Types of Fat in the Wound

Knowing and identifying the different fats present in a wound, especially one that requires surgery, is often useful for making sure it is treated properly and safe from infection. Not all wounds contain fat, since fat is found at a specific depth beneath the skin. Wounds that exhibit visible fat are deeper than those that do not.

Medical Definition

• Adipose is the scientific term that refers to tissue in the body chiefly made of of fat cells. These fat cells are also commonly described by their physical appearance as white or yellow fat.

Types of Wounds

• The depth of a wound can be classified according to the three main layers that make up the skin. Fats are found in the third and deepest level.

  1) The epidermis is the outer-most layer of skin which is made up of different types of cells but contains no blood vessels. A wound at this level is classified as "superficial" and can heal by itself.

  2) The dermis is found beneath the epidermis and is comprised of connective tissue, blood capillaries, lymphatic vessels and nerves. A wound that reaches or damages the dermal layer is classified as "partial thickness" and may leave a scar after healing.

  3) The hypodermis is a found beneath the dermis and is comprised of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue formed by fat globules (i.e. adipose). A wound that penetrates this layer is classified as "full thickness" and is identifiable by a gape of glistening white or yellow fat. A full thickness wound carries the risk of muscle or nerve damage and requires special treatment.

Full Thickness Wound Treatment

• According to the Medical Education Division of Brookside Press, the presence of white or yellow fat in a full thickness cut or burn is an indication of nearby nerve structures that are heavily padded. When treating the wound and cutting out dead muscle or foreign objects, the fat should be left alone so as to minimize the risk of damaging a nerve.