Closed-suction fat harvest using a drain bottle: A practical modification.

Abstract

Autologous fat grafting is a well-established technique for tissue augmentation, with various methods having been reported. None of them, however, has demonstrated clear superiority. We describe a simple modification of a well-established technique using a standard liposuction cannula connected to a closed-suction drain bottle for fat harvesting. Connecting the closed-suction drain bottle to a surgical suction unit, rather than relying on its inherent vacuum, allows for continuous control of the suction pressure and reduces harvest time by preventing the loss of negative pressure when the cannula is removed. This simple adaptation is cost-effective, versatile, and is an operator-controlled method for fat harvesting utilising readily available equipment.