Professor Dr. Lin Tsai Ming is the Director of the Charming Institute of Aesthetic and Regenerative Surgery in Koahsiung, Taiwan and an Assistant Professor at Koahsiung Medical University. Not only is he actively advocating the Micro-Autologous Fat Transplantation (MAFT) Gun which he conceptualised in 2006, he also travels the world to perform live surgeries and share his experiences regarding fat transfer techniques. Prof. Lin graduated from Koahsiung Medical University and has a PhD focusing on isolations of adipose-derived stem cells and has completed a fellowship with Michigan State University. He is currently a member of several societies, which include, the International Confederation of Plastic and Reconstructive Aesthetic Surgery, International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Asian Plastic Surgery Society, Taiwan Surgical Association and Taiwan Association of Cosmetic Surgery.
Fat grafting has 12 decades of history. Micro Autologous Fat Transplantation, however, is the injection of multiple fat parcels at a size of only 0.004ml of fat per parcel. The great thing about MAFT and the MAFT-GUN is its ability to inject tiny and continual parcels of fat, which cannot be injected manually or by hand. In 2006, I had an idea and created a prototype. I improved on my model and invented the MAFT-GUN. In 2010, we released the first generation MAFT-GUN that was able to deliver fat parcels with a spherical radius of only one millimetre per bleb and a volume of 0.004 milliletres. Scientific studies and evidence has proven that should large parcels of fat be injected into the skin, only the peripheral zones of the transposed adipose tissues will survive. Dr. Sydney Coleman has further upheld this fat grafting law by insisting that sizes of injected fat should be between 1/30milliletres to 1/50 milliletres. Although Dr. Coleman’s parcel are small, they are much larger than those injected with the MAFT-GUN, as manual injection or fat transposition by hand isn’t able to control parcel sizes. Moreover, even if doctors are able to inject small parcels, it’s not likely small sizes can be continually maintained throughout the procedure.
As previously explained, because only the peripheral zones of large fat parcels survive, the central portion can die and suffer necrosis. This can, of course, lead to fat grafting complications including, abscess formation, fibrosis, nodulation and so forth. To avoid problems, doctors can utilise the MAFT-GUN and totally rely on the predetermined volume delivered by the device. The MAFT-GUN is additionally comprised of a six-grade dial,
which helps doctors predetermine what, where and how much will be injected. For example, if physicians would like to treat the periorbital region, they can switch the six-grade dial to deliver tiny parcels of fat at 1/240 milliletres. If patients would like their noses or dorsums treated, doctors can switch the dial to 1/180 or 1/150 millilitres as skin in such regions are quite thin. In cases where patients would like to treat the entire face, I would recommend that doctors switch the dial to 1/120 milliletres as it delivers parcels far smaller than that of other methods.
There are two versions of the MAFT-GUN. The first is the 1cc version, which is applicable for facial injection. The second MAFT-GUN type, however, can accommodate 10ccs of fat, which is more appropriate for bodily procedures like breasts, as doctors will not have to constantly change the syringes. The MAFT-GUN works very well with larger volume fat transfer and doctors can easily transfer tissues by withdrawing the gun and continually pulling the trigger. By constantly repeating these two steps and keeping in tempo, doctors will successfully deliver sausage links of fat as opposed to isolated parcels. Along with adipose tissue, the MAFT-GUNs can be used for filler injections or Hyaluronic Acid. As previously explained, because humans have limitations, chances of accidents are high. As such, I recommend that doctors utilise the MAFT-GUN and deliver fillers at a six-grade dial of 1/240 milliletres. This will undoubtedly reduce filler-related complications such as necrosis and blindness caused by arterial occlusion and over-injection of the synthetic material. Because fillers are delivered at volumes of only 0.004 milliletres per parcel, vessel or arterial damage will not result in extrusions or occlusions as parcels are extremely tiny and cannot affect in complications. The MAFT-GUN is a tool that truly improves a doctor’s confidence and comfort when delivering injectables under the skin. Furthermore, patients can be rest assured that not only will results be favourable and successful, treatment sessions will be safe, comfortable and with lower chances of suffering and unspeakable complications.
Physicians and fat grafting specialists have always wanted to deliver tinier parcels but because of limitations in manual delivery and human error, even the best surgeons with the best craftsmanship can benefit from an invaluable instrument. In my personal opinion, the MAFT-GUN not only has capabilities in maintaining adipose tissue survival but reduces chances of untreatable and inoperable complications. In addition to decreasing complications, doctors are always looking for new treatments and tools that can increase adipose tissue survival rates. According to my research with nude mice, the MAFT-GUN has the ability to provide 85 percent survival rates. While nude mice still do not provide good models for human candidates because nude mice only have skin and some fascia over muscles, unlike humans who have thicker skin with thicker subcutaneous tissue, on average, I can safely say that adipose tissue deliveries with the MAFT-GUN can provide survival rates of 40 to 70 percent depending on individual patients and which part of the body is treated.
However, I would like to emphasise that doctors shouldn’t put priority on survival rates but focus on how one can avoid severe complications. This device is not only FDA-approved with CE Markings but has a worldwide patent. We have sold over 500 guns and many experts and renowned surgeons have returned with positive feedback and commented that it improves procedural confidence among both doctors and their patients. Along with the invention of the MAFT-GUN, I have additionally done stem cell research where I wrote a thesis regarding adipose derived stem cells. Since plastic surgeons perform liposuction nearly every day, I have set up a platform where doctors are able to isolate and culture the stem cells. What we found was that mesenchymal stem cells not only have very long lifespans but can also proliferate 34 times its original number in only two months. As of today, my research is still ongoing and I am currently performing stem cell related experiments in affiliated tertiary institutions. In addition to stem cell research, I was also the first person to isolate lipoma – benign fatty tumour – derived stem cell. As opposed to adipose derived stem cells, lipoma-derived stem cells have increased potentials in proliferation as the cells are more active. In my personal opinion, doctors have to be very cautious when dealing with adipose derived stem cells. Because stem cells like cancer cells have the ability to uncontrollably divide and proliferate for extended periods of time, I steer clear from additional treatments like stromal vascular fraction and only conduct such experiments on animals as stem cell treatments for cosmetic purposes are illegal in Taiwan.