Traumatic injuries to the face can cause crippling effects — such as sunken, jagged features and increased scarring.
Facial trauma 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 defects in the head and face.
McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine
450 Technology Drive
Suite 300
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Read information on campus shuttles.
Phone: 412-624-5500
Fax: 412-624-5363
Email: McGowan@pitt.edu
During fat grafting, surgeons:
Researchers believe that this stem cell-rich fat promotes:
These are crucial for the fat graft to survive. They also help with healing and stability.