Fat Grafting (Autologous Fat Transfer)
What is the Procedure?
Fat grafting, also known as fat transfer or lipofilling, is a natural and versatile procedure that uses your body’s own fat to restore volume, enhance contours, and rejuvenate the skin. It is a three-step process: (1) Fat is gently harvested from a donor area where it is plentiful (such as the abdomen, thighs, or flanks) using liposuction. (2) The harvested fat is then carefully purified and processed to isolate the healthy, viable fat cells. (3) These purified fat cells are then meticulously injected into the target area to add volume and improve shape.
Common areas for fat grafting include
Face
To restore youthful volume to cheeks, temples, lips, and under-eye hollows.
Breasts
For subtle, natural-looking breast augmentation or to correct contour irregularities.
Buttocks
To enhance size and shape (Brazilian Butt Lift).
Hands
To rejuvenate ageing hands by masking prominent veins and tendons.
Who is a Good Candidate for this Procedure?
You are a good candidate for fat grafting if you:
- Desire a natural approach to volume enhancement using your own tissue.
- Have areas of your face or body that appear deflated, hollow, or creased.
- Have adequate fat stores in a donor area for harvesting
- Are in good overall health and a non-smoker.
- Have realistic expectations about the results and understand that not all of the transferred fat will survive
The Consultation Process
- During your consultation, we will identify both the areas you wish to enhance (recipient sites) and the areas where we can harvest fat (donor sites). We will assess your body contours and skin quality to determine if you are a suitable candidate. We will discuss the amount of volume enhancement you desire and what can realistically be achieved. I will explain the concept of fat cell survival and why multiple sessions are sometimes necessary to achieve the final desired volume.
The Consultation Process
Surgical Procedure
The procedure is typically performed under local anaesthesia with sedation or general anaesthesia, depending on the volume of fat being transferred.
a. Harvesting: A small, inconspicuous incision is made in the donor area. Using a specialized cannula, fat is gently suctioned out with minimal trauma to the fat cells.
b. Processing: The harvested fat is placed in a centrifuge or filtration system. This separates the pure, living fat cells from excess fluid, oil, and blood.
c. Injection: The purified fat is loaded into small syringes. I then strategically inject tiny droplets of fat into the recipient area at multiple levels. This meticulous technique ensures an even distribution and maximizes blood supply to the newly transferred fat cells, which is crucial for their survival.
Recovery and Downtime
Potential Risks and Complications
- Risks include swelling, bruising, asymmetry, contour irregularities, and fat resorption (where the body absorbs more fat than anticipated, requiring a touch-up procedure). Serious complications like fat embolism are very rare but are taken seriously through safe harvesting and injection techniques.
Frequently Asked questions (FAQs)
- Is the result permanent? The fat cells that survive the transfer and establish a blood supply will remain permanently, just like any other fat cells in your body. However, not all transferred cells survive; typically, a survival rate of 60-80% is expected.
- How much fat will survive? The survival rate depends on many factors, including the surgeon’s technique and the patient’s own body. I use the most advanced techniques to maximize graft survival.
- Does fat grafting feel natural? Yes. Because it is your own tissue, the results of fat grafting look and feel completely natural.
Take the Next Step
To explore the regenerative and rejuvenating power of using your own tissue for enhancement, contact my Rajahmundry clinic to schedule your fat grafting consultation