No-touch technique for autologous fat harvesting

Abstract

A new technique for autologous fat harvesting is presented. It is termed the "no-touch" technique because the concentrated fat graft is obtained with no handling of fatty tissue. With the no-touch technique, fat aspiration is performed under tourniquet. There is no need for any mechanical manipulations such as centrifugation, washing, whisking, filtering, or straining. The medial aspect of the knee is used as the donor area. Fat is aspirated through a disposable 10-ml syringe and a 14-gauge microcannula, which consists of a curved, semiblunted tip such as that of the Tuohy needle. What remains in the syringe is the concentrated fat without blood, serum, or lidocaine. The authors report their experience with 30 patients.