Abstract
BackgroundTissue liquefaction technology (TLT) delivers warmed saline from the liposuction cannula tip at low pressure pulses to disaggregate adipocytes. This technology differs significantly from that used in other liposuction devices including water jet-assisted liposuction. Here we introduce our early experience with this technology in the setting of fat transfer for revision breast reconstruction.MethodsA retrospective chart review of 136 consecutive patients who underwent fat harvest with TLT and subsequent transfer into 237 breast reconstructions was conducted at a single institution. This two-surgeon series examined donor and recipient site complication rates over a median follow-up of 143 days [87–233].ResultsThe overall complication rate was 28.7 %, of which the majority (22.1 %) was fat necrosis at the recipient site as documented by any clinical, imaging, or pathologic evidence. The abdomen served as the donor site for half of the cases. Donor site complications were limited to widespread ecchymosis of the donor site notable in 10.4 % of cases. Twenty-five percent of patients had received postmastectomy radiotherapy prior to fat transfer. Prior to revision with fat transfer, implant-based breast reconstruction was used in 75.5 % of cases, and autologous flaps in the remainder. Fat transfer was combined with other reconstructive procedures 94.1 % of the time.ConclusionsTLT can be used to harvest adipocytes for fat transfer with donor site morbidity and recipient site complications comparable to other modalities. The efficiency and quality of harvested fat makes this technology appealing for wide spread adoption during fat transfer.Level of Evidence IVThis journal requires that the authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
Highlights
Autologous fat transfer continues to increase in popularity as a powerful tool to revise the contour of the face, trunk, and extremities
Fat transfer is widely utilized in breast reconstruction, where it is employed at least part of the time by 62 % of American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) membership [54]
Tissue liquefaction technology (TLT) was performed by two plastic surgeons (T.M.M. & M.M.T) to harvest fat grafts as a method to revise breast reconstruction in 136 consecutive patients over a two-year period
Summary
Autologous fat transfer continues to increase in popularity as a powerful tool to revise the contour of the face, trunk, and extremities. Methods A retrospective chart review of 136 consecutive patients who underwent fat harvest with TLT and subsequent transfer into 237 breast reconstructions was conducted at a single institution. This two-surgeon series examined donor and recipient site complication rates over a median follow-up of 143 days [87–233]. Prior to revision with fat transfer, implant-based breast reconstruction was used in 75.5 % of cases, and autologous flaps in the remainder. Conclusions TLT can be used to harvest adipocytes for fat transfer with donor site morbidity and recipient site complications comparable to other modalities. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266
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