Long-Term Frozen Fat for Tissue Augmentation

Abstract

Introduction: This study presents our experience over 9 years of transplantation of frozen fat to correct the aging face. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six patients were treated with frozen fat. For the treatment, fat is harvested from a convenient site such as the abdomen, buttock, or thigh with the pateint under tumescent anesthesia. The fat is placed in 15-mL sterile test tubes and put into a freezer, where the fat is maintained at a temperature of −70°C. The fat is thawed at room temperature for several hours, and reinjection is performed in the same manner as for fresh adipose tissue. Results: Of the 36 patients treated with frozen fat, 19 were injected once and 9 were injected twice. The remaining 8 patients received 4 to 7 injections of frozen fat. Frozen fat showed an approximate 30–70% volume loss during the 4–6-week follow-up period. The storage time in the freezer between harvest and reinjection ranged from 2 months to 7 years. It was found from clinical observation that the adipose tissue frozen for a longer period provided results no different from those for adipose tissue stored for a shorter period. No complications related to the use of frozen fat occurred.