Autologous emulsified fat injection for rejuvenation of scars: A prospective observational study

Background: The skin rejuvenation potential of the autologous emulsified nanofat was studied by Tonnard et al. in 2013. This property is due to the viable adipose-derived stem cells present in the nanofat; although, there are no viable adipocytes. The aim of this study was to determine the aesthetic...

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Main Authors: Lekshmi S. Bhooshan, M. Geetha Devi, R. Aniraj, P. Binod, M. Lekshmi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2018-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery
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Online Access:http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/ijps.IJPS_86_17
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author Lekshmi S. Bhooshan
M. Geetha Devi
R. Aniraj
P. Binod
M. Lekshmi
author_facet Lekshmi S. Bhooshan
M. Geetha Devi
R. Aniraj
P. Binod
M. Lekshmi
author_sort Lekshmi S. Bhooshan
collection DOAJ
description Background: The skin rejuvenation potential of the autologous emulsified nanofat was studied by Tonnard et al. in 2013. This property is due to the viable adipose-derived stem cells present in the nanofat; although, there are no viable adipocytes. The aim of this study was to determine the aesthetic outcome of autologous emulsified nanofat injection in scars using a standardised and validated Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) and photographs. Materials and Methods: A total of 34 patients with scars of varied aetiologies were included in the study as per inclusion criteria. Pre-operative scoring of the scars with the POSAS scale was done, and photographs were taken. Fat aspiration was done from the lower abdominal wall using syringe liposuction under tumescent anaesthesia. The lipoaspirate was mechanically emulsified, filtered and injected intralesionally into the scar using 26G needle and insulin syringe. Post-operative scar reassessment was done at 3 months with the POSAS scale score and photographs. The improvement in scar characteristics and symptoms were tested statistically using a paired t-test. Pre-operative and post-operative photographic comparison was also done. Results: Out of the 34 patients included in the study, male:female ratio was 22:12. Majority (79.4%) had post-traumatic facial scars. On statistical analysis, there was statistically significant improvement in symptoms such as pain (P = 0.001), itching (P = 0.001), stiffness (P = 0.001), thickness (P = 0.001), colour (P = 0.001), irregularity (P = 0.001) and scar characteristics such as vascularity (P = 0.005), relief (P = 0.001), pliability (P = 0.001), thickness (P = 0.001) and pigmentation (P = 0.001) 3 months after injection. The photographic comparison also showed good aesthetic outcome. Conclusion: Autologous emulsified nanofat injection is effective in improving the scar characteristics as well as symptoms and helps in scar rejuvenation.
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spelling doaj-art-1f927a63734b484897a23f4232bcd11f2025-08-20T03:54:34ZengThieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery0970-03581998-376X2018-01-01510107708310.4103/ijps.IJPS_86_17Autologous emulsified fat injection for rejuvenation of scars: A prospective observational studyLekshmi S. Bhooshan0M. Geetha Devi1R. Aniraj2P. Binod3M. Lekshmi4Department of Plastic Surgery, Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, IndiaDepartment Of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, IndiaDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Government Medical College, Trivandrum, Kerala, IndiaDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, IndiaDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, IndiaBackground: The skin rejuvenation potential of the autologous emulsified nanofat was studied by Tonnard et al. in 2013. This property is due to the viable adipose-derived stem cells present in the nanofat; although, there are no viable adipocytes. The aim of this study was to determine the aesthetic outcome of autologous emulsified nanofat injection in scars using a standardised and validated Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) and photographs. Materials and Methods: A total of 34 patients with scars of varied aetiologies were included in the study as per inclusion criteria. Pre-operative scoring of the scars with the POSAS scale was done, and photographs were taken. Fat aspiration was done from the lower abdominal wall using syringe liposuction under tumescent anaesthesia. The lipoaspirate was mechanically emulsified, filtered and injected intralesionally into the scar using 26G needle and insulin syringe. Post-operative scar reassessment was done at 3 months with the POSAS scale score and photographs. The improvement in scar characteristics and symptoms were tested statistically using a paired t-test. Pre-operative and post-operative photographic comparison was also done. Results: Out of the 34 patients included in the study, male:female ratio was 22:12. Majority (79.4%) had post-traumatic facial scars. On statistical analysis, there was statistically significant improvement in symptoms such as pain (P = 0.001), itching (P = 0.001), stiffness (P = 0.001), thickness (P = 0.001), colour (P = 0.001), irregularity (P = 0.001) and scar characteristics such as vascularity (P = 0.005), relief (P = 0.001), pliability (P = 0.001), thickness (P = 0.001) and pigmentation (P = 0.001) 3 months after injection. The photographic comparison also showed good aesthetic outcome. Conclusion: Autologous emulsified nanofat injection is effective in improving the scar characteristics as well as symptoms and helps in scar rejuvenation.http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/ijps.IJPS_86_17adipose-derived stem cellsautologous emulsified fatnanofatrejuvenationscars
spellingShingle Lekshmi S. Bhooshan
M. Geetha Devi
R. Aniraj
P. Binod
M. Lekshmi
Autologous emulsified fat injection for rejuvenation of scars: A prospective observational study
Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery
adipose-derived stem cells
autologous emulsified fat
nanofat
rejuvenation
scars
title Autologous emulsified fat injection for rejuvenation of scars: A prospective observational study
title_full Autologous emulsified fat injection for rejuvenation of scars: A prospective observational study
title_fullStr Autologous emulsified fat injection for rejuvenation of scars: A prospective observational study
title_full_unstemmed Autologous emulsified fat injection for rejuvenation of scars: A prospective observational study
title_short Autologous emulsified fat injection for rejuvenation of scars: A prospective observational study
title_sort autologous emulsified fat injection for rejuvenation of scars a prospective observational study
topic adipose-derived stem cells
autologous emulsified fat
nanofat
rejuvenation
scars
url http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/ijps.IJPS_86_17
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AT raniraj autologousemulsifiedfatinjectionforrejuvenationofscarsaprospectiveobservationalstudy
AT pbinod autologousemulsifiedfatinjectionforrejuvenationofscarsaprospectiveobservationalstudy
AT mlekshmi autologousemulsifiedfatinjectionforrejuvenationofscarsaprospectiveobservationalstudy