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Fat Graft Size: Relationship Between Cannula and Needle Diameters
Oscar A Vazquez1, Moses I Markowitz2, Hilton Becker1
1Surgery, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, USA.
Cureus
|May 14, 2020
Summary
Harvesting fat grafts with larger cannulas and then reducing particle size for injection may improve fat graft survival. Smaller cannula openings yield smaller fat particles but make harvesting more difficult.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Regenerative Medicine
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Fat graft survival is crucial for successful outcomes.
- Trauma to fat grafts is believed to be detrimental.
- Smaller fat particle size generally correlates with improved graft survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cannula size, harvested fat particle size, and injection needle size.
- To explore methods for reducing fat particle size after aspiration with larger cannulas.
Main Methods:
- Fat was harvested from five patients via liposuction.
- Harvested fat was injected through progressively smaller needles to determine obstruction limits.
- Minimal needle size for each fat sample was recorded.
Main Results:
- Fat particle size is directly related to the liposuction cannula diameter.
- Particles from 3- and 4-mm cannulas passed through a 16-gauge needle.
- Particles from 1-mm cannulas passed through a 20-gauge needle but not a 22-gauge needle.
Conclusions:
- A direct relationship exists between cannula opening size and resulting fat graft size.
- Fat particles are compressible but should not be forced through excessively narrow needles.
- Harvesting with larger cannulas and subsequently reducing particle size may enhance fat graft outcomes.
