A successful long-term method of fat grafting: recontouring of a large subcutaneous postradiation thigh defect with autologous fat transplantation.

A method of harvesting fat with intact cells using a veterinary needle and a fine needle aspiration device is described. Viable fat cells are obtained in large amounts. A large subcutaneous postradiation thigh defect was reconstructed with harvested fat placed subcutaneously in various sessions. A good, but not perfect, reconstruction was obtained. This case indicates that viable fat cells can be transplanted and can survive even in the adverse environment of a postradiation defect.