Autologous fat processing via the Revolve system: quality and quantity of fat retention evaluated in an animal model.

BACKGROUND

Currently, fat graft viability and retention cannot be reliably predicted. The reasons for this variability are not fully understood, although fat processing has been implicated.

OBJECTIVES

The authors compare the in vitro quantity and in vivo fat retention from lipoaspirate processed by the Revolve system (LifeCell, Bridgewater, New Jersey) compared with centrifugation and decantation.

METHODS

Ten patients were enrolled in this prospective study. Lipoaspirate from each patient was processed by each of 3 methods: decantation, centrifugation, and the Revolve system. Biochemical characteristics and free oil, adipose, and aqueous phases of the processed fats were determined. Fat grafts were implanted in nude mice; volume retention and quality of the fat grafts were evaluated after 28 days. Viability of retained fat was demonstrated by intact adipocytes and neovascularization on histology.

RESULTS

Of the 10 patients, 9 were women and 1 was a man. Mean patient age was 40.7 ± 8.9 years (range, 30-55 years). Fat tissue obtained from all methods had good physiological properties with neutral pH and isotonic salt concentrations. The Revolve system yielded significantly less blood cell debris, a higher percentage of adipose tissue, and a lower percentage of free oil compared with the other 2 methods. Fat tissue retention from Revolve samples was significantly higher (73.2%) than that from decanted samples (37.5%) and similar to that from centrifuged samples (67.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

The Revolve system produced physiologically compatible, preinjection fat with reduced contaminants and free oil in conjunction with high fat content. In an animal model, volume retention of Revolve-processed fat grafts was significantly greater than decanted samples. The Revolve system presents a fat-processing option that was less time-consuming, easier to use, and more efficient in this study than standard centrifugation or decantation.