Autologous fat has long been a popular material in the cosmetic surgery industry. Not only does it offer excellent filling and skin-enhancing effects, but as an autologous tissue, it feels natural and does not cause rejection reactions.At the 2017 International Fat Transfer Summit in Shenzhen, Yi Chenggang, Associate Chief Physician at Xijing Hospital of Air Force Medical University, highlighted the distinct advantages of autologous fat grafting. He noted its rapid advancement amid emerging technologies, emphasizing that enhancing survival rates and preventing complications are key priorities for future development.
Dr. Yi Chenggang, Associate Chief Physician, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University
Dr. Yi emphasized that autologous fat grafting holds unparalleled advantages in aesthetic plastic surgery, particularly for facial reconstruction. By combining the principles of exercise-induced autologous fat with cosmetic techniques, patients can achieve ideal results with minimal intervention.
Regarding post-injection fat absorption, Yi Chenggang believes that since adipose tissue has poor hypoxic tolerance and requires time for postoperative vascularization, the fundamental solution lies in researching methods to accelerate revascularization of transplanted fat, thereby promoting and protecting neovascularization.
To expedite vascularization, Yi Chenggang suggests that besides high-speed centrifugation to select lower-layer fat, incorporating substances like autologous growth factors, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) can enhance injection outcomes. Among these, PRF is currently considered an ideal material due to its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and superior efficacy.
Beyond survival rates, complications in autologous fat grafting warrant attention. Yi Chenggang highlights vascular embolism as the most severe complication, which can result from vascular rupture, pressure exceeding arterial levels, or excessive injection volume. Once occurring, it may lead to irreversible blindness.
To prevent fat vascular embolism, Yi Chenggang emphasizes prevention over treatment: "First, physicians must master anatomical knowledge and use blunt needles during injection to minimize vascular puncture. Injection techniques should be gentle and slow, employing a retraction-injection method to avoid overfilling. The safe threshold for single-point injection volume is 0.05ml."