Autologous fat grafting for treatment of facial atrophy in Behcet's disease: a case report

Abstract

Behcet's disease (BD) is an autoimmune & autoinflammatory disease of unclear etiology characterized by recurrent oral & genital ulcers as well as other systemic manifestations. A key pathogenesis is excessive inflammatory wound healing response. While descriptions of the cutaneous manifestations of disease are limited to short-term consequences such as extensive pustule and papule formation in response to minor tissue injury, the long-term consequences are significant fibrosis and scarring of epithelial tissue. We describe the case of a patient with Behcet's disease who presented with unilateral facial atrophy secondary to minor trauma to the oral mucosa. She was treated with autologous fat grafting. Though a rare disease, plastic surgeons should be aware of the entity of Behcet's disease and its complications of tissue atrophy that may require reconstructive surgery.

Keywords: Autologous fat grafting; Behcet's disease; Facial atrophy; Reconstructive surgery.