Elderly Women Have a Higher Survival Rate of Grafted Donor Fat than Do Young Women Under the Influence of Low Estrogen Conditions

Fat grafting is widely used in breast reconstruction and aesthetic plastic surgery. However, the success rate and effects of fat grafting, especially in elderly female donors, are observed. This study aimed to explore the difference in the survival rate of donor fat from elderly women and young women in fat grafting.

We collected adipose tissue samples from two healthy Chinese women: a young woman and an elderly woman. In addition, adipose tissue samples were collected from female nude mice in four experimental groups—CON-Y, CON-O, OVX-Y, and OVX-O—after fat transplantation. Grafts were harvested, weighed, and subjected to assessment of histology and angiogenesis.

An ovariectomy model was successfully established to validate the effect of low estrogen levels on fat grafting results. Due to the influence of low estrogen levels, the graft survival rate of donor site fat was significantly higher in elderly women than in young women, accompanied by a lesser degree of angiogenesis. Low estrogen levels led to adipocyte hypertrophy, which may be related to decreased AQP-7 expression.

AQP-7 downregulation due to low estrogen levels induces adipocyte hypertrophy, and donor fat from elderly women exhibits a higher survival rate after fat transplantation.

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