Autologous fat transplantation for the temporalis muscle flap donor site: Our experience with 45 cases

• Published in: Head & neck Vol. 36; no. 9; pp. 1296 - 1304
• Main Authors: Cervelli, Daniele, Gasparini, Giulio, Grussu, Francesca, Moro, Alessandro, Matteo Marianetti, Tito, Foresta, Enrico, Azzuni, Camillo, Pelo, Sandro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2014; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - transplantation; Adult; Aged; autologous fat transplantation; Cohort Studies; Facial Neoplasms - pathology; Facial Neoplasms - surgery; Female; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; lipofilling; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Satisfaction; Reoperation; Surgical Flaps - adverse effects; temporal donor site; Temporal Muscle; temporalis muscle flap; Transplant Donor Site - anatomy & histology; Transplant Donor Site - surgery; Transplantation, Autologous; Treatment Outcome; virtual preoperative planning; autologous fat transplantation; temporalis muscle flap; temporal donor site; lipofilling; virtual preoperative planning
• ISSN: 1043-3074; 1097-0347
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.23457

ABSTRACT Background Temporal depression after temporalis muscle flap transposition is characterized by a concavity of the soft tissue and associated with the relief of the orbital rim and zygomatic arch. The purpose of this study was to describe the use of autologous fat grafting for the treatment of postsurgical temporal contour deformities. Methods Between March 2008 and April 2011, 45 patients were treated with lipofilling. A virtual 3‐dimensional preoperative assessment was used to objectively quantify the loss of volume of the affected side. Two different methods were used to evaluate the surgical outcomes. Results A noticeable soft tissue augmentation of the temporal region was noted in all cases. In 35 patients, a second procedure was required and in 1 patient, a third procedure was required. The final result was assessed as fully satisfactory by 39 patients (86.6%), as satisfactory by 5 patients (11.1%), and as unsatisfactory by 1 patient (2.2%). Conclusion We believe that structural fat grafting at the temporalis muscle flap donor site is an effective technique that provides a high satisfaction rate and only a few complications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 1296–1304, 2014