Fat Transfer/Injection

Fat transfer involves taking fat from one part of your body, and injecting it into another. It is often injected into the face to create a more youthful appearance by filling in and plumping the area around wrinkles or areas that have become sunken. Fat transfer can also be used to make your lips fuller and is sometimes used on other parts of the body as well. Fat transfer for buttock augmentation is an increasingly popular procedure.

Who Can Benefit From Fat Transfer?

You may be a good candidate for fat transfer if you have any of the following:

• Facial wrinkles, creases, furrows, such as "crow's feet," frown lines, and smile lines
• Depressions in the skin
• Cheeks that have become sunken
• Thin lips

The appearance of some scars may also be improved by fat transfer. Ask the doctor if any scars you have may be good candidates for fat transfer. Certain types of wrinkles may best be improved with a resurfacing procedure or a facelift. The doctor will evaluate your particular situation and recommend which procedure(s) will help you to achieve your desired results.

Frequently, patients choose to have a facelift to tighten the face and fat transfer to plump up certain areas. There are other substances, such as Restylane, which can be injected to achieve improvements to some wrinkles. The doctor will help you determine which injectable substance will be the best for you.

What is the Procedure Like?

The procedure takes less than an hour, and it begins by extracting the fat from your body – usually your stomach area, buttocks, or thighs – with a small needle and syringe. Using a tiny needle, the fat is then injected into the face to plump up the area and fill in any indentations. You will be given a local anesthetic in the area where the fat is extracted and where it is injected.

You will also receive a sedative to be more relaxed and a bit drowsy during the procedure. Fat transfer is an outpatient procedure that is performed in the doctor's office, and some of the fat will be absorbed by your body within a few days. To compensate for this, the doctor will over-fill the treated areas a bit. You will be allowed to go home very soon after your procedure is completed, and you should have someone with you to drive you home because the anesthetic may make you drowsy.

What Can I Expect During Recovery?

You should be able to resume all normal activities right away after your fat injections, but you may be asked to avoid vigorous exercise for a few days. Bandages may be used, but you will probably be allowed to remove them and use makeup the next day, so that you can return to work. You may experience some swelling, bruising, redness, and minor discomfort in the areas where the fat was extracted and injected, but this discomfort should subside within a few days.

The larger the areas that have been treated, the longer you may experience swelling and redness. The results of fat injections are not permanent. In some cases, patients may require a second procedure to achieve an optimal result.

What Are the Risks of Fat Injections?

Fat injections are very safe. Allergic reactions are not an issue because the fat is taken from your own body. Infection is an extremely rare occurrence.