Cell-Assisted Lipotransfer in Breast Augmentation Surgery: Clinical Outcomes and Considerations for Future Research

Autologous fat transfer is a widely used surgical technique, chosen by numerous plastic surgeons for breast augmentation surgery. This technique is based on three steps: 1. harvesting of the lipoaspirate from the patient, 2. centrifugation and removal of the top, oily, layer, and 3. implantation in the patient’s breast(s). It has been associated with various complications, including post-surgical fat resorption, as measured quantitatively with MRI, CT, and other 3D-quantification systems. Adipose-derived stem cells have been explored as a means of addressing fat resorption. They can be separated from the lipoaspirate following centrifugation, and enzymatically purified from unwanted debris, with collagenase, forming the stromal vascular fraction. The stromal vascular fraction is then recombined with the graft volume prior to implantation. This novel technique, referred to as “cell-assisted lipotransfer”, has shown promising results in terms of reducing fat resorption. These results are due to the pro-angiogenic and pro-adipogenic ability of the stem cells, which allow the graft to address the conditions of ischemia more effectively than autologous fat transfer. The aim of this review is to explore the ways in which cell-assisted lipotransfer is different from the autologous fat transfer, as well as how and why adipose-derived stem cells may contribute towards limiting fat resorption. The immunological background of these cells is discussed in detail, while grounds for further development are discussed, by means of the administration of external growth factors, which could, potentially, maximize outcomes, while limiting complications.