• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.527-530
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• 2022

Lupus panniculitis (LP) often presents with tender nodules and intermittent ulcers that then heal with scarring and lipoatrophy. The current mainstay of treatment is medical treatment. Research regarding the treatment of lipoatrophy from LP with autologous fat grafting is limited. We would like to share our experience in this rare case, which was treated with autologous fat transfer. A 48-year-old female presented with erythematous plaque, tender nodules, and ulcers following by a depression of the lesion at the left temporal area. The patient also had indurated erythematous plaque at her left cheek. Both lesions were aggravated by sunlight exposure. After several investigations, she was diagnosed as LP with secondary lipoatrophy and tumid lupus erythematosus at her left temporal and left cheek, respectively. She received antimalarial drug and topical steroids. The patient underwent two sessions of autologous fat transfer. She was satisfied with the volume and contour improvement in the scar following the injection of 8 and 3.7 mL of fat. Furthermore, the patient reported the remission of tender nodules and ulcers since the first fat graft injection. In conclusion, the autologous fat transfer is a simple and effective treatment for lipoatrophy and scar secondary to LP with promising results.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.143-149
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• 2015

Background Adipose tissue damage of cryopreserved fat after autologous fat transfer is inevitable in several processes of re-transplantation. This study aims to compare and analyze the survivability of adipocytes after thawing fat cryopreserved at $-20^{\circ}C$ by using thawing methods used in clinics. Methods The survival rates of adipocytes in the following thawing groups were measured: natural thawing at $25^{\circ}C$ for 15 minutes; natural thawing at $25^{\circ}C$ for 5 minutes, followed by rapid thawing at $37^{\circ}C$ in a water bath for 5 minutes; and rapid thawing at $37^{\circ}C$ for 10 minutes in a water bath. The survival rates of adipocytes were assessed by measuring the volume of the fat layer in the top layers separated after centrifugation, counting the number of live adipocytes after staining with trypan blue, and measuring the activity of mitochondria in the adipocytes. Results In the group with rapid thawing for 10 minutes in a water bath, it was observed that the cell count of live adipocytes and the activity of the adipocyte mitochondria were significantly higher than in the other two groups (P<0.05). The volume of the fat layer separated by centrifugation was also measured to be higher, which was, however, not statistically significant. Conclusions It was shown that the survival rate of adipocytes was higher when the frozen fat tissue was thawed rapidly at $37^{\circ}C$. It can thus be concluded that if fats thawed with this method are re-transplanted, the survival rate of cryopreserved fats in transplantation will be improved, and thus, the effect of autologous fat transfer will increase.

• Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
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• v.19
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• pp.553-563
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: Autologous fat grafting is one of the most common procedures used in plastic surgery to correct soft tissue deficiency or depression deformity. However, its clinical outcomes are often suboptimal, and lack of metabolic and architectural support at recipient sites affect fat survival leading to complications such as cyst formation, calcification. Extracellular matrix-based scaffolds, such as allograft adipose matrix (AAM) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA), have shown exceptional clinical promise as regenerative scaffolds. Magnesium hydroxide (MH), an alkaline ceramic, has attracted attention as a potential additive to improve biocompatibility. We attempted to combine fat graft with regenerative scaffolds and analyzed the changes and viability of injected fat graft in relation to the effects of injectable natural, and synthetic (PLGA/MH microsphere) biomaterials. METHODS: In vitro cell cytotoxicity, angiogenesis of the scaffolds, and wound healing were evaluated using human dermal fibroblast cells. Subcutaneous soft-tissue integration of harvested fat tissue was investigated in vivo in nude mouse with random fat transfer protocol Fat integrity and angiogenesis were identified by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In vitro cell cytotoxicity was not observed both in AAM and PLGA/MH with human dermal fibroblast. PLGA/MH and AAM showed excellent wound healing effect. In vivo, the AAM and PLGA/MH retained volume compared to that in the only fat group. And the PLGA/MH showed the highest angiogenesis and anti-inflammation. CONCLUSION: In this study, a comparison of the volume retention effect and angiogenic ability between autologous fat grafting, injectable natural, and synthetic biomaterials will provide a reasonable basis for fat grafting.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.532-543
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• 2015

Capsular contracture is the most common complication following implant based breast surgery and is one of the most common reasons for reoperation. Therefore, it is important to try and understand why this happens, and what can be done to reduce its incidence. A literature search using the MEDLINE database was conducted including search terms 'capsular contracture breast augmentation', 'capsular contracture pathogenesis', 'capsular contracture incidence', and 'capsular contracture management', which yielded 82 results which met inclusion criteria. Capsular contracture is caused by an excessive fibrotic reaction to a foreign body (the implant) and has an overall incidence of 10.6%. Risk factors that were identified included the use of smooth (vs. textured) implants, a subglandular (vs. submuscular) placement, use of a silicone (vs. saline) filled implant and previous radiotherapy to the breast. The standard management of capsular contracture is surgical via a capsulectomy or capsulotomy. Medical treatment using the off-label leukotriene receptor antagonist Zafirlukast has been reported to reduce severity and help prevent capsular contracture from forming, as has the use of acellular dermal matrices, botox and neopocket formation. However, nearly all therapeutic approaches are associated with a significant rate of recurrence. Capsular contracture is a multifactorial fibrotic process the precise cause of which is still unknown. The incidence of contracture developing is lower with the use of textured implants, submuscular placement and the use of polyurethane coated implants. Symptomatic capsular contracture is usually managed surgically, however recent research has focussed on preventing capsular contracture from occurring, or treating it with autologous fat transfer.