Autologous fat grafting for correction of unaesthetic scars

Autologous fat grafting has many clinical applications, and its use in Plastic Surgery is increasing. Currently, autologous fat grafts are used in breast surgery, facial rejuvenation, and facial lipoatrophy secondary to antiretroviral therapy and as a treatment for liposuction sequelae, buttock augmentation, and congenital facial hemiatrophy. Their use is expanding rapidly, and their applications in other fields are an ever growing interest within the Plastic Surgery community.

To introduce a new application of lipoinjection for the correction of unaesthetic, retracted, or sunken scars.

The study consisted of a total of 8 patients (6 women and 2 men), with a mean age of 47 years old, all of whom presented retractile and dystrophic scars in the abdomen (n = 3), arm (n = 1), male breast (n = 1), and face (n = 3). They all received treatment with a fat injection using Coleman technique. General anesthesia was used in 3 patients; deep intravenous sedation plus local anesthesia was used in the remaining 5 patients. A COL-ASP15 cannula was used to harvest the fat and a blunt-tipped COL-19 cannula (Byron Medical) to release the fibrosis and retraction, and for the fat grafting injection. A 4-grade visual scale was use to evaluate the results.

An improvement in the scar was achieved in all patients. One operation was required in 5 cases, and 2 operations in 3 cases. There were no complications in any patient and the results were lasting in all cases (the mean follow-up period was of 18 months).

Autologous fat grafting is a good method for correction of retracted or sunken scars instead of the traditional scar surgical excision.