The Effect of Hyaluronidase on the Fat Graft

The Effect of Hyaluronidase on the Fat Graft: Background:

Fat grafting has been widely used for facial rejuvenation and soft tissue reconstruction. However, it is associated with a lower retention rate than expected and complications such as fat necrosis or calcification. Several techniques that may increase the survival rate of fat grafts have been proposed. The techniques that promote the recipient sites vascularity to increase the survival rate of fat grafts include administration of growth factors, platelet- rich plasma, and adipose derived-stem cells or preconditioning of the recipient fat graft site.

Methods:

In this study, the authors evaluated the effect of hyaluronidase on autologous fat graft survival by pretreatment with hyaluronidase at the recipient site by using an animal model. In the experimental group, the recipient site of the fat graft was pretreated with hyaluronidase before fat grafting, whereas the control group was pretreated with normal saline.

Results:

After 8 weeks of fat grafting, the average volume retention was 78.2% in the experimental group and 68.6% in control group. Considerable fibrosis between the fat globules in the control group was confirmed with Masson trichrome staining. CD31 immunofluorescence staining was performed and stained vessels were counted. Counted vessel number was significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group.

Conclusions:

Pretreatment of hyaluronidase on the fat graft recipient site is a good option to enhance the outcome of the fat graft in the clinical setting.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Euna Hwang, MD, PhD, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Bundang CHA Medical Center, School of Medicine, CHA University, 59 Yatap-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do 13496, South Korea; E-mail: pshwang70@gmail.com

Received 19 June, 2019

Accepted 26 August, 2019

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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© 2019 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.