Traumatic facial injuries can cause debilitating effects — such as sunken, jagged features and increased scarring.
Injuries to the face can come from:
While surgeons can often rebuild the bones of the face, it’s hard to return the soft tissue to its original form.
Experts at the UPMC Center for Innovation in Restorative Medicine are researching a new form of facial reconstruction called fat grafting.
Led by McGowan Institute's J. Peter Rubin, MD, fat grafting is minimally invasive surgery. It improves soft tissue deformities in the head and face.
During fat grafting facial reconstruction, surgeons:
Researchers believe that this stem cell-rich fat promotes:
These are crucial for the survival of the fat graft and also promote healing and stability.