Subdermal fat grafting for Parry-Romberg syndrome

Introduction: Parry-Romberg syndrome (PRS) is a progressive, irreversible disorder characterized by facial lipoatrophy. The patients' physical and psychological well-being is highly affected. The choice of graft for correction of PRS is dictated by numerous factors. This qualitative study aims to present the patients choice of graft for PRS.

Materials and methods: Reports of experience of patients surgically treated for PRS in the period of 2000-2011 are presented.

Result: A total of 36 patients who had undergone the PRS treatment with fat grafts fulfilled the criteria and were included for the study. Of them 17 (47.2%) were males and 19 (52.8%) were females. For these patients, grafts were obtained from the abdomen in 22 (61.1%) and 14 (38.9%) from the gluteal region. Female PRS patients preferred to have the scar in their gluteal region rather than abdominal region. Similarly, in their immediate postoperative period, most of the patients were apprehensive about the over correction but where satisfied with the long term results of the surgery.

Discussion: Female PRS patients whose donor site was gluteal region had better perception than those with abdominal grafting. Similarly in immediate postoperative period, they felt that their outcome was not satisfactory. The morphology and metabolic activity of gluteal adipocytes are unique and probably accounts for the better survival rates.