[The relevance of Choukroun's platelet rich fibrin (PRF) during facial aesthetic lipostructure (Coleman's technique): preliminary results].

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the interest of fibrin PRF clots, a concentrate of platelets and immune factors, for the optimization of the adipocyte graft according to the technique of facial lipostructure described by S. Coleman.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Between May 2005 and June 2006, 32 patients (7 men and 25 women) benefited from a Coleman lipostructure with the use of PRF. The average age was 59 years (39 to 72 years). Lipostructure was used alone in 22 patients and associated with a face lift and/or a blepharoplasty in 10 patients. Before the adipocyte graft, a mixture of PRF and greasy supernatant (resulting from the purification of the sample of adipocytes) is deposited on the zones to be grafted in the same way as for lipostructure. For 2 patients, the pretreatment of the site to be grafted with PRF was unilateral. Patients were followed-up for one year.

RESULTS

In this series, all the patients were satisfied with the result with minimal associated resorptions. No massive resorption requiring a resumption of lipostructure was noted. In the 2 patients treated with unilateral use of PRF, one notes a light asymmetry, the hemi-face treated with PRF appearing more stable than the side without PRF. No important residual oedema or echymosis were seen on the 3rd post-operative week.

CONCLUSION

By offering a matricial support to angiogenesis and by stimulating the proliferation of pre-adipocytes, the PRF could have a beneficial role on the cicatrization and the consolidation of an adipocyte graft. Further studies are necessary to validate the interest of the PRF during aesthetic lipostructures. The potential uses in plastic surgery of such a biomaterial, easy and fast to produce, without any overcost and with no risk, are very numerous and require from now on to be tested and validated methodically.