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The study that our group published on May 2008 entitled “Fat Injection for Cases of Severe Burn Outcomes: A New Perspective of Scar Remodeling and Reduction” was a breakthrough in the plastic surgery scientific literature since it opened the way to a new concept of scar treatment (simple, hypertrophic and keloids) [1].
In that paper, we evaluated three adult patients with hemifacial hypertrophic scars and keloids resulting from severe burns. These patients’ scars were treated by autologous fat grafting (AFG) injection. We were able to show that the clinical appearance and subjective patient feelings after a 6-month follow-up period were tremendously improved in terms of mimic features, skin texture and thickness. The observed clinical findings were confirmed at histological examination which showed patterns of new collagen deposition, local hypervascularity and dermal hyperplasia in the context of the new tissue, having a relevant correspondence with original cutaneous tissue.
Before this innovative research was published, scars were usually treated with surgical scar revision and/or local flaps (Z-plasty or V–Y closure). We were the first to demonstrate the efficacy of a totally different and innovative surgical technique.
After the first experience in 2007 [2] that demonstrated the efficacy of lipofilling on radiodistrophic tissues, we were the first group in the world to show that this easy and safe surgical procedure could become the gold standard in scar treatment. Our group was also the first to highlight the importance of AFG in combination with needles. Over the years, we have gained a lot experience on burn patients and we have found that scar tissue is characterized by overflowing fibrous tissue that achieves a significant resistance to the sliding of classical blunt cannulas. For this reason, we decided to employ 18-gauge angiographic needles [3], which are able to overcome the strength of the fibrous tissue resistance, thus making it possible to lay a constant amount of fat (in a retrograde fashion) inside the whole thickness of the scar and, if needed, at the dermal-hypodermal junction by multiple radiating passages that distribute fat in all directions. They are very useful also because of their ability to reduce the tensile strength of the scar and the tension on the surrounding tissues. We have also discovered that needles stimulate new collagen deposition and remodeling of fibrous tissues, in a fashion similar to the “needling” procedure used in aesthetic medicine [4]. This procedure has been widely used by many other surgeons later, such as Rigotti, who gave the name of this procedure as “Rigottomies” [5].
In 2013, we published another paper entitled “Autologous Fat Graft in Scar Treatment” [6] in which we discovered that the effects of the lipofilling can be seen starting from 3 weeks after the procedure, in terms of better scar color, pliability, thickness, relief, itching, pain, scar vascularization and pigmentation. Indeed, autologous fat grafting makes the skin softer, more flexible and extensible; besides, the color seems similar to the surrounding unharmed skin. In this article, we analyzed different types of scars, from burn injuries, malformation correction sequelae, road traumas, domestic accidents and different surgery procedures (more specifically from breast oncologic or orthopedic surgery). Based on this study, we were able to show that lipofilling and needles can be used in every scar, whatever its origin.
In few years, thanks to excellent studies conducted by other groups, the mechanism by which lipofilling exerts its effects has been reported: mesenchymal cells contained in adipose tissue have a primary role in terms of regenerative properties. The biological/biochemical effects are still not completely understood, but the mesenchymal multipotent stem cells within fat are responsible for remodeling of the scars through engraftment and differentiation. This leads to molecular changes in the microenvironment of the scars (local action of growth factors, enzymes, cytokines, angiogenic factors and cellular components stored in the lipoaspirate) leading to neoangiogenesis inside the fibrotic tissue. Consequently, autologous fat grafting can improve the quality of the scar tissue, regenerate the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, improve the quality of the dermal and dermo-hypodermic areas and, if needed, give volume to specific body areas.
Throughout the time, our group has adopted this technique not only in regenerative surgery, but also for aesthetic purposes. Many papers have been published, showing the effect of lipofilling in treating not only scars, but also chronic wounds, neuropathies and volume deficits [7,8,9,10,11,12]. Afterward, we were able to show the ability of AFG to treat the post-mastectomy pain syndrome [13, 14] and other neuropathies such as Arnold’s neuralgia and migraine headaches [15,16,17]. In another paper, we were able to define the lipofilling and needles as a safe procedure in terms of complications rate [18].
In the last period, we have focused our attention on the use of AFG and needles for the treatment of stenotic and tuberous breasts. In our practice, we have observed that patients suffering from tuberous breasts manifested skin, parenchyma, fascia and vascular alterations. The results of our analysis showed significant differences in quantity and disposition of collagen fibers in patients with tuberous breasts, compared to normal breasts. After numerous histological examinations, we were able to define that collagen fibers appear altered in disposition and quantity, occasionally assembled in bundles determining the typical glandular toughness, ligament and fascial thickening and general fibrosis. For this reason, we can consider the affected pole (lower) of the stenotic breast as a scar/fibrotic tissue and, as such, can be treated with a combination of AFG and needles. Less severe cases can be even treated with needles only. The data are still preliminary, but we can say that lipofilling and needles are an important step for the correction of whatever form of stenotic breast [19,20,21].
References
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Klinger, M., Giannasi, S., Bandi, V. et al. Update on “Fat Injection for Cases of Severe Burn Outcomes: A New Perspective of Scar Remodeling and Reduction”. Aesth Plast Surg 44, 1283–1285 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-020-01775-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-020-01775-2