Procedure | Minimally Invasive
Fat Grafting (Fat Transfer)
Fat grafting also referred to as fat transfer or fat injections, a surgical process where fat from an area is transferred to another. It aims to remove unwanted fat from a specific area to another in fill in volume-deficient areas. To be able to, the donor sites must have enough fat to be taken. Patients must be of a healthy weight and without any form of circulatory problems, medical conditions, or smoking.
In fat grafting, fat tissue is removed from other parts of your body — usually your thighs, belly, and buttocks — by liposuction. The tissue is then processed into liquid and injected into other areas. Fat grafting can be explained as a three-stage process:
- Harvest
- Purify and Transfer
- Place
It is considered a safe, long-lasting and well-tolerated procedure where many people undergo successful fat grafting and are pleased with the results.
Fat transfer is typically used to plump and rejuvenate volume-deficient areas such as the face and lips, breast, buttock, and even the hands.
Prior your decision, it is important to select an experience and certified surgeon. Do also make sure that you are a suitable candidate for the procedure.
To prepare:
• Your surgeon may take pre-procedure photos.
• Regardless of the type of surgery to be performed, hydration is key before and after surgery for safe recovery and the best outcomes.
• Stop smoking at least six weeks before.
• Avoid taking aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications that can increase bleeding.
The length of your procedure depends on how much fat is removed.
Frequently, local anesthesia and intravenous sedation are used.
Fat is harvested from one part of your body, washed and purified, and then carefully reinjected with specially designed needles into the areas that need augmentation.
It may be necessary to repeat the fat grafting procedure several times to achieve the desired result.
Expect swelling and bruising during the first week, and you might want to take time off to rest and would not be ready to meet people for work.
Day 7 to 10 post-operative, you would begin to see improvement, however, not ready to be out meeting people. By week 3, you should begin to return back to your normal self however, do be careful if you are applying makeup. It is best not to.
Once the swelling recedes, you will be able to appreciate the changes, but subtle swelling may persist for weeks.
Once the swelling subsides, the areas to which the fat was transferred will appear softer and fuller. Skin texture may also improve. This is because, when it is done successfully, the fat injected is then able to establish a new blood supply from the body it needs for nourishment.
Results can and often are permanent; however, there may be a percentage of fat that does not take. In cases like that, a touchup procedure may be required. For safety and to ensure recovery is on track, it’s important to return to your plastic surgeon’s office for follow-up evaluation at prescribed times.
Some of the potential complications of all surgeries are:
Adverse reaction to anesthesia
Hematoma or seroma (an accumulation of blood or fluid under the skin that may require removal)
Infection
Changes in sensation
Scarring
Allergic reactions
Damage to underlying structures
Unsatisfactory results that may necessitate additional procedures
