Fat Grafting

Photo Gallery -- Fat Grafting
Fat Grafting for the Hands
Fat Grafting for Liposuction Deformities
Fat Grafting for Marionette Folds
Fat Grafting for Nasolabial Folds
Fat Grafting of the Breasts
Fat Grafting with Facelifts
Fat Grafting with Liposuction
Lips At A Glance

Body fat makes excellent soft tissue filler material. Fat injection (also called autologous fat transplantation or structural fat grafting) transfers fat from one part of the body to another. It can also be used to fill out depressed scarred areas on any part of the body. Fat injection may not be permanent, and may require supplement fat injections at a later date.

Technique:

The donor site (for example, abdomen, buttocks, thighs or inner knees) and the treatment site are injected with local anesthetic. Intravenous (IV) fluids are also injected into the donor site to facilitate fat collection. Fat cells are extracted through a small needle attached to a syringe. The fat is then processed to remove excess fluids and reinjected with another needle in multiple thin strands in the desired area. "Overfilling" is a necessary corrective due to fat absorption in the weeks after treatment. Fat can also be harvested during a lipoplasty (liposuction) procedure in one area of the body, and then reinjected in another.

Benefits:

• Natural, non-allergenic.
  
• Outpatient procedure.
  
• Injections may last from several months to permanently.
  
• Minimal discomfort, which can be controlled with medication.
  
• Because fat is from the patient’s own body, no pre-testing is required and the fat cannot be rejected, though it may be resorbed.
  
• Good alternative if the patient is allergic to bovine collagen.
  
• Cost effective if combined with another procedure like lipoplasty (liposuction).
  
• Can be used together with other synthetic facial fillers such as Restylane or Radiesse.
  

Other Considerations:

• Longevity of results can vary significantly from patient to patient.
  
• Moderate to considerable swelling, bruising—usually about 48 hours. Patient should avoid the sun until the condition subsides.
  
• Not every area is appropriate for fat injection. Injecting fat into the breast, for example, makes cancer detection via mammography more difficult and is strongly discouraged .
• Lasts longest when injected in relatively stationary areas (such as the cheeks).

Fees for Fat Grafting: 
Varies, needs to be determined at time of consultation.