Autologous Fat Transfer in Lupus Panniculitis Facial Lipoatrophy

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Immunology
• Plastic Surgery

Background:

• Lupus panniculitis (LP) commonly causes tender nodules, ulcers, scarring, and lipoatrophy.
• Current LP treatments primarily focus on medical management.
• Limited research exists on treating LP-induced lipoatrophy with autologous fat grafting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of autologous fat transfer for treating lipoatrophy and scarring secondary to lupus panniculitis.

Main Methods:

• A case study of a 48-year-old female diagnosed with lupus panniculitis and secondary lipoatrophy.
• The patient received standard medical treatment (antimalarials, topical steroids).
• Two sessions of autologous fat transfer were performed to address lipoatrophy and scarring.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in scar volume and contour was achieved after fat transfer (8 and 3.7 mL).
• The patient experienced remission of tender nodules and ulcers following the initial fat graft.
• The patient reported high satisfaction with the cosmetic and therapeutic outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Autologous fat transfer presents a simple and effective therapeutic option for lipoatrophy and scarring in lupus panniculitis.
• The procedure demonstrated promising results, addressing both cosmetic deformities and active disease symptoms.
• Further research into fat grafting for LP complications is warranted.