Fat transfer or Lipofilling

What is lipofilling or fat transfer?
Fat transfer is the movement of fat using a syringe. It can be used for a variety of applications, including filling depressions, to improve contour in breast augmentation, or to help fill in wrinkles. This procedure can be performed in either isolation or in combination with other surgery.

Injectable fat cell taken from your own body are the most frequently used methods for filling facial wrinkles and frown lines. While injectible fillers can smooth out wrinkles,they are not for everyone.Some patients are allergic to bovine collagen or may develop an allergic reaction over times.

Fat transfer,also called autologous fat transplantation or micro-lipoinjection,plump up facial features with a patient is own fat and is popular alternative to other wrinkle treatments.Fat transfer to the face is a safe,natural,non allergic reaction,because it is from your own body.

With fat transfer it is posible to have fat liposuctioned from your thights and then transfer to any area of your body.Reinjection fat lasts longer in larger area of non-movement,so it is very successful for the correction of sunken cheeks because this area dose not move as offen.Fat transfer can also correct atrophic againg of the hands and post-surgical and post traumatic defects.But not every area of the body responds well to fat transfer.The breasts for instance are out.Injecting fat into the breast makes it much more difficult to detect breast cancer with mammograms.

How is the procedure done?
Fat transfer is performed in our office on an outpatient basis.Both the area from which the fat is taken and treatment side are anesthetized with a local anesthetic .Using a small needle attached to syringe, fat is removed from donor site where your fat is most tightly packed,such as your abdomen or your buttuocks.

Once removed ,your fat is processed to remove excess fluids and then reinjected using another needle,which is placed just under your skin beneath the wrinkle.This process may be repeated until the desired correction has been achieved.

Harvesting the fat cells for reinjection is offen performed in conjunction with other procedure,such as liposuction,tummy tuck or cosmetic breast surgery.When fat is harvested durring another procedure,it is offen possible for your surgeon to harvest a larger amount of fat,then freeze and store your fat for future injections when they become necessary.

What are the benefits of fat transfer?

• fat transferred to the face can last as long as three years.
• Fat transfer can be very cost effective when combined with another procedure.
• There is no chance of an allergic reaction.

What can I expect after my fat transfer?
Patients are up and around immediately following fat injections.Any discomfort following the procedure can be controlled with medicine.Some swelling at the treatment site may last up to 36 hours.There may be some brusing,which can be covered with make up.Your initial injection should last up to six months.For results that will last years,patients usually receive three or four treatments over a six month period.