For those of you who don't know, there is a procedure called "SNIF", or sharp-needle-intradermal-fat graft. Here is a video for it, and a link to a pdf that details it in excellent easy detail.
video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsmMgBp7CC8
http://www.coupureseminars.com/media/docs/SNIF.pdf
From what I can understand and correct me if I am wrong, the ""SNIF" procedure is basically a dermal filler, not a fat graft. Is this correct? If so, then I have a few other questions.
First, when I see surgeons performing fat grafts into the nasolabial fold area, I see then go in through the upper lip with a cannula. I have given many manual liposuctions with different types of cannulas on the abdomen, and I know that technically, you could access the fat to be lipoaspirated from any point of entry. Of course there are places that are best, but if you had to, you could go in from (almost) anywhere.
IN the pdf, they say that a 23 gauge needle is used for injection. They also directly mention the nasolabial folds. They say that first, they fill it with "traditional lipofilling". What I want to know is, why can't this SNIF replace the "traditional lipofilling" that surgeons usually perform on the nasolabial fold area? Maybe not "replace", but you could graft fat into the nasolabial folds with a 23 gauge needle correct? Not as a filler, but as an actual fat graft that will take as a part of the patients face.
In other words:
Instead of using this snif type needle and point of entry for dermal filling, couldn't you technically graft fat into the nasolabial area (not just a dermal filler) and have that graft take as part of your facial fat?
If you had a patient that was just beginning to get the folds (as in early 20's, just barely visible), couldn't you solve this without going in through the lips? I think the answer is yes. You can access the subcutaneous fat via a 23 gauge needle, there is no need for anything else. I think by using the snif technique, you could do real lipofiling rather than just dermal filling.
Fat grafts are often problematic ( lumpiness and poor survival and prolonged swelling )and we now have such elegant dermal and subcutaneous fillers that I don't see any reason to even consider fat grafting. This is especially true in the early stages , as hyaluronic acid fillers as well as calcium hydroxylapatite and of course polylactic acid, all have been shown to stimulate collagen which has a very long halflife. So my opinion of fat grafts for nasolabial folds is forget it !
The reason is that fat grafts are a permanent part of your face once they take. Dermal fillers are not. Collagen repair will do nothing for that area, otherwise you could just get rid of them by dermarolling. Dermal fillers will give the look of invisible folds, but it will not address the underlying problem. Once the fillers have run their course, your folds will have gotten deeper and it's either back to the surgeon to get more fillers, or just live with the increased folds. Those are a few reasons....
Please, try to call thing with their correct name, that is more scientific approach !
What you call SNIF is microfat grafting = Harvesting with 1mm cannula or less and injecting with 19G or less depending of the quality of fat.
Cell therapy is structured according to the elements used. In case, fat tissue which very fragile and stem cell which focussed that attention of scientific community.
In Brazil I personally saw 3 cases of alar necrosis following treatments like this. For me is mandatory the use of microcannula to avoid facial vessels injury.
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