Topic: Fat Graft for Regenerative Medicine

Autologous fat grafting has a history of approximately 130 years. Over time, continuous refinements in harvesting, purification, and transplantation techniques have established it as a standard procedure for volumetric reconstruction of soft-tissue defects. Beyond volume restoration, clinicians have observed that grafted sites often exhibit regenerative changes—including improved skin quality, pain relief, and reduced soft-tissue fibrosis. The discovery of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) and advances in isolation protocols have further expanded the therapeutic portfolio to include dermal-fat grafts, micro-fat, milli-fat, nano-fat, stromal vascular fraction (SVF), SVF-gel, exosomes, dedifferentiated fat (DFAT), extracellular matrix (ECM), cell-free fat extract (CEFFE), and other single-component or combination formulations. Today, the regenerative effects of fat grafting are no longer attributed solely to ASCs; multiple cell types, bioactive factors, and matrix components are now recognized as active contributors.

This Special Issue presents a curated collection of articles that address:

1. Optimized preparation methods for various fat-derived products;

2. Evidence-based selection of clinical indications;

3. Mechanistic insights into how specific graft components promote tissue regeneration;

4. Current translational challenges and bottlenecks. Particular emphasis is placed on dissecting the contributions of each constituent to the regenerative cascade, identifying future research priorities, and forecasting technological advances that are likely to shape the next stage of clinical innovation in fat-based regenerative medicine.