• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.550-556
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• 2018

Background To achieve improvements in intramuscular injection, autologous fat grafting, and gluteal artery perforator flaps in infants and children, the relationships of computed tomography (CT)-determined gluteal muscle thickness (MT) and subcutaneous tissue thickness (SCT) with age and body mass index (BMI) were analyzed. Methods Gluteal SCT and MT at ventrogluteal (VG) and dorsogluteal (DG) sites were measured in a standardized manner in 350 patients aged 0 to 6 years who had visited a tertiary hospital and had undergone abdominopelvic CT between January 2005 and December 2016. Recorded measurements were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and stepwise multiple regression to identify the factors that were most closely related to MT and SCT. Results Subcutaneous tissue at VG sites was thinner than at DG sites, but not significantly so in any age group. Muscles tended to be thinner at VG sites in 4 to 7-year-old, but thicker at VG sites in 1 to 3-year-old, though the differences were not significant. MT in the VG and DG regions was found to be related to age, and SCT in these regions to be related to age and BMI. Conclusions The VG and DG sites should be considered as alternatives for intramuscular injection in infants and children when the anterolateral site is problematic. In addition, considering the gluteal MT and SCT of infants and children should help produce good results in autologous fat grafting and gluteal artery perforator flap harvesting.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.49-52
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• 2020

The specialized structure of the upper eyelid ensures complete closure of the eye and eyeball sealing. An upper eyelid injury can cause various symptoms associated with eyeball trauma, not just scar formation or eyelid deformity. In this report, we describe a case of lagophthalmos observed after wound repair in a patient with a crushing injury caused by a grinder. Several surgical techniques are used to treat lagophthalmos or scar contracture. In most cases, a releasing procedure is performed after 6 months of initial repair. However, if the patient has severe symptoms that are not relieved by conservative care, early revision is inevitable. We describe a case of early lagophthalmos successfully resolved with pentagonal wedge resection, fat redistribution, and full-thickness skin grafting. After the revisional surgery, we observed that the patient regained the ability to completely close the injured eyelid, with restoration of function and favorable cosmetic outcomes. Pentagonal wedge resection to release a retracted structure, fat redistribution to prevent readhesion, and full-thickness skin grafting for enough amount of skin to regain upper eyelid function is useful for scar release and lagophthalmos following crushing injuries of the upper eyelid.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.466-469
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• 2016

External volume expansion of the recipient site by suction has been proposed as a way of improving fat graft survival. The objective of this study was to present an innovative and simple intraoperative external expansion system to enhance small-volume autologous fat grafting (40-80 mL) and to discuss its background and its mechanism of action. In this system, expansion is performed using a complete vacuum delivery system known as the Kiwi VAC-6000M with a PalmPump (Clinical Innovations). The recipient site is rapidly expanded intraoperatively 10 times for 30 seconds each with a negative pressure of up to 550 mm Hg before autologous fat injection. During this repetitive stimulation, the tissues become grossly expanded, developing macroscopic swelling that regresses slowly over the course of hours following the cessation of the stimulus. The system sets various mechanisms in motion, including scar release, mechanical stimulation, edema, ischemia, and inflammation, which provide an environment conducive for cell proliferation and angiogenesis. In order to maintain the graft construct in its expansive state, all patients are encouraged postoperatively to use the Kiwi three times daily for one minute per session over the course of three days. The handling of this system is simple for both the patients and the surgeon. Satisfactory clinical outcomes have been achieved without significant complications.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.162-165
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• 2017

Multiple osteochondromas (MO) is characterized by the formation of osteochondromas throughout the entire body. Although the evidence regarding its pathogenesis is well understood, no curative treatment for the disorder is available. Patients can be treated symptomatically by surgical removal of painful osteochondromas. Unfortunately, some patients still suffer from severe pain, even after surgery. We report on a case concerning a 48-year-old woman with a history of MO who presented with persistent pain after surgical removal of a symptomatic osteochondroma of the left scapula and multiple symptomatic osteochondromas of the left foot and trochanteric region. Several interventions to reduce the pain did not have any lasting effect. Subsequently, she was treated with autologous fat grafting (AFG). After each session she was pain-free for at least one year and reported only partial recurrence of the pain. This is the first case report describing AFG for the treatment of pain after both surgical removal of an osteochondroma and symptomatic osteochondromas in a patient suffering MO with promising results. The treatment is more effective and clearly continues to remain active longer than injection therapy or pain medication. Future studies are necessary to confirm our results.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.677-685
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• 2015

