Improving Fat Graft Survival Using Soluble Molecule Preconditioning

Fat grafting is widely used in plastic surgery to correct soft tissue deformities. A major limitation of this technique is the poor long-term volume retention of the injected fat due to tissue remodeling and adipocyte death. To address this issue, various optimizations of the grafting process have b...

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Main Authors: Nabil Amraoui, Isabelle Xu, Jorge Robles Cortés, Chanel Beaudoin Cloutier, Julie Fradette
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Biomolecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/4/526
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author Nabil Amraoui
Isabelle Xu
Jorge Robles Cortés
Chanel Beaudoin Cloutier
Julie Fradette
author_facet Nabil Amraoui
Isabelle Xu
Jorge Robles Cortés
Chanel Beaudoin Cloutier
Julie Fradette
author_sort Nabil Amraoui
collection DOAJ
description Fat grafting is widely used in plastic surgery to correct soft tissue deformities. A major limitation of this technique is the poor long-term volume retention of the injected fat due to tissue remodeling and adipocyte death. To address this issue, various optimizations of the grafting process have been proposed. This scoping review focuses on preclinical and clinical studies that investigated the impact of various classes of soluble molecules on fat grafting outcomes. Globally, we describe that these molecules can be classified as acting through three main mechanisms to improve graft retention: supporting adipogenesis, improving vascularization, and reducing oxidative stress. A variety of 18 molecules are discussed, including insulin, VEGF, deferoxamine, botulinum toxin A, apocynin, N-acetylcysteine, and melatonin. Many biomolecules have shown the potential to improve long-term outcomes of fat grafts through enhanced cell survival and higher volume retention. However, the variability between experimental protocols, as well as the scarcity of clinical studies, remain obstacles to clinical translation. In order to determine the best preconditioning method for fat grafts, future studies should focus on dosage optimization, more sustained delivery of the molecules, and the design of homogenous experimental protocols and specific clinical trials.
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spelling doaj-art-1b6861632bb440778140ece46d1d0dd12025-08-20T02:17:20ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2025-04-0115452610.3390/biom15040526Improving Fat Graft Survival Using Soluble Molecule PreconditioningNabil Amraoui0Isabelle Xu1Jorge Robles Cortés2Chanel Beaudoin Cloutier3Julie Fradette4Regenerative Medicine Division, CHU de Quebec-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec, QC G1J 1Z4, CanadaDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaRegenerative Medicine Division, CHU de Quebec-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec, QC G1J 1Z4, CanadaRegenerative Medicine Division, CHU de Quebec-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec, QC G1J 1Z4, CanadaFat grafting is widely used in plastic surgery to correct soft tissue deformities. A major limitation of this technique is the poor long-term volume retention of the injected fat due to tissue remodeling and adipocyte death. To address this issue, various optimizations of the grafting process have been proposed. This scoping review focuses on preclinical and clinical studies that investigated the impact of various classes of soluble molecules on fat grafting outcomes. Globally, we describe that these molecules can be classified as acting through three main mechanisms to improve graft retention: supporting adipogenesis, improving vascularization, and reducing oxidative stress. A variety of 18 molecules are discussed, including insulin, VEGF, deferoxamine, botulinum toxin A, apocynin, N-acetylcysteine, and melatonin. Many biomolecules have shown the potential to improve long-term outcomes of fat grafts through enhanced cell survival and higher volume retention. However, the variability between experimental protocols, as well as the scarcity of clinical studies, remain obstacles to clinical translation. In order to determine the best preconditioning method for fat grafts, future studies should focus on dosage optimization, more sustained delivery of the molecules, and the design of homogenous experimental protocols and specific clinical trials.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/4/526fat graftingadipose tissuefat graft survivalpreconditioningvolume retentionoxidative stress
spellingShingle Nabil Amraoui
Isabelle Xu
Jorge Robles Cortés
Chanel Beaudoin Cloutier
Julie Fradette
Improving Fat Graft Survival Using Soluble Molecule Preconditioning
Biomolecules
fat grafting
adipose tissue
fat graft survival
preconditioning
volume retention
oxidative stress
title Improving Fat Graft Survival Using Soluble Molecule Preconditioning
title_full Improving Fat Graft Survival Using Soluble Molecule Preconditioning
title_fullStr Improving Fat Graft Survival Using Soluble Molecule Preconditioning
title_full_unstemmed Improving Fat Graft Survival Using Soluble Molecule Preconditioning
title_short Improving Fat Graft Survival Using Soluble Molecule Preconditioning
title_sort improving fat graft survival using soluble molecule preconditioning
topic fat grafting
adipose tissue
fat graft survival
preconditioning
volume retention
oxidative stress
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/4/526
work_keys_str_mv AT nabilamraoui improvingfatgraftsurvivalusingsolublemoleculepreconditioning
AT isabellexu improvingfatgraftsurvivalusingsolublemoleculepreconditioning
AT jorgeroblescortes improvingfatgraftsurvivalusingsolublemoleculepreconditioning
AT chanelbeaudoincloutier improvingfatgraftsurvivalusingsolublemoleculepreconditioning
AT juliefradette improvingfatgraftsurvivalusingsolublemoleculepreconditioning