COSMETIC TOWN JOURNAL



Fat Transfer – How Fat Grafting Enhances Other Parts of the Body

Posted September 18, 2020
Fat transfer AKA fat grafting enhances other parts of a body

Patients that want more volume or a better contour to certain areas of their body often turn to fat transfer to achieve the desired results. Fat transfer, AKA fat grafting, is a cosmetic procedure where excess fat is removed from one area of the body and injected into another area of the body that is lacking in volume. Some of the most popular areas of the body that receive transferred fat include the face, buttocks and breasts. Fat transfer produces long-lasting, natural results that enhance the overall look of the area where the fat is injected.

Fat Transfer Candidates

Ideal candidates for fat transfer include:

  • Patients that want to see more volume in the face, breasts or buttocks
  • Someone that is looking for a more enhanced and contoured look to the face, breasts or buttocks
  • A person that want to fill-in sunken areas or areas of the body that have contour irregularities
  • Patients that want to enjoy results that are more permanent than those provided by fillers

Fat Transfer Pros and Cons

Some of the common pros and cons of fat transfer include:

Pros

  • The fat that is transferred comes from the body of the actual patient so there is very little chance of an allergic reaction occurring after the fat injection is performed
  • The fat can be removed from other areas of the body such as the abdomen and thighs
  • Fat transfer is noninvasive and does not require an invasive surgical procedure to perform
  • The results of fat transfer are long-lasting and natural in appearance

Cons

  • Some patients might not have enough excess fat that can used to perform fat transfer
  • It might require multiple treatments to achieve the desired final volume and contour to the face, breasts or buttocks

Fat Transfer – Ideal Areas of the Body

Patients that want to enjoy a modest amount of breast augmentation can achieve it through the performance of fat grafting to the breasts.  It is necessary for the patient to already have a good shape and skin elasticity to the breasts as sagging breasts are not ideal for fat grating to the breasts. In addition, this cosmetic procedure does not provide a significant increase in size or contour to the breasts. Fat grafting to the breasts can be performed after breast implants are placed in the body to produce a smooth final shape without any irregularities in the breast area.

Patients that have laugh lines or crow’s feet can have facial fat transfer to smooth the appearance of the face and reduce the look of these issues. In addition, fat transfer to the face can fill-in sunken areas of the cheeks and lips and also provides volume that works to fill-in areas with acne scars.

A person that wants to achieve an appearance to the buttocks that is full and round can undergo buttock augmentation with fat grafting to get a rounder, contoured look.

Fat Transfer Performance, Recovery and Results

In general, body fat transfer is when fat is removed from one part of the body so it can be purified and then injected into another part of the body.

The surgeon picks an area of the body with excess fat and then injects a local anesthetic into the area. An incision is made in the targeted area for fat removal and then a cannula is injected into the area to extract the excess fat. The removal of the excess fat is performed using a cosmetic surgery technique known as liposuction.

Once the designated amount of fat is removed from the donor area, the surgeon purifies the fat to remove any impurities that might be present before it is injected back into the body.

The area that is designated to receive the fat will then receive the injection. Fat transfer in the targeted area can be performed multiple times to achieve the desired final results. The injection of the transferred fat will not cause any scars but there might be some small scars from the liposuction procedure that will fade as time passes.

Once the fat transfer procedure is performed, there will be some swelling and bruising for the first week (or a little over a week). The bruising will likely resolve after the first week but the swelling will still be present for several more weeks. Patients can expect to take a week or two off work while the bruising and swelling is most prominent. After three weeks, patients can normally use makeup to help cover any lingering signs of bruising or swelling.

In general, the results from fat transfer provide a more youthful, contoured and rejuvenated appearance to the treated area. The final results are normally visible after three months and the results are considered to be permanent.

Fat Transfer Risks

Some of the common risks associated with fat transfer include:

  • Infection
  • Adverse anesthesia reaction
  • Scarring
  • Changes in sensation
  • Damage to underlying structures of the skin
  • Fat Transfer Costs

The cost associated with fat transfer ranges from $5000-$10,000. The final cost depends on the size of the area being treated, the amount of fat that is removed, the complexity of the procedure and any fees charged by the doctor or the facility.

Fat Transfer Consultation Appointment

Patients interested in undergoing fat transfer need to schedule a consultation appointment with a board-certified doctor that is experienced in performing fat grafting. The doctor can examine the patient to determine if the person is an ideal candidate for the procedure and also determine the available amount of excess fat on the body that can be transferred to other areas of the body. Once the doctor has performed the consultation appointment, the patient will have the necessary information to make the final decision about undergoing a fat transfer procedure. Cosmetic Town connects patients with the best doctors. Find a doctor in your area!

MA

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