What is Fat Pad Atrophy?

Constant pounding, repetitive motion, and shoes with little or no support (like sandals, flip-flops, or high heels) can all contribute to thinning of, or damage to, the fat tissue on the bottom of the foot.

Fat pad atrophy is the loss of the protective layer on the bottom of the foot. When it happens, the thickness of the pad decreases, and you lose its shock absorbing capability, which is necessary to protect the bones and nerves in your foot.

When the fat pad is gone, it can result in bruising of the bone. It feels like your bones are actually hitting the ground or like you are walking on rocks.

Symptoms of Fat Pad Atrophy

• If you have been treated for plantar fasciitis or pain in the ball of your foot with little to no improvement, you may have fat pad atrophy.
• You may notice pain in the morning, which continues throughout the day and possibly gets worse. This condition rarely responds to physical therapy or cortisone injections.
• Or, you may be suffering from a sore or ulcer that always comes back because there is not enough tissue on the bottom of your foot to cushion the bones when you take a step.

Restoring the fat pad can help you return to normal everyday living.

What is Liposana®?

Liposana® is used for the repair, replacement, or reconstruction of damaged adipose tissue.

Liposana® is composed of human adipose tissue. Adipose tissue is commonly known as fat.

This cryopreserved (frozen) allograft is aseptically processed (in a clean environment) to retain the native structure and properties of fat. It is used when the protective layer of fat on the bottom of the foot is thinning or injured.

The Procedure

The doctor implants Liposana® in the affected area on the bottom of the foot to help start the restorative process. This fat transplant is done right in the office.

Its components enable fat cells to migrate and attach to the fibrous network of the extracellular matrix, part of fat’s native structure. Once implanted, it provides immediate structural support and protection where the fat pad atrophy occurred.

The area may need to be off-loaded (protected) for a short period of time to allow the fat to settle in the appropriate space.

What to Expect

Liposana® is implanted to replace or supplement injured fat tissue in the foot. It stimulates the body’s natural ability to restore fat into existing tissue.

The transplant is intended to provide cushioning properties to help protect the bones and relieve pain.

Over time, Liposana® will be incorporated into the surrounding area and eventually be replaced by the patient’s own tissue.

Once back to normal activities, patients often report that their pain is significantly reduced or gone, and they are back to their regular lives.