A Study of the Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Outcomes After Aspirated Human Fat Grafting With Experimental Design.

INTRODUCTION

Over the past decade, some studies have focused on whether platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can promote the survival of fat grafts after transplantation. However, the results of these studies have been controversial because of the variations in research methods and assessment methodologies.

METHODS

In this study, the authors aspirated fat particles from the abdomen of a healthy woman, mixed them with PRP, and injected them into the backs of nude mice subcutaneously, which simulates the clinical model. The control group was designed to mix aspired fat with normal saline. The fat grafts were removed 10 weeks after transplantation, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and sliced into pathological sections, which were subsequently scanned and analyzed using the Digital Slide Scanning System (PRECICE, Beijing, China).

RESULTS

The total area of the graft section and the necrotic adipose tissue area in the control group were significantly larger than that in the PRP group. The fibrosis tissue area in the PRP group was significantly larger than that in the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in the viable adipocyte area, the cyst area, and the mature blood vessel number between the PRP and control groups.

CONCLUSION

In this study, PRP did not cause an increase in the number of viable adipocytes; however, it did increase the amount of inflammation, which promoted necrotic tissue absorption and the proliferation of granulation tissue. Further research, including research on normalization of fat preparation and grafting, unification of the PRP preparation and application scheme, and optimization of histological measurement and analysis methods, is needed to assess the effect of PRP on fat grafting.