METHODS
Source of Adipose-derived Stem Cells (ASCs). All human adipose
tissue used in this study was obtained from the central (preaponeurotic)
and nasal fat depots that are routinely discarded after removal during
upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Nasal fat was distinguished from central
fat by its location and relative pale color. If there was any crosscontamination
or mixing of samples in the surgical field, the tissue was not
processed further. All patients provided full informed consent, and this
study was approved by the University of California, San Diego Institutional
Human Research Protections Program and conforms to the principles
outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki.