Effect of Donor Site Selection for Fat Grafting on the Yield and Viability of the Stromal Vascular Fraction.

BACKGROUND The efficacy of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) treatment, ie, stem cells, directly depends on the SVF cell count and their viability. The SVF cell count and viability are in direct correlation with adipose tissue harvesting site which yields SVF cells, thus making contribution to developing Tissue Guidance. OBJECTIVES To investigate the importance of harvesting subcutaneous adipose tissue-derived SVF cells on the concentration and viability of SVF. METHODS Adipose tissue was collected by vibration assisted liposuction, from the regions of the upper and lower abdomen, lumbar region and inner thigh region. Using the semi-automatic UNISTATION 2nd Version system (NeoGenesis, Seoul, South Korea), the obtained fat was chemically processed (collagenase enzyme) and a concentrate of SVF cells was obtained by centrifugation. These samples were then analyzed using the Luna-Stem Counter device (Logos Biosystems; Gyeonggi-do, South Korea) to measure the number and viability of SVF cells. RESULTS The highest concentration of SVF, comparing the regions of the upper abdomen, lower abdomen, lumbar, and inner thigh, was found in the lumbar region, specifically at 97498.00 per 1.0 ml of concentrate. The lowest concentration was found in the upper abdomen region. By ranking the viability values, the highest cell viability of SVF was observed in the lumbar region, measuring 36.6200%. The lowest viability was found in the upper abdomen region, measuring 24.4967%. CONCLUSIONS By comparing the upper and lower abdomen regions, lumbar and upper thigh regions, the authors have come to the conclusion that, on average, the largest number of cells and their viability was obtained from the lumbar region.