The Use of Activated Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) in Human Autologous Fat Transfer

Soft tissue augmentation by the means of lipofilling is nowadays a frequently used technique in all forms of plastic surgery. In aesthetic facial surgery it has shown to increase the rejuvenating effect, in reconstructive surgery it has earned its place in the correction of soft tissue defects and athropy.

Post-operative loss of volume of the transplanted fat remains an uncertain factor in the procedure. In current literature, there are three main hypotheses on etiology of postoperative decrease in the graft volume; 1: the viability of the injected fat cells 2: impaired graft revascularization at the target site 3: the degree of fibrosis in the target area. Mentioned factors have limited the application of (large) volume lipotransfer.

Positive effects of lipofilling on skin quality have been reported. Coleman observed softening of wrinkles, decreasing pore size and pigmentation improvements on graft sites. Possible mechanisms of the claimed regenerative properties of the lipograft are explained by the high number of adipose derived stem cells. Although frequently described in literature, no objective results have been published to this date.

In this prospective study the investigators examine new methods in preventing postoperative volume loss by the addition of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), derived from the patients own blood, to the injected fat graft. The added PRP contains a wide range of growth factors for instance: Epidermal growth factor (EGF), Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF-AA), Transforming growth factor (TGF-B1, TGF-B2), Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

All previously mentioned factors have shown to play a key role in tissue regeneration after tissue damage. Especially VEGF is of great interest with the ability to promote neo-angiogenesis in the graft, and thus, in theory, reducing fat necrosis and seroma formation.