Adipose-derived stem cell gel (SVF-GEL) is a product rich in adipose stem cells and extracellular matrix, obtained by effectively removing oil droplets from adipose tissue through physical methods. Discovered by Professor Lu Feng's team, Deputy Director of Plastic Surgery at Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, it effectively addresses drawbacks of autologous fat injection such as significant swelling and low survival rates.Recently, at the 2017 International Fat Transfer Summit held in Shenzhen, Professor Lu Feng elaborated on the clinical applications of adipose stem cell gel in precise facial filling and facial rejuvenation.
Professor Lu Feng, Deputy Director of Plastic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University
What is the use of adipose stem cell gel? Excellent for neck wrinkle reduction and periorbital filling
Adipose stem cell gel remains a relatively unfamiliar term for many.According to Professor Lu Feng, fat stem cell gel is not fat itself but a concentrated extract obtained after removing oil droplets from fat. It not only endogenously replenishes collagen and stem cells essential for skin rejuvenation, fundamentally improving skin quality, but also significantly reduces swelling associated with traditional fat grafting. Moreover, its long-term retention rate far surpasses that of conventional fat grafting. It can be injected into the dermis, achieving precision comparable to hyaluronic acid injections, with notably superior long-term retention.While it does not fundamentally address volume issues, its ability to regenerate transplanted fat makes it widely applicable not only for facial rejuvenation but also for precise facial contouring and skin regeneration.
Professor Lu Feng highlights particularly promising outcomes for fat stem cell gel in periorbital aging and neck wrinkle reduction: "In challenging areas like the periorbital region, where traditional methods often fall short, fat stem cell gel consistently delivers satisfactory results—such as filling tear troughs and treating dark circles. Moreover, it stands as the optimal solution for neck wrinkles, with a single injection typically resolving approximately 70% of neck crease concerns."
Beyond facial rejuvenation, Professor Lu Feng explained that the gel also demonstrates positive effects in injection fillers, scar repair, and dermal resurfacing, achieving favorable clinical outcomes. Particularly for chin augmentation, it holds promise to completely replace traditional chin implant surgery.
Fat Stem Cell Gel Freezing Enhances Fat Transfer Control
Professor Lu Feng emphasized that fat stem cell gel combines the advantages of both hyaluronic acid and autologous fat. Unlike traditional autologous fat, it offers highly convenient freezing and thawing, making fat transfer more controllable. "Currently, short-term freezing of fat stem cell gel for up to three months is straightforward—simply store it in a -20°C freezer.and can be thawed in a 37°C water bath within one minute without compromising tissue integrity. From last year through November this year, Southern Hospital has performed 260 cases totaling 3,200 ml of short-term frozen SVF-GEL fat stem cell gel transplantation, with no reported complications."
For medium-to-long-term cryopreservation, a combination of gradient cooling and cryoprotectants can effectively preserve ECM integrity and cellular viability, with related research currently underway. If all proceeds smoothly, Professor Lu Feng believes that with advancing technology and research, adipose stem cell gel could realize the vision of a "youth bank"—enabling "one liposuction procedure for a lifetime of 'hyaluronic acid' effects"—thus ushering fat transplantation into a new era.