Positive Effects of Subdermal Lipotransfer on Pig's Upper Eyelid Skin: Mature Adipocytes or Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Alone Contribute Little and Only Cotransplantation of Them Can Generate Benefits.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have shown that autologous fat grafting and cell-assisted lipotransfer can improve skin quality, with both mature adipocytes (MAs) and adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) considered to play a role. However, it is unclear whether transplantation of ADSCs or MAs has the same impact on the overlying skin.

METHODS: Nine pigs were divided into 3 equal groups, with lipoaspirates obtained from the porcine dorsum of each pig. Transplant content was injected into the right upper eyelids, while the left eyelids were used as controls. Following cellular isolation, 1 group underwent MA grafting, 1 underwent ADSCs transplantation, and 1 underwent cotransplantation of MAs and ADSCs. Epidermal thickness, epidermal cell proliferation, dermal thickness, collagen content, and arteriole density were examined.

RESULTS: While no significant skin changes in the areas examined were noted following MAs or ADSCs transplantations, the cotransplantation of MAs and ADSCs resulted in significant increases in epidermal cell proliferation, dermal thickness, collagen content, and arteriole density.

CONCLUSION: Subdermal injection of MAs or ADSCs alone does not significantly impact the overlying skin and the benefits to the skin can only be seen when MAs and ADSCs are cotransplanted; these findings suggest that ADSCs-enhanced fat grafting is necessary for the aim of antiaging treatments.