Background The percentage of intact fat cells membrane
obtained by even a well-known technique remains poorly
studied. The purposes of this study were to evaluate and
compare the structural effects of various harvesting, preparation,
and injection methods on human fat cell integrity.
Methods We enrolled 20 healthy females in this study, ages
ranged from 20 to 41 yearswith an average age of 31±0.5 years.
We harvested fat tissues from the abdomen and thigh of donors
using two different methods: conventional and syringe liposuction;
we treated the aspirated fat specimens within 30 min of
harvesting by fine-mesh gauze or using centrifugation. We
injected the prepared fat through small or large needle, and then
obtained a specimen from each different method. We analyzed
all fat graft samples by routine histological examination.
Results There was a significant difference in the percentage of
intact fat cells wall was observed in syringe aspiration (75.95
±0.31 %) versus vacuum liposuction (56.43 %±0.67). There
was a significant difference in the percentage of intact fat cells
when using centrifugation versus fine-mesh gauze preparation.
Also there was a significant difference in the percentage
of intact fat cells observed when using large versus small
needle for injection.
Conclusions The highest intact adipocyte counts were in syringe
suction, no centrifuge, and using large cannula, while
the fewest intact adipocyte counts were in conventional liposuction,
using centrifuge, and using small cannula.