Your Quick Guide to Fat Transfer Surgery

Fat transfer, or fat grafting, is a cosmetic procedure in which excess fat is removed from one part of your body and injected into other parts of your body where increased volume is desired, such as your cheeks, breasts, or buttocks. As a plastic surgery office, we would like to provide you with this quick guide to fat transfer surgery.

What are the pros and cons of fat transfer surgery?

Like any surgical procedure, there are pros and cons to fat transfer.

Pros

• Using your own fat, as opposed to pre-packaged dermal fillers, reduces the risk of allergic reaction.
• Results are natural-looking and last longer than other injectable treatments.
• The method is noninvasive, which is ideal for facial rejuvenation.

Cons

• This procedure is much more time consuming than using pre-packed fillers.
• Fat grafting costs more than using pre-packed fillers.
• Multiple sessions may be required for you to achieve desired results.

Am I a good candidate for fat transfer surgery?

You should generally be in good health before undergoing fat transfer surgery, and it is definitely not recommended if you have poor blood circulation, either from a medical condition or from smoking. Your surgeon will also need to determine if you have enough fat from donor sites that can be safely transferred to other areas of your body.

What parts of the body can fat grafting be used for?

Fat grafting yields optimal results when used for:

• Facial fat transfer:Fat is injected into your face to reduce lines and wrinkles, add volume to lips and cheeks, and correct acne scars.
• Breast augmentation:If you desire a moderate increase in breast size, then fat transfer may be a good option. For best results, you should have good skin tone and your breasts should be firm and shapely. If your breasts sag or you want a significant increase in breast size, then this procedure isn’t for you.
• Breast reconstruction:Fat transfer is a good option for women who want to correct breast irregularities following a lumpectomy or other types of breast surgery. Fat grafting can also be used to completely reconstruct the breast following a mastectomy.
• Buttock augmentation:Many people who desire a fuller, more curvaceous buttock may use fat transfer as an alternative to butt implants.
• Hand rejuvenation:Fat grafting is ideal for smoothing out hands, reducing hand wrinkles, improving skin tone, and covering prominent tendons or veins.

How do I prepare for a fat transfer procedure?

Your surgeon will provide thorough preoperative instructions, take a detailed medical history, and perform a physical exam prior to the procedure. He or she will also take pre-procedure photos to help plan the surgery.

You can also expect your surgeon to ask you to:

• Stop smoking at least six weeks before the procedure.
• Avoid taking aspirin and blood-thinning medications two weeks prior to the surgery.
• Drink plenty of water to maintain hydration.

What happens during fat transfer surgery?

Fat grafting is essentially a three-stage process:

1. Harvesting: Your surgeon will inject the area where fat will be removed with a local anesthetic. Then, the surgeon will create a small incision and use liposuction to remove the fat.
2. Purification and transfer:After collection, your surgeon will filter and purify the fat before transferring it to smaller syringes for injection.
3. Placement:The last step is actually injecting the fat into the desired area. During this phase, the surgeon is carefully depositing fatty tissue in a grid-like pattern, which helps achieve the most precise and natural-looking results possible.

What can I expect following the procedure?

After some recovery time in the surgical office, you will be able to go home that same day. Be sure you have someone to drive you home and stay with you for at least 24 hours. Your plastic surgeon will also tell you how to care for any incisions.

The swelling and bruising during the first week after surgery are significant and you will not be ready to see others socially or professionally. The bruising will dissipate during the second week post-surgery, but there will still be swelling. You can expect to look more like yourself after the third week of recovery, and you’ll be able to fully appreciate the results.

Northeastern Plastic Surgery understands your desire for a beautiful, youthful looking body and facial appearance. We use the latest plastic surgery techniques to perform a variety of surgical procedures. Dr. Fodero and the staff are very friendly, helpful, and available to answer any questions you may have about the procedures we offer. We strive to ensure that your experience with us is positive. Please contact us today to learn more about the services we offer.