Do Fat Injections Work As Well As Dermal-Fat Grafts For The Treatment of Coccydynia?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I understand Dr. Eppley has performed dermal fat injections to treat coccydynia. I recently had this procedure done and for about 4 weeks it completely eliminated my tailbone pain. But the pain returned not long afterwards and now my pain is the same as it was before surgery. My plastic surgeon is attempting the surgery again in a few weeks. My question is, does Dr. Eppley have a list of post op recommendations to increase the success of dermal fat injections? I was told I can exercise fully after 4 weeks, including using weights and I wonder if that was detrimental to the surgery.

A:I don’t do fat injections for coccydynia and have never have for the very reason you have experienced….100% of the injected fat will resorb and the benefits will be very temporary (4 to 6 weeks). I do dermal-fat grafts not injections. This is the placement of a solid fat graft through an open incision with or without some tailbone bony reduction. This type of solid fat graft has a much higher incidence of survival and is far superior is pressure area lie the coccyx.

FYI Fat injections (liquid) is not the same as a solid fat graft.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon