Impact of body mass index on stromal vascular fraction cell yield from human lipoaspirates

Background: The stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of adipose tissue is a critical source of regenerative cells for autologous therapies. While donor-related factors like age have been studied, the influence of Body Mass Index (BMI) on SVF yield remains unclear. This study aimed to determine if a correlation exists between patient BMI and the number of nucleated cells isolated from lipoaspirates. Methods: Adipose tissue was collected from 48 female donors undergoing elective liposuction. Samples were processed using a standardized, point-of-care system (GID platform) for SVF isolation. The total nucleated cell count per milliliter of processed adipose tissue was determined and correlated with the donor's BMI. Results: The mean SVF yield was cells/mL. A significant positive correlation (Pearson r = 0.52, P < 0.001) was observed between increasing BMI and SVF cell yield. Donors with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² yielded significantly more cells than those with a BMI < 22 kg/m². Conclusions: Using a consistent harvesting site and processing technique, we conclude that higher BMI in female patients is associated with a greater yield of SVF cells from abdominal adipose tissue. This suggests that adipose tissue cellularity or composition varies with body mass, which has implications for pre-surgical planning in cell-based therapies.