Stem Cell Fat Grafting: Autologous Fat Can Raise the Graft Survival Rate [Column by Dr. Yoosuk Chung]

[Mediafine Expert Column] Over the past few years, self-expression through social media has become freer and sensitivity to trends has grown, raising interest in and demands around appearance. In this climate, among the various methods for improving one's figure, fat grafting is being used as a solution for supplementing women's body shape.

In the field of body contouring, fat grafting is used to graft fat into specific areas such as the buttocks and breasts, accentuating the curves and creating a healthier, better-balanced contour. Because it uses autologous fat harvested from one's own abdomen or thighs, there is less resistance to it, and the advantage is that it can improve the shape of specific body areas that are difficult to change with diet or exercise.

The key to successful fat grafting is the graft survival rate, which refers to how well the grafted fat settles and is maintained at the target area, and stem cell fat grafting can be one option for raising it.

Stem cell fat grafting is a surgical method that, unlike conventional fat grafting, grafts fat while preserving the stem cells abundantly present in it. The stem cells promote new blood vessel formation, allowing blood and nutrients to be supplied smoothly and thereby increasing the survival rate of the grafted tissue. It also helps the recovery of tissue damaged during surgery and suppresses inflammation, so the effect of preventing various complications that can occur after surgery can also be obtained.

When necessary, stem cells are also injected directly into the incision site. This replaces the damaged tissue at the wound site and promotes new cell formation to aid wound healing, and it stimulates collagen production to increase the flexibility of the wound area, thereby minimizing scarring.

Another requirement for high-survival grafting can be found in the grafting method. When the clumps of grafted fat get larger, there are inevitable limits to the blood supply reaching deep inside the tissue. Therefore, how finely and evenly quality fat is grafted so that blood supply flows smoothly becomes an important factor determining the survival rate.

That stem cell fat grafting is far more favorable than conventional fat grafting across the board, in graft survival rate, recovery, and more, has already been demonstrated through many studies. However, for a safer and more satisfying result, it is important not only to have equipment and facilities that can handle quality stem cells accurately, but also to establish a plan suited to you through a thorough consultation with medical staff who have abundant experience in the field.

Written by : Dr. Yoosuk Chung, TheLINE Plastic Surgery

Source : Mediafine (https://www.mediafine.co.kr)​