Things You Should Know About Fat Transfer

Fat transfer almost sounds too good to be true. You can get liposuction to remove excess fat from unwanted body parts and then transfer it to areas where you want to be a little plumper. Fat transfer is also sometimes called fat grafting.

The procedure itself has a lot of advantages. It’s minimally invasive and has a wide variety of uses; you can transfer the fat to any part of your body that can benefit from more volume, from your face to your breasts. The specialists at Advanced Plastic Surgery Center explain this procedure and how you can know if you will be a good candidate for it.

How fat is harvested

When you decide to get a fat transfer procedure, you can expect that you will receive anesthesia first. The fat will be removed by liposuction, which is then purified and washed. The fat is minimally handled to improve the odds of success of the fat transfer.

You have only a few small incisions due to the liposuction, so your recovery time should be minimal. 

The most common sites of harvesting fat include anywhere you have more fat than you would like to lose, such as your stomach, thighs, and hips.

Areas we can fill with fat transfer

Fat transfer is incredibly versatile. Any part of your body that needs to be a little bit plumper and may benefit from some extra volume can be a good site for fat transfer. Some of the areas where we may add excess fat to make you look more aesthetically pleasing include the following:

• Face (including sunken cheeks or for filling in wrinkles)
• Breasts
• Buttocks
• The back of your hands
• Hips (to give you more of an hourglass figure)
• Stomach (to smooth out any irregularities)
• Shoulders or chest muscles (common for men)

Sometimes, fat transfer is used in combination with breast implants for augmentation or breast reconstruction.

What you can expect after the procedure

When you have had fat grafting procedures done, your recovery is generally pretty uncomplicated. Your incisions from the liposuction will likely be sore for several weeks, and you may also experience some bruising.

Bruising, discomfort, and swelling are common after fat grafting procedures. For most people, you need to take about a week off from work to heal and recover.

However, the results that you see will take a while to gradually appear. Not all of the fat transferred will survive; it’s normal for some fat cells to die. Still, you will see your new shape begin to evolve. It can take up to 6 months to see the final results of the procedure.

Although the procedure is generally considered safe, it presents some minimal risks, such as fat embolism and scarring. Your results will be better, and the procedure will be safer when you choose board-certified plastic surgeons who are experienced in performing it.

If you have questions about whether or not fat transfer procedures will benefit you, the best option is to schedule a consultation. Contact Advanced Plastic Surgery Center today or request an appointment online.