Autologous Fresh Fat Grafting Followed by Autologous Cryopreserved Fat Grafting

Craniofacial injuries are common among wounded service members, with 22.7% to 39% of battle injuries affecting the cranio-maxillofacial region. Restoring appearance requires precise soft tissue reconstruction. This proposal aims to address that need using a minimally invasive approach that uses the patient's own tissue, building on previous successful DoD-funded clinical trials. Autologous fat grafting (AFG) is a common, minimally invasive procedure used in plastic surgery to restore facial volume. In a prior department of defense funded trial, the study investigators demonstrated its safety and effectiveness for repairing traumatic craniofacial deformities. However, about 37% of the grafted fat is reabsorbed during early healing, requiring multiple procedures for optimal results. The donor site harvest is the main source of discomfort, time, and cost in these procedures. The study investigators propose improving this process by harvesting extra fat during the first procedure, cryo-storing it, and using the preserved fat for a second stage without needing another harvest. This approach will be validated using outcome measures from prior work. Additionally, the investigators are working with a commercial partner to advance a low-cost kit for cryo-storing fat at medical facilities, including military treatment centers.