Autologous Fat Transfer to Reconstruct Facial Defects After Parotidectomy

Abstract

Parotidectomy (superficial, total, or extended) is a surgical procedure that may be associated with a number of aesthetic and functional complications. Some of them (like facial asymmetry due to the presence of tissue depression following the removal of invaded structures, and Frey syndrome) particularly requested the attention of researchers aiming to find the optimal correction methods. A widely used technique in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery – autologous fat transfer – may be a great option for compensating the defect caused by extended parotidectomy, demonstrating good and very good results over time, from both aesthetic and functional points of view. Autologous fat grafting is a technique used in reconstructive surgery to reshape the soft parts, as recommended by a lot of advantages: it can be performed under local anesthesia, requires short execution time, has unlimited availability of reconstruction material, no additional scars, no morbidity at the donor site, it can be repeated to achieve the desired effect with minimum discomfort for the patient, and has good aesthetic and functional results stable over time. Additionally, the multipotent mesenchymal cells associated to the fat cells significantly contribute to the improvement in texture and nutrition of the tissues in the area where lipostructure is performed, tissues that are often altered by previous surgery for tumor excision or by additional treatment procedures (radio- and chemotherapy).