Dorsocervical fat pads: searching for effective treatment

Objective. A systematic review of literature data on etiological factors and effective treatment for dorsocervical fat pad. Material and methods. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and included publications over the past 10 years. Only English-language studies involving adults were considered. Studies with poor design, unpublished data, case reports, experimental studies, reviews and letters to the editor were excluded. We reviewed the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases and selected 37 studies. They covered genetic, metabolic, endocrine, infectious, and autoimmune aspects of buffalo humps, as well as their treatment including conservative and surgical approaches. Results. Analysis revealed multifactorial aetiology of dorsocervical fat pad. Among non-pharmacological treatments, weight loss is effective in reducing these deposits. Injectable treatments include deoxycholic acid injections, although they are associated with side effects in early post-procedural period. Surgical methods, such as liposuction and lipectomy, are associated with high patient satisfaction. However, liposuction carries a risk of recurrence, while lipectomy negatively impacts aesthetic outcomes and can lead to seroma. Conclusion. Dorsocervical fat pad requires a multidisciplinary treatment approach.