Optimization and Standardization of the Immunodeficient Mouse Model for Assessing Fat Grafting Outcomes

Abstract

Human fat graft retention in the immunodeficient mouse correlates with graft viability in small, 0.3-ml-volume grafts. However, centralized oil cysts in nonviable 1.0-ml grafts were not resorbed by 18 weeks and thus volume measurements were confounded and not significantly different from viable samples. In addition, tissue injury scores increased in initially healthy fat grafts at 18 weeks, possibly because of a delayed immune reaction.