Fat Transfers
This procedure involves harvesting fat from one area of the body and utilizing it to sculpt another area where volume has been lost. Many of the changes associated with aging are due to loss of fat restoration, which creates a more youthful appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How does fat injection differ from synthetic facial fillers?
A: Autologous fat is your own tissue. For that reason, it is possible to remain as a living implant when moved from one area of your body to another. This has been attempted for many years in plastic surgery but in most cases was minimally successful. What has changed is the method by which fat is harvested, cleaned, and transferred to its new position. Fine instrumentation is used to microinject small volumes of fat which allows for tremendous, long lasting results.
Q: In what areas are fat grafts utilized?
A: Fat grafts can be utilized as an adjunct to face lifting or eyelid surgery. In many cases, it is better to inject fat into the cheek rather than remove fat deposits from the eyelid, which may be a normal component of ones anatomy. Fat transfers may also be used in the lips, cheeks, or chin to enhance fullness.
Q: Do fat transfers hurt?
A: In most cases fat transfers can be performed under local anesthesia in an hour or less and are minimally invasive. Some bruising may occur but this is usually minimal.
Q: Can fat be transferred to the buttock or breast?
A: Fat transfers have been utilized successfully in augmentation of the buttocks. Due to the trauma involved in sitting, multiple injections can be required. In terms of breasts, fat injections had been looked unfavorably in the past due to possible interference with mammography. Advances in mammographic techniques now make this potentially feasible and early studies have shown some promise. For limited augmentation, it is an alternative.