Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31940073›Full record

SynthesisAesthetic plastic surgery2021

Volume Retention After Facial Fat Grafting and Relevant Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Qianwen Lv, Xin Li, Yue Qi, Yunpeng Gu, Zhenjun Liu, Gui-E Ma

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Aesthetic plastic surgery, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
21citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
4.9field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

21 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 65 citations in OpenAlex.

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  7. Acellular Adipose Tissue promotes anti-fibrotic remodeling in Phase II Study.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Qianwen Lv *The 15th Department, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 33, BaDaChu Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100000, China.
Xin Li *The 17th Department, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 33, BaDaChu Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, China.
Yue QiThe 15th Department, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 33, BaDaChu Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100000, China.
Yunpeng GuThe 15th Department, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 33, BaDaChu Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100000, China.
Zhenjun LiuThe 15th Department, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 33, BaDaChu Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100000, China.
Gui-E MaThe 15th Department, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 33, BaDaChu Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100000, China. maguie2018@sina.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1472-4785
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAutologous fat grafting is common in facial reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries; the most important drawbacks are the high absorption rate and unpredictable volume retention rate. Surgeons usually make clinical judgements based on their own experience. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically and quantitatively review the volume retention rate of facial autologous fat grafting and analyse the relevant influencing factors.

methodsA systematic literature review was performed using the Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases in October 2019 for articles that reported objectively measured volume retention rates of facial fat grafting. Patient characteristics, fat graft volumetric data, and complications were collected. A meta-analysis using a random-effects model was conducted to pool the estimated fat retention rate. Relevant factors were analysed and reviewed on the basis of subgroups.

resultsWe included 27 studies involving 1011 patients with facial fat grafting. The volume retention rate varied from 26 to 83%, with a mean follow-up of 3-24 months. The overall pooled retention rate was 47% (95% CI 41-53%). The volume measurement method significantly influenced the reported retention rate. A trend towards better retention was found for secondary fat grafting procedures and patients with congenital deformities. Only 2.8% of all patients had complications.

conclusionThe exact percentage of facial fat grafts retained is currently unpredictable; the reported rate varies with different estimation methods. This review analysed studies that provided objectively measured volume retention rates, the pooled average percentage of facial fat graft retention (47%, 95% CI 41-53%), and relevant factors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Indexed as

Plastic Surgery ProceduresSurgery, PlasticAdipose TissueAutograftsFaceHumansTreatment OutcomeFacial fat graftingMeta-analysisSystematic reviewVolume retention rate

Identifiers

PMID31940073
OpenAlexW2999507489

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.