[Historical review of the use of adipose tissue transfer in plastic and reconstructive surgery]

Use of adipose tissue transfer in plastic and reconstructive surgery is not new, and has been the subject of numerous studies. Transfer of autologous adipose tissue was reported for the first time at the end of the 19th century. Ideas and techniques have greatly changed during the last century. Adipocyte transfer has attracted renewed interest in recent years, due in particular to the development of Lipostructure by Coleman, who introduced a procedure based on strict methodology and the use of specific material. The history of adipose tissue transfer is retraced through the works of various authors and briefly recounted by highlighting the major landmarks of its advance. The evolution of ideas and techniques can be divided into three periods. The period before the introduction of lipoaspiration was termed "open surgery", when adipose tissue was harvested by surgical excision. The next period is that following the discovery of lipoaspiration, called the "unrefined" period, during which adipose tissue was obtained by aspiration and reinjected without preparation. During the third period, following the works of Coleman, the adipose tissue now undergoes non-traumatic refinement before grafting; this period is called "non-traumatic refined". Various studies have shown that this technique causes little damage to the cells and have demonstrated survival of the tissue transferred. Discovery of the developmental capacities of the various lineages from a mesodermal stem cell, and in vitro culture of these cells, opens up new research perspectives and clinical applications. From this precursor cell, adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, myocytes and neurone-like cells can be developed. The future of autologous reconstruction appears promising.