Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Adipocyte and preadipocyte viability in autologous fat grafts: comparing the water jet-assisted liposuction (WAL) and Coleman techniques

  • Experimental Study
  • Published:
European Journal of Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Autologous fat transplantation is a promising technique for soft tissue augmentation. However, the long-term maintenance of fat grafts remains unpredictable. Based on Peer’s cell theory, techniques that cause less cellular damage will optimize graft integration. Water jet-assisted liposuction (WAL) was introduced as a gentle and efficient technique for harvesting a large volume of fat in a short period of time. In this study, we evaluated the viability and function of adipocytes and preadipocytes harvested using WAL and compared this with the Coleman technique.

Methods

Eleven patients were enrolled in this study. Fat grafts were harvested using WAL from one limb and the Coleman technique from the other limb. The lipoaspirates were compared based on the following analyses: trypan blue vital staining for viable adipocyte and preadipocyte counts, glycerol-3-phophatase dehydrogenase assay for adipocyte function, histological examination, and speed of fat harvest.

Results

Viable adipocyte and preadipocyte counts were significantly higher in the Coleman group. The level of G3PDH activity was also significantly higher in the Coleman group, indicating that adipocytes within the harvested fat have improved cellular function. Histological findings were comparable between the two techniques, showing mild to moderate architectural disruption and adipocyte degeneration, with no evidence of tissue necrosis. Time taken for fat aspiration was significantly shorter using WAL.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that the Coleman technique yields a greater number of viable adipocytes and preadipocytes. Although the histologic structure of fat grafts was comparable between the two techniques, the cellular function of adipocytes was higher for fat grafts harvested using the Coleman technique. Nonetheless, for cases where large volume of fat graft is required, the WAL technique may be preferred for its efficiency in fat harvesting.

Level of Evidence: Not ratable

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Illouz YG (1986) The fat cell “graft”: a new technique to fill depressions [letter]. Plast Reconstr Surg 78(1):122–123

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Chajchir A, Benzaquen I (1989) Fat-grafting injection for soft-tissue augmentation. Plast Reconstr Surg 84:921–934, discussion 935

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Pinski KS, Roenigk HHJ (1992) Autologous fat transplantation. Long-term follow-up. J Dermatol Surg Oncol 18:179–184

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Niechajev I, Sevcuk O (1994) Long-term results of fat transplantation: clinical and histologic studies. Plast Reconstr Surg 94:496–506

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Peer LA (1955) Cell survival theory versus replacement theory. Plast Reconstr Surg 16:161–168

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Coleman SR (2006) Structural fat grafting: more than a permanent filler. Plast Reconstr Surg 118:108S–120S

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Pu LL, Coleman SR, Cui X, Ferguson REJ, Vasconez HC (2008) Autologous fat grafts harvested and refined by the Coleman technique: a comparative study. Plast Reconstr Surg 122:932–937

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Gonzalez AM, Lobocki C, Kelly CP, Jackson IT (2007) An alternative method for harvest and processing fat grafts: an in vitro study of cell viability and survival. Plast Reconstr Surg 120:285–294

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Smith P, Adams WPJ, Lipschitz AH et al (2006) Autologous human fat grafting: effect of harvesting and preparation techniques on adipocyte graft survival. Plast Reconstr Surg 117:1836–1844

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Shiffman MA, Mirrafati S (2001) Fat transfer techniques: the effect of harvest and transfer methods on adipocyte viability and review of the literature. Dermatol Surg 27:819–826

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Stutz JJ, Krahl D (2009) Water jet-assisted liposuction for patients with lipoedema: histologic and immunohistologic analysis of the aspirates of 30 lipoedema patients. Aesthetic Plast Surg 33:153–162

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Sasaki GH (2011) Water-assisted liposuction for body contouring and lipoharvesting: safety and efficacy in 41 consecutive patients. Aesthet Surg J 31:76–88

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Ueberreiter K, von Finckenstein JG, Cromme F, Herold C, Tanzella U, Vogt PM (2010) [BEAULI—a new and easy method for large-volume fat grafts]. Handchir Mikrochir Plast Chir 42:379–385

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Keck M, Janke J, Ueberreiter K (2009) Viability of preadipocytes in vitro: the influence of local anesthetics and pH. Dermatol Surg 35:1251–1257

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Neuber GA (1893) Verhandlungen der Deutschen Gesellschaftfür. Chirurgie 1:66

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kuri-Harcuch W, Green H (1977) Increasing activity of enzymes on pathway of triacylglycerol synthesis during adipose conversion of 3 T3 cells. J Biol Chem 252(6):2158–2160

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Bjorntorp P, Karlsson M, Pettersson P, Sypniewska G (1980) Differentiation and function of rat adipocyte precursor cells in primary culture. J Lipid Res 21:714–723

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. von Heimburg D, Zachariah S, Heschel I et al (2001) Human preadipocytes seeded on freeze-dried collagen scaffolds investigated in vitro and in vivo. Biomaterials 22:429–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. von Heimburg D, Kuberka M, Rendchen R, Hemmrich K, Rau G, Pallua N (2003) Preadipocyte-loaded collagen scaffolds with enlarged pore size for improved soft tissue engineering. Int J Artif Organs 26:1064–1076

    Google Scholar 

  20. Dominici M, Le Blanc K, Mueller I et al (2006) Minimal criteria for defining multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells: The International Society for Cellular Therapy position statement. Cytotherapy 8:315–317

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Conde-Green A, Baptista LS, de Amorin NF et al (2010) Effects of centrifugation on cell composition and viability of aspirated adipose tissue processed for transplantation. Aesthet Surg J 30:249–255

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Botti G, Pascali M, Botti C, Bodog F, Cervelli V (2011) A clinical trial in facial fat grafting: filtered and washed versus centrifuged fat. Plast Reconstr Surg 127:2464–2473

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Rohrich RJ, Sorokin ES, Brown SA (2004) In search of improved fat transfer viability: a quantitative analysis of the role of centrifugation and harvest site. Plast Reconstr Surg 113:391–395, discussion 396–7

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

Hui-Ling Chia, Evan Woo, Yong-Chen Por, Dong-Rui Ma, Kenneth Chang, James Mok, Jonah Kua, Vincent Yeow declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

KK Hospital Research Grant (RAU/2009/165)

Ethical Standards

This study was approved by the Singapore Health Services Centralised Institutional Review Board (CIRB). Informed consent was obtained from all study participants prior to their inclusion in the study. Details that might disclose the identity of the participants were omitted.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore, 229899, Singapore

    Hui-Ling Chia, Evan Woo, Yong-Chen Por, James Mok & Vincent Yeow

  2. Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

    Dong-Rui Ma & Jonah Kua

  3. Department of Histopathology, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

    Kenneth Chang

Authors
  1. Hui-Ling Chia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Evan Woo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yong-Chen Por
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dong-Rui Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Kenneth Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. James Mok
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Jonah Kua
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Vincent Yeow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hui-Ling Chia.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chia, HL., Woo, E., Por, YC. et al. Adipocyte and preadipocyte viability in autologous fat grafts: comparing the water jet-assisted liposuction (WAL) and Coleman techniques. Eur J Plast Surg 38, 183–188 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-015-1081-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-015-1081-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation