The viability of fatty tissues within adipose aspirates after conventional liposuction: a comprehensive study

This study was conducted to evaluate the viability of fatty tissues within adipose aspirates after conventional liposuction and to examine their potential role as a source of donor material for possible future autogenous fat grafting. Samples of adipose aspirates (group I, n = 8) were obtained from adult female patients who underwent a conventional liposuction of the abdomen. Samples of fresh fatty tissues obtained from adult female patients who underwent an abdominoplasty (group II, n = 8) were cut into small pieces and served as a control. All samples were spun at 50 x g for 10 minutes; fatty tissues were then collected from the middle layer after centrifugation for the following studies: trypan blue vital staining for viable fatty cell counts, glycerol-3-phophatase dehydrogenase (G3PDH) assay for functional evaluation of fatty tissues, and routine pathology for histology of fatty tissues. There was no significant difference of viable fatty cell counts in group I compared with group II (2.57 +/- 0.56 versus 2.74 +/- 0.59 x 10/mL, P = 0.56). G3PGH assay showed a marked decrease of the enzyme activity in group I compared with group II (0.34 +/- 0.13 versus 0.76 +/- 0.13 micro/mL, P < 0.0001). Histologically, the normal structure of fatty tissues was found primarily in both groups. Our results indicate that although fatty tissues within adipose aspirates after conventional liposuction maintain normal structure with near the same number of viable fatty cells compared with fresh ones, they have a less-than-optimal level of cellular function and may not survive well after they are transplanted.