Lipo Definition in Thighs: Volumizing and Defining the Vastus Muscles by Fat Transfer

Volumizing muscles in the thighs by fat grafting to complement body contouring surgeries has not been adequately investigated. Our objective was to describe a technique (VDVFAT) that defines and volumizes thigh muscles by lipotransfer in the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles.

VDVFAT was performed in 52 patients by the same surgeon at a private clinic in Lima, Peru, between 2018 and 2019. All patients were aged between 18 and 60 years, had no cutaneous flaccidity of the thighs, had a body mass index less than 28, and had Goldman surgical risk below Class II.

A total of 45 women aged 19-41 years (mean: 29.2 years) and seven men aged 24-41 years (mean: 33 years) were included. A mean of 173.36 cm³ of intramuscular fat was grafted to the vastus lateralis, resulting in increased muscle thickness of 21.09 mm, which is equivalent to 88.31% of the initial size of the muscle (P < 0.0001). An intramuscular fat mass of 123.53 cm³ was grafted into the vastus medialis, resulting in increased muscle thickness of 30 mm, which is equivalent to 87.02% of the initial size of the muscle (P < 0.0001).

Volumizing and defining the vastus muscles by fat transfer is a safe and reproducible method for defining and volumizing muscles. However, further studies are necessary to determine the durability of fat grafts.