About Autologous Microfragmented Adipose

At our office in Washington DC, micro fragmented adipose tissue is used in musculoskeletal medicine to focus your own body’s ability to heal. Many well-done published studies demonstrate its effectiveness and safety in treating many musculoskeletal conditions, including osteoarthritis and tendinopathies. We use an FDA-compliant process for preparing adipose that has been in clinical use for 10 years.

Adipose (fat) is an excellent source of mesenchymal stem cells, vascular cells called pericytes, and structural collagen fibers known as a matrix. These cells start and support the body’s own repair process. These cells bind to the injury site and release hundreds of chemical messengers, which repair the damaged tissue. Having our staff in Washington, DC, precisely injecting micro fragmented adipose tissue into the site of injury can kickstart the healing process.

What to Expect

This is a minor surgical procedure done with sterile technique. We usually get good quality adipose from the upper buttock area, but other areas, such as the abdomen, may be used. You will lay face down on a comfortable body pillow, then your skin will be cleaned with a surgical skin cleaner (Chloroprep) and the area will be draped with surgical drapes.

Our physician will mark the collection site with a surgical marking pen, and local anesthetic injections at two skin entry sites. Then a tumescent solution of saline, lidocaine, and a small amount of epinephrine is injected with a blunt needle into the fat below the skin. This solution helps break up the fat, numbs the area, and minimizes any bleeding under the skin.

After the solution has set for at least 12 minutes and the area is numb, an adipose collection cannula is placed under the skin, and the adipose is gently withdrawn. This is usually a comfortable process, but you may feel a twinge or pinch during the aspiration.

The liposuction harvests a small amount of adipose, usually about 200 milliliters or less, (for comparison, a 12-ounce soda can is 355 milliliters). Rarely, there may be some small dimpling in the skin that will
even out naturally over the next six months.

The aspirated fat is then processed using the proprietary system, which gently washes the adipose with saline to remove the inflammatory oils while filtering and exposing the mesenchymal stem cells and pericytes in the adipose so they can best facilitate injury repair. Once prepared, the adipose is ready for injection.

We numb the skin at the injection site with a small needle and local anesthetic (buffered lidocaine). Your physician will then precisely inject the micro-fragmented adipose into the injury sites using ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance.

Recovery

Avoid NSAIDs like ibuprofen, as these suppress inflammation. Therefore, they counteract the effects of most regenerative therapies. You may use acetaminophen for mild pain.

Avoid showering for 1 day and immersion in water for 3 days after your procedure. You may remove any bandages after 1 day.

Unless given other instructions, move slowly through your full range of motion after 3 days. It will be sore, but the movement will not damage it. In fact, it needs to move to heal!

For the next month, avoid specific activities that hurt you before treatment.
Exercise is vital to good health and finding a way to cross-train around your injury is important not only for your physical health but for your mental health as well. Your ROSM physician and physical therapist can help you with this.

Brief heat or ice therapy will not disrupt your therapy, but you should alternate, 10 minutes on 10 minutes off.

Depending on the injury, physical therapy starts 2 to 4 weeks after the micro fragmented adipose tissue injection. Gradual improvements in pain and function should occur 8 to 12 weeks after injection.

Want to Learn More About Adipose Injections? Contact ROSM For More Information!

The specialists at ROSM in Washington, DC have years of expertise administering adipose injections as a form of regenerative medicine. This therapy helps our patients avoid unnecessary surgery and provides people with a less invasive way to recover from orthopedic conditions. Call or book an appointment online to speak with a doctor about whether adipose injections are right for you!

Author: Sean Mulvaney, MD