Comparison of Graft Survival between Fat Harvested from Abdomen and Medial Thigh for Facial Contour Deformity: A Randomised Control Trial.

[OBJECTIVE] To compare the graft survival between fat harvested from abdomen and medial thigh for facial contour deformity.

[STUDY DESIGN] Randomised control trial (RCT) .

[PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY] Jinnah Burn and Reconstructive Surgery Center, Lahore, from October 2015 to April 2017.

[METHODOLOGY] Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups. Fat was harvested from medial thigh in Group A and from abdomen in Group B. Outcome was measured in terms of fat survival by comparing mean fat at baseline, first and 12ᵗʰ week. Final fat survival thickness >6.00 mm at 12ᵗʰ week was considered as excellent. ANOVA was used for comparison of mean fat thickness (mm) between the groups, and Chi-square test for outcome and complications among groups with p-value <0.05 as statistical significance.

[RESULTS] Mean age of subjects was 27 +7.44 (range 12 to 60) years. Mean final fat thickness in Group A was 6.030 +0.095 mm and in Group B was 4.989 +0.094 mm (p=0.001). Thirty patients (76.9%) in Group A and none in Group B showed excellent response (p=0.001).

[CONCLUSION] Outcome of graft survival with fat harvested from medial thigh was better as compared to that from abdominal fat.