Overview
Nanofat, a processed form of a patient's own fat, is used in minimally invasive facial rejuvenation, but is not widely adopted despite evidence of its biological effects on aging skin. The authors describe a retrospective case series testing a new protocol that layers subcutaneous nanofat injection with intradermal nanofat delivered by an oscillating microneedling device, with optional fractional CO2 laser in some cases, aimed at improving both skin quality and facial contour in one session.
Findings
- 42 consecutive patients treated between 2023 and 2025.
- Protocol: subcutaneous autologous nanofat injection combined with intradermal nanofat microneedling (oscillating electronic device); fractional CO2 laser added in selected cases.
- Outcomes assessed by the treating physician using standardized photography at first follow-up (6-8 weeks); some cases followed up to 24 months.
- Moderate to marked overall improvement in 35 of 42 patients (83%).
- Skin quality improved in all patients, 42 of 42 (100%).
- Facial contour improvement, particularly in the tear trough and midface, in 38 of 42 patients (90%).
- Even low nanofat volumes were sufficient for meaningful improvement in selected patients.
- Results remained stable at longer follow-up; no major complications occurred.
What it means for a patient
- A single session combining fat injected under the skin with fat delivered into the skin by microneedling improved both skin texture and under-eye or midface hollows in most patients in this series.
- Skin quality improved in every patient studied, and contour improved in 9 of 10.
- No major complications were reported, and results held up at longer follow-up in some patients.
- This is a retrospective case series from one practice or group, without a comparison group, so it does not prove this protocol works better than other nanofat or filler approaches.
Why this paper matters
It reports a combined-delivery nanofat protocol with measured improvement rates in both skin quality and facial contour, including the tear trough, in a single minimally invasive session.
Terms
- Nanofat: a patient's own fat, mechanically processed into a fine emulsion, used for its regenerative effects on skin and soft tissue.
- Autologous: taken from and used on the same patient.
- Microneedling: a technique using fine needles to create tiny channels in the skin, here used to deliver nanofat into the skin.
- Tear trough: the groove between the lower eyelid and the cheek.
- Fractional CO2 laser: a laser resurfacing treatment that treats the skin in a pattern of small columns.
- Level of evidence IV: a study-design ranking (this is a retrospective case series, a lower tier of evidence than a controlled trial).