Fat Grafting or Fat Transfer is the procedure to remove some excess fat cells from different part of the body with meticulous extraction methods and to re-implant where needed - to the lips, nasolabials (mouth to nose folds), under eyes, cheeks, chin, temples, etc. This is a very exciting procedure as it is not incredibly invasive - but does create a moderate amount of swelling - and returns a youthful look.

This procedure can also augment the cheeks, chin, jawline with your autologous tissue to further enhance your look. Or quite simply restore your under eye fat or to fill areas where fat has been lost due to aging, trauma, disease or sickness.

Are You A Candidate For Fat Grafting?

When we age our underlying collagen and elastin begin to break down and wrinkles emerge. This along with facial fat loss, brings about a haggard, hollow or even skeletal look. If you are not "overly" skinny, with a major metabolic problem and have a little extra fat somewhere on your body to spare you may be a good candidate. First and foremost, you must be in good health, not have any active diseases or pre-existing medical conditions and must have realistic expectations of the outcome of the surgery.

What Areas Are Usually Treated?

Almost all areas of the face and body can be treated.

How This Procedure Is Performed
We routinely perform this procedure using only local anesthesia for the entire procedure. If you are having liposuction for body contouring we can have the fat "harvested" during your procedure. This fat will be gently removed from the donor site (usually the buttocks, abdomen or the saddle bags - although the saddle bags can be quite fibrous) with a small cannula as so not to damage the membrane of the fat cell. The fat is then spun in a centrifuge to remove excess fluids and the damaged fat cells are "picked out" and only whole, undamaged fat cells would be used. The fat is then injected with the use of a separate smaller cannula either just under the wrinkle or deep within the muscle (in SOME areas) as their is a higher vascularity within the muscle increasing the longevity of the fat graft. Your face may feel tight for couple of days. Your donor site may be be sore as well.

The Road To Recovery
You shouldn't wear cosmetics until at least the day after. You may be swollen and pink so it may be in your best interest to take off the rest of the day. If you were given any type of sedative you will be groggy and this can be a very good thing.
Most of the swelling may last anywhere from 24-72 hours; although the swelling should completely be gone in 2 - 4 weeks.

The effects can last almost 3 years (maybe more). Fat transfer if done correctly can be wonderful! You may require a few more treatments.

WHAT CAN FAT INJECTIONS DO FOR ME?
For many years plastic surgeons have been searching for a soft tissue filler that can help eliminate wrinkles and soft tissue depressions especially of the face. Collagen has been used for some of these indications but has to be repeated because it is gradually reabsorbed. Fat injections have been used with the hope of maintaining a more permanent correction for some of these problems. The advantage of fat injections is that when the fatty tissue does survive, as a transplanted tissue it is a permanent correction..

HOW MANY FAT INJECTION PROCEDURES ARE NECESSARY?
This depends on the survival of the fatty tissue at any one injection. Typically anywhere from 2-4 injections may be necessary to obtain the desired effect. There is also no guarantee that the fatty tissue will remain.

WHERE IS THE PROCEDURE PERFORMED?
Fat injections can be performed in the office as a minor procedure with local anesthetic. Injections may include areas such as the lips, the cheeks and the folds between the cheeks and the nose.

HOW MUCH PAIN IS THERE?
The surgeon will inject the area with local anesthetic solution to eliminate the pain. Nerve blocks may also be done to anesthetize the areas which are being treated.

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?
The alternatives include other treatments for wrinkles such as laser resurfacing, collagen injections, micro dermabrasion or chemical peel.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SEE RESULTS?
The surgeon will inject the fatty tissue and the effects will be seen immediately. In fact, for the first week to 10 days the areas treated will be swollen and may have some bruising. Since some of the fatty tissue is expected to be reabsorbed, slight overcorrection may be necessary at the time of treatment.

FACIAL REJUVENATION
BEFORE	AFTER
BEFORE	AFTER
BEFORE	AFTER