The fat you might not want in one area of your body actually could be a welcome addition someplace else. Fat transfer is a body-contouring technique that uses fat cells removed by liposuction from one spot to enhance another part of your body.
The breasts, the buttocks, and the face are all popular targets for the injection of fat tissue, which is typically taken from the abdomen, hips, thighs, or lower back. The fat is prepared for reinjection and micro-grafted through special needles to amplify curves or to smooth out uneven areas. Usually Dr. Jensen performs fat transfer on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia.
The best candidates are those who have a little extra fat to spare, since there needs to be enough to harvest for the transfer to be successful. A consultation with the surgeon will help determine if this procedure is appropriate for you and your goals.
What is Autologous Fat Transfer?
“Autologous” refers to cells or tissues taken from an individual for use in another part of that person’s body. The advantage is that there’s no danger of rejection or allergic reaction, because the autologous fat transfer tissue comes from your own body. And since your body won’t perceive the transferred fat as “foreign,” it won’t surround it with hardened tissue capsules in an effort to protect itself. That means there’s no risk of capsular contraction.
Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation
Over the past couple of decades, fat transfer breast augmentation has gained popularity as an alternative to implants. An increase of a half to a whole cup size typically can be achieved in a session of micro-grafting the fat cells into the breasts. For a larger increase, sessions can be repeated.
Fat Transfer to the Buttocks
A fat transfer to buttocks can shape and lift the muscles to create a more rounded, youthful-looking posterior. Familiarly known as the Brazilian buttocks lift, this procedure can be done for buttock augmentation.
The results are emphasized if the fat has been harvested from the waist and abdomen, which will now be smaller.
Fat Transfer to the Face
Facial features lose fullness as a result of aging and gravity. Fat grafting is an effective way to achieve facial rejuvenation and replace volume—around the eyes, at the cheeks or temples, or on the lower part of the face. Transferred fat can fill in laugh lines or crow’s feet and correct sunken areas beneath the eyes. Whether it’s being done to reverse the effects of aging or to add definition to a thin face, fat transfers to the face offers natural-looking, long-lasting results.
Fat Transfer Recovery and Results
Fat transfer scarring is minimal, since the incisions made to extract and re-inject the fat are tiny. Swelling and bruising for several weeks is common, but fat transfer recovery is relatively easy. Depending