Postoperative Intermittent Fasting Improves Outcome of Autologous Fat Grafting in Mice

Autologous fat grafting confronts challenges of inconsistent retention and complications. Intermittent fasting (IF), an emerging dietary management strategy, shows potential in tissue repair and fat metabolism, and yet to know in fat grafting.

The aim of this study is to address the impact of 16:8 IF on the outcome of fat grafting in mice.

Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to postoperative IF regimen group (n = 24) and ad libitum group with unrestricted feeding (n = 24). For postoperative IF group, animals were put on a feeding schedule with 8 hours of unrestricted access to standard diet per day followed by 16-h fasting period after fat grafting. Fat grafts were harvested at 2, 4 and 12 weeks postoperatively. We addressed the mass retention and graft quality through weighting and ultrasound examination. Histological remodeling of fat grafts was evaluated by Masson staining and immunofluorescence staining.

In comparison with unrestricted feeding, postoperative IF strategies improved the mass retention of fat grafts, and optimized the outcomes characterized by enhanced adipogenesis, accelerated revascularization, facilitated M2 macrophage infiltration as well as reduced fibrosis and oil cyst formation.

Postoperative IF improved the retention and outcomes of fat grafting in mice, and could be suggested as a dietary intervention strategy after fat grafting clinically.

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