Fat grafting in soft tissue augmentation

Autologous fat grafting has become widely accepted as a reliable option for volume restoration. This includes not only posttraumatic soft tissue defects but also aesthetic, congenital and postsurgical volume deficits. Used as an alternative to commercial injectable fillers, autologous fat has the advantages of being abundant, nonimmunogenic and free from some of the potential limitations of foreign materials. In addition to providing volume, autogenous fat is also used to improve the quality and texture of the overlying skin, especially in cases of scarring secondary to acne, burns and postirradiation injuries. However, further studies are still needed to fully understand the benefits and the regenerative potential of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs).