Fat Transfer
Autologous fat transplantation or fat transfer is the process of removing fat from one area of the body and replacing it in another. The process has been used for more than 100 years to correct flaws such as scars. Currently fat transfer is used to augment body areas such as lips, buttocks, hollowed cheeks, sunken eyes, hands and calf muscles to name a few.
The benefit of transferring fat from one area to another is that the materials used are the persons own, leaving no chance for rejection or allergic reaction. The fat also feels more natural than a synthetic implant. Fat transfer results are not always predictable however. When the fat is transferred, it takes several days for the blood to reach the fat cells. During that time up to 60% of those cells may die and be reabsorbed by the body. This is why 3-4 treatments over a six month period may be required to achieve desired results and why the results can be unpredictable. Each time the transfer is repeated, though, more fat is accumulated, which can lead to longer lasting results, often more than three years. Most dermal fillers will last 3-9 months. Transfer into larger areas of less movement will generally last longer.
Depending on the amount of fat being transferred the procedure can be done under ‘twilight sedation’ or general anesthesia. The fat cells can be removed from the thighs, abdomen or buttocks using liposuction. A thin straw like tube called a cannula is connected to a suction device to remove the fat. The fat cells are then processed by the physician and re-injected into the target area. Because a large amount of fat will be naturally reabsorbed by the body, physicians tend to ‘over correct’ the area by injecting 30% more fat. Improvement is noted immediately, however final results many take a few months or longer to be evident. Side effects for this procedure include redness, swelling, bruising, scabbing and pain at the injection site. Complications are infrequent with fat transfer, but as with any medical procedure are possible. The most common side effect is asymmetry. |