Background The survival rate of grafted fat is difficult to predict, and repeated procedures are frequently required. In this study, the effects of the freezing period of harvested adipose tissue and the addition of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) on the process of fat absorption were studied. Methods Adipose tissue was obtained from patients who underwent a lipoaspirated fat graft. The fat tissue was cryopreserved at $-20^{\circ}C$ in a domestic refrigerator. A total of 40 nude mice were used. The mice in the experimental group received three different subcutaneous injections in the back: an injection of fresh fat and ASCs, an injection of fat that had been frozen for one month and ASCs, and an injection of fat that had been frozen for two months and ASCs. The control mice received fat grafts without ASCs. The mice were sacrificed at four or eight weeks after the procedure, and the grafted fat tissues were harvested. The extracted fat was evaluated using photographic analysis, volume measurements, and histological examination. Results In the control group, the fat resorption rates four weeks after transplantation in the grafts of fresh fat, fat that had been frozen for one month, and fat that had been frozen for two months were 21.14%, 22.46%, and 42.56%, respectively. In the experimental group, the corresponding resorption rates were 6.68%, 13.0%, and 33.9%, respectively. Conclusions ASCs can increase the fat graft survival rate. The use of ASCs in fat grafting can reduce the need for repeated fat grafts and provide good long term results.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.385-392
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• 2008

Purpose: The most effective methods of harvesting, preparing, and injecting autologous fat grafts have been inconsistent and conflicting. With its limitation as resorption in fat grafting, handling various techniques affect adipocyte survival, and is crucial to optimizing its long-term survival. To improve graft survival, re-implantation of cryopreserved adipocytes was developed. In addition, adipocytes do not induce immune rejection in response to non-self lymphocytes in a mixed lymphocyte reaction. The purpose of this study is to analyze the changes in cryopreserved adipocytes so as to determine the most efficient long-term storage period, and to analyze the changes in cryopreserved allografted adipocytes so as to determine the efficacy of cryopreserved adipocytes allografting. Methods: Fat tissues were harvested from the inguinal and retroperitoneal fat pad of mice. After the centrifugation of the harvested fat tissues, they were disintegrated with collagenase. The adipocytes were obtained by centrifugation of the disintegrated fat tissues. The adipocytes were treated as follows: (1) They were examined for weight and then frozen at $-20^{\circ}C$(n=25). For four months, each five frozen samples were taken and examined for weight and histologic changes in the 1st week, the 1st month, the 2nd month, the 3rd month, and the 4th month, respectively. (2) The adipocytes were immediately frozen at $-20^{\circ}C$(n=125). For four months, five frozen samples were taken, and allografted in the same time period as above. Finally, for four months, five cryopreserved allografted adipocytes were taken and examined for histologic changes in the same time period as above. Results: (1) Significant weight changes and histologic findings with inflammatory and destructive changes were observed in the cryopreserved adipocytes in three months. (2) Significant fat necrotic changes in the histologic changes with Hematoxylin and eosin stain were observed in the cryopreserved allografted adipocytes since the first week, independent of the freezing period. Conclusion: The study results show that the adipocytes that were cryopreserved for more than three months underwent obvious weight reductions and necrotic changes, and the adipocytes that were allografted without freezing were viable for four months, but the cryopreserved allografted adipocytes had obvious necrotic changes since the first week regardless of the freezing period.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.39
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• pp.5.1-5.9
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• 2017

Many congenital and acquired defects occur in the maxillofacial area. The buccal fat pad flap (BFP) is a simple and reliable flap for the treatment of many of these defects because of its rich blood supply and location, which is close to the location of various intraoral defects. In this article, we have reviewed BFP and the associated anatomical background, surgical techniques, and clinical applications. The surgical procedure is simple and has shown a high success rate in various clinical applications (approximately 90%), including the closure of oroantral fistula, correction of congenital defect, treatment of jaw bone necrosis, and reconstruction of tumor defects. The control of etiologic factors, size of defect, anatomical location of defect, and general condition of patient could influence the prognosis after grafting. In conclusion, BFP is a reliable flap that can be applied to various clinical situations.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.861-866
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• 2011

