Fat Transfer

What is Fat Transfer?

Fat transfer, also known as fat grafting or lipomodelling, is a cosmetic surgery that moves fat from one part of the body to another. The procedure involves harvesting unwanted fat from areas with an excess, such as the abdomen or thighs, and strategically injecting it into areas that lack volume, like the face, hands, breasts, or buttocks. Because the patient's own fat is used, it is a natural and well-tolerated method for restoring volume, reshaping contours, and rejuvenating one's appearance.

Common Applications of Fat Transfer

This versatile procedure is highly effective for addressing a wide range of cosmetic concerns. The most common applications include:

Facial Rejuvenation

• Restoring a youthful appearance by adding volume to creased or sunken areas of the face.
• Filling in the area below the eyes (tear troughs) and the nasolabial folds (smile lines).
• Adding volume to the cheeks to create the appearance of higher cheekbones.
• Rejuvenating the appearance of the hands to provide padding and a smoother look.

Body Contouring

• Removing stubborn, unwanted fat from areas like the stomach, back, and hips.
• Reshaping the body's overall contour.
• Filling in body depressions or irregularities for a smoother silhouette.
• Providing natural padding for bony feet.

Breast Enhancement and Reconstruction

• Modestly increasing breast size.
• Correcting asymmetry between the breasts.
• Filling in contour irregularities or hiding the signs of breast implants as part of breast reconstruction surgery.

Scar and Skin Improvement

• Improving the appearance of surgical scars.
• Reducing the appearance of wrinkles by providing natural volume.

Who is a Good Candidate for Fat Transfer?

To be a good candidate for a fat transfer procedure, you must be in good physical and psychological health. It is important to not have any conditions that could complicate surgery, such as restricted blood flow, coronary artery disease, diabetes, or a weakened immune system.

The Fat Transfer Procedure: A Three-Stage Process

The procedure is carefully carried out in three main stages:

1. Fat Removal (Harvesting): After small incisions are made in the skin of the donor area, a thin tube is used to suck out small amounts of fat via liposuction.
2. Fat Preparation and Purification: The harvested fat is processed using methods like decanting and centrifugation. This separates the viable, healthy adipose fat cells from debris, excess fluid, and damaged cells.
3. Fat Reinjection: The purified fat is then meticulously injected in small amounts into the targeted area that needs improvement until the desired contour and volume are achieved.

Anesthesia and Procedure Duration

The fat transfer procedure can often be carried out under local anesthesia for both the donor site and the treatment area. The surgery may last up to a couple of hours, depending on the size and number of areas being treated.

Recovery and Results

The Recovery Timeline Patients may go home soon after the procedure or may need to stay in the hospital overnight for observation.

• Initially, there will be some swelling, bruising, and pain in the treated areas, but these will diminish within a few days to a few weeks and can be managed with medication.
• Patients are typically up and walking within hours of the surgery.
• Normal social activities can often be resumed within one week, though you may need to take a couple of weeks off from work, depending on the extent of your procedure.

Final Results It can take up to six months for the final results of a fat transfer to fully take effect. This is because some of the injected fat (typically a certain percentage) will be naturally reabsorbed by your body during the first few months. The fat cells that survive the transfer will remain permanently. Fat transfer is a safe, long-lasting procedure that achieves comprehensive and natural-looking results. Every year, thousands of people undergo this procedure successfully and are pleased with the outcome.