and few disadvantages or complications. We consider that structural fat grafting with the lopasce technique is an easy, effective, and long-lasting treatment for correction of congenital or acquired defects associated with various medical conditions.

Key Words::

• Plastic surgery
• trauma
• fat graft
• Lopasce technique
• low pressure aspiration
• slow centrifugation