Effects of Intramuscular Fat Grafting on New Muscle Formation

Background: Intramuscular fat grafting, a technique commonly used in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, involves transferring adipose tissue from undesired areas to enhance volume and contour in muscle tissue. Despite its widespread use, there is limited research on the impact of fat grafting specifically on the recipient muscle itself. Our preliminary studies indicate increased muscle formation and collagen accumulation in muscle following human fat grafting. Therefore, we hypothesize that simple lipoaspirate fat grafts in muscle leads to new muscle formation and collagen accumulation leading to increased muscle volume and strength in long term.

This study aims to investigate the effects of intramuscular fat grafting on limb musculature structural changes and muscle strength in immune compromised or nude mice.

We hope to further assess intramuscular fat graft viability and fat retention using histology, in-vivo muscle strength studies using a muscle strength tester up to a 12-month period.