Purpose: Together with the breast, buttocks are an important element of attractive body contour. To make a beautiful buttocks, improvement of body contour around the buttock as well as buttock augmentation and lifting is also important. The authors investigated characteristic features of buttocks in Koreans and report about the results of liposculpture and autologous fat injection for improving buttock's contour. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 21 patients who would like to gluteal reshaping. We checked about buttock's ptosis, projection, depression, gluteal retraction and excessive fat accumulation around buttocks. Depending on it, we performed liposculpture and autologous fat injection. Under general anesthesia, we harvested fat from excessive fat accumulation areas around buttocks, and injected into buttocks medio-superiorly. Postoperatively, pillows were positioned on the bed not to press the buttocks which were injected with the fat. Results: Based on the shape of buttocks, A-shape is seen in 4 cases (19%), V-shape 3 cases (14%), squareshape 9 cases (43%), round-shape 5 cases (24%). Based on the Gonzalez's ptosis grading method, 1 degree ptosis is 1 case (4%), 2 degree ptosis is 6 cases (29%), 3 degree ptosis is 8 cases (38%), 4 degree ptosis is 6 cases (29%). There were no complications such as infection, hematoma, pain, dysparethesia. The subjective assessment of surgical results by patients was excellent. Conclusion: To make a beautiful buttock, improvement of body contour around the buttock as well as buttock augmentation and lifting is also important. Liposculpture and autologous fat grafting are very safe, useful and easy methods for improving buttock's contour.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.726-731
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• 2010

Purpose: Autologous fat grafting is a popular procedure for the correction of the soft tissue depression and deformity. But there are several issues required to be carefully considered in relation to this procedure, mainly about the unpredictability and the low survival rate of the grafted fat due to absorption and partial necrosis. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a lysophospholipid mediator that has been proposed to promote angiogenesis and to regulate the differentiation of adipose derived stromal cells (ASCs). In this study, we analyzed the viability of the grafted fat tissue mixed with S1P into each 12 nude mice (cann.cg-fox1nu/crlori) compared to the group of mice grafted fat tissue only. Methods: Human aspirated fat was grafted subcutaneously into the backs of 8-week-old nude mice with or without S1P. Eight weeks later, the grafted fat was harvested and the weight and volume were checked. The fat was stained with hematoxylin-eosin and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. Results: S1P group weighed significantly more than the control group (p=0.009), and the volume from the S1P group was considerably larger than that of the control group (p=0.004) either. In histological features, the surviving layer of the S1P group was thicker than the control group and microvasculature appeared to be prominent in the S1P group, especially in the outer layers. Conclusion: These findings suggest that S1P plays a vital role in the soft tissue augmentation, potentially providing a novel point of the control in adipose tissue for microfat graft.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.335-340
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• 2006

Lower palpebral bags and tear trough grooves are the common signs of aging. Weakness of the orbital septum, atrophy of the orbicularis oculi muscle, slackness and laxity of the lower lid skin are the main causes of these aging changes. Tear trough groove with skeletonization of the lower orbital rim can not be corrected easily by the conventional lower blepharoplasty, but the augmentation of the volume, can be an effective method. Lower lids provide a well vascularized recipient site, which is vital for proper grafting of fat to occur. We treated tear trough groove with free fat graft of surgically removed orbital fat. Surgical excision of the fat pad and septal reinforcement with free fat graft below the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle were performed to correct tear trough groove. This technique was performed in 29 consecutive individuals from October, 2001 to January, 2005. Palpebral bags and tear trough groove were corrected concomitantly and obtained a youthful attractive midface with no secondary hollowness of lower lid and irregularity. The overall results obtained were satisfactory without any complications. Recurrence of tear trough deformity due to grafted fat absorption was not noted during the 7 months of the follow-up period. The authors conclude that the procedure is safe and effective in selected patients.