Free fat transplantation for facial tissue augmentation

Purpose: This article reviews the lipofilling technique using a fat tissue suspension obtained by manual or vacuum machine-assisted suction. Patients and Methods: Between 1989 and 1997 14 patients were treated by lipofilling. All patients were female; 6 were treated for cheek and zygomatic area augmentation for Romberg syndrome (2 cases) and bilateral facial lipodystrophy (4 cases); 4 were treated for nasolabial fold correction, 3 for lip augmentation, and 1 for correction of systemic lupus erythematosus (LES) scars. Results: Good results were obtained in the treatment of the moderate Romberg syndrome case, with 3 stages of fat tissue transplantation from the abdominal area, in the severe Romberg syndrome case that was treated with 3 stages of lipofilling after a primary surgical procedure consisting of augmentation of the zygomatic region using a composite temporal flap of calvaria bone and temporal muscle, in the 4 cases of bilateral facial lipodistrophy, and in the 4 cases of nasolabial fold correction with 3 to 4 stages of lipofilling. Poor results were obtained in lip augmentation, and bad results were obtained in correction of the LES scars. Conclusions: Using the lipofilling technique with cannulas of 3 to 4 mm in diameter and low-power manual aspiration to preserve the integrity of the fat cells, good results were achieved in 10 of the 14 patients treated. The poor results occurred in areas of reduced vascularity and high motility.