Anatomy of Facial Recipient Sites for Autologous Fat Transfer

Abstract

Introduction: Autologous fat transfer is an increasingly popular treatment for the aging face. Recently, studies have suggested increased duration of effect with the injection of fat into or adjacent to muscles. Subcutaneous depths of facial muscles have been demonstrated using cadaver dissections, but to our knowledge this is the first study to use radiologic measurements in living subjects in order to quantify muscle depths in the face. Materials and Methods: Forty computed tomography (CT) scans were reviewed retrospectively using digital radio imaging software with a calibrated digital measurement tool that was used to measure the depths of the muscles of facial expression corresponding to fat-grafting sites. Correlation was made to formalin-preserved cadaver dissections. Results: Subcutaneous depths of facial muscles are listed as measured radio graphically and on cadaver sections. Discussion: The depths of the muscles of facial expression are more accurately measured using digital radiographs; these depths are important landmarks for facial cosmetic surgeons performing an autologous fat transfer. To our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize the anatomic depth of the facial muscles in the living human.