Fat Tissue Injection Shows Promise for Bowel Control Problems

First-of-its-kind procedure uses patients' own fat

This 2015 study from the University of Naples in Italy explored a new approach to treating fecal incontinence—the inability to control bowel movements. The researchers used Lipogems® technology to process fat tissue from patients' own bodies. They then injected this specially prepared tissue into the anal sphincter area. This was among the first attempts to use micro-fragmented fat for this condition.

Three women with long-standing incontinence participated

The study included three female patients aged 59 to 73 years old. Each had struggled with fecal incontinence for years. Previous treatments had not resolved their symptoms:

• One patient had undergone surgery for rectal prolapse three years earlier

• Another had sphincter repair surgery that did not improve her condition

• The third patient had both bowel and bladder control issues for five years

All three had weakened or thinned internal anal sphincter muscles. This muscle helps maintain bowel control at rest.

Minimally invasive procedure performed under local anesthesia

The treatment was completed as a day surgery procedure. Patients remained awake with only local numbing medication. The process involved three steps:

• First, doctors harvested about 150 milliliters of fat from the lower abdomen

• Next, the Lipogems® device processed this fat into tiny clusters without using enzymes

• Finally, doctors injected the processed tissue into the space around the anal sphincter

The entire procedure took minimal time. Patients could return home the same day.

Bowel control scores improved within one month

Researchers tracked patient progress using the Wexner incontinence score. This measures how often accidents occur with solid stool, liquid stool, and gas. Lower scores mean better control.

All three patients showed improvement at their one-month checkup. By six months, the benefits continued. Patients reported meaningful improvements in their daily quality of life. They experienced fewer accidents and felt more confident.

Physical tests confirmed sphincter muscle changes

Beyond symptom improvement, objective medical tests showed positive changes at six months:

• Anal pressure measurements increased by at least ten millimeters of mercury in all patients

• Ultrasound imaging revealed thicker internal sphincter muscles

• These physical changes aligned with the symptom improvements patients reported

The combination of better scores and measurable muscle changes suggests the fat tissue injection had real effects on the sphincter structure.

Early results encourage further research

The researchers noted these preliminary findings are promising. However, they emphasized that larger studies with more patients are needed. Longer follow-up periods would help confirm whether benefits last over time. Multi-center trials could verify these results across different patient populations and surgical teams.

For patients with fecal incontinence who have not found relief through other treatments, this study suggests Lipogems® micro-fragmented fat injection may offer a minimally invasive option worth discussing with a specialist. The procedure uses your own tissue, requires only local anesthesia, and showed encouraging early results in this small patient group.

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Source: Cestaro et al., Videosurgery and Other Miniinvasive Techniques, 2015.