A New Device for Autologous Small Volume Fat Grafting

Abstract Background Many techniques and devices have been developed to improve small volume fat grafting efficiency and consistency for use in the operating room and outpatient procedure room. These methods require cumbersome or messy processing to remove excess oil and fluid from adipose graft. Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the fat processing efficiency of a novel handheld device, the Push-to-Spin (P2S) system, with that of other common processing techniques and validate tissue quality after lipoaspirate processing. Methods Human lipoaspirate samples were processed by 1 of 3 methods: cotton gauze (Telfa) rolling, centrifugation (Coleman technique), or the P2S system. Efficiency of fat processing was evaluated in terms of total processing time, fat harvest ratio, and fat processed ratio. Histologic examination and immunohistochemical staining were used to compare tissue morphology and adipocyte viability, respectively. Experimental samples were compared with unprocessed lipoaspirate controls. Results Lipoaspirate processing was significantly faster with the P2S device than with other techniques. All 3 methods achieved similar fat harvest and fat processing ratios. Additionally, the P2S, Telfa, and Coleman techniques yielded grafts with similar cellularity and with similar perilipin and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 1 expression. Measured differences between experimental and control samples were statistically significant. Conclusions The P2S device is an easy-to-use, efficient, and potentially cost-effective handheld device that can be used for lipoaspirate harvest, processing, and grafting in any procedural setting. The resulting adipocytes have similar morphology, viability, and function to those yielded by other techniques. This handheld technology decreases procedure time, thereby improving surgeon efficiency and patient experience.