Collagen alterations in adipose autografts

Abstract

The author describes the collagen alterations in adipose tissue autografts as evaluated by the Picrosirius red stain used with polarized light microscopy. Four female patients—candidates for classical abdominoplasty—previously had adipose tissue autografts at the infraumbilical region. The grafting intervals were 60, 30, 21, 15, 12, 8, and 5 days prior to the abdominoplasty. The findings demonstrate a type I collagen capsule circumscribing the graft, besides several alterations in the synthesis, degradation, and remodeling of type I and type III collagen within the transplanted tissue. These alterations evolved in bands from the periphery to the central region of the graft disclosing a clear sequence of events. The completion of this process, from the collagen synthesis to its degradation, depends on the total volume injected at a single point and may take a few months to one year or more.