Fat Transfer

Fat transfer, or fat injection, is a minimally invasive procedure in which fat is gently removed from one area of the body (the donor area), purified and concentrated, and re-injected into areas of the body (the recipient area) to create a fuller, more youthful appearance. Fat transfer helps restore volume loss of the body tissues which occur with aging in the face; alternatively it can be used to simply augment other areas, which have not lost volume, like the breast and buttock.

Fat transfer is 100% natural as it uses the patient’s own body fat to fill, augment and contour. It is not indicated for the treatment of lines and wrinkles which require other treatments.

Fat Transfer Procedures

• Rejuvenate hands
• Rejuvenate the face
• Increase breast size
• Change buttock shape and size

Rejuvenate Hands
One of the first body parts to show signs of aging is the hands. With age, hands begin to lose fat and start to wrinkle and look bony exposing the tendons and veins as volume is lost. Fat transfer involves injecting the patient’s own fat into the hands to create young, healthy looking hands. Often times, plastic surgery is done to the face and body neglecting the hands, which then look disproportionately older compared to the newly rejuvenated body elsewhere. By having fat transfer to the hands, an immediately obvious sign of aging is reduced and the hands look smooth and young.

Rejuvenate the Face
Fat transfer can also be used to rejuvenate the face. The patient’s own fat is injected beneath the skin to fill out hollow areas in the face like the cheeks, temple and under the eyes. This procedure can also smooth wrinkles to a degree, because fat contains some stem cells which can call in new collagen and blood flow over time. Facial fat transfer complements other surgical procedures like facelifts which tighten loose or hanging skin, but does not fill hollows as well.

Increase Breast Size
Breast augmentation using fat transfer involves injecting fat taken from another area of the body into the breast in order to enlarge it. Unlike breast implants, which require incisions and produce scars, fat injections are minimally invasive and there is no cutting involved. There is no risk of rejection as the fat injected is the patient’s own, and recovery time is less than for implant procedures. Not all of the transferred fat is permanent, and the procedure may have to be repeated. There has been some scientific discussion as to whether or not some fat calcifications can interfere with the accuracy of mammograms.

Change Buttock Size and Shape
The size and to change the shape of the buttocks can nicely be managed with fat transfer. With proper marking and technique the buttock profile can be improved and a lift be performed without the use of implants. A natural, curvaceous look can be achieved with little downtime or recovery.

What to Expect After a Fat Transfer
Fat transfer can be done under local or general anesthesia depending on the scope of the procedure, and individual desires. The session can take from 1-3 hours to complete. Recovery includes some dressings, and little aftercare. There is sometimes considerable swelling which resolves within a week or so. Fat transfer has very pleasing results and is a definite option in rejuvenation procedures.