Emerging approaches to the tissue engineering of fat

The eventual development of tissue-engineered fat equivalents for reconstru ctive and augmentation purposes will be most welcome by nearly every surgic al discipline and prove to be especially useful for plastic surgeons. The c linical applications for which tissue-engineered fat will be particularly u seful are vast and varied and can be loosely categorized into reconstructiv e, cosmetic, corrective, and orthotic indications. in this article, the aut hors discuss the emerging tissue-engineering strategies for fat, including the procurement of autologous cells, cell growth and differentiation, impla ntation and engraftment, polymer scaffolds, and implant integration and his togenesis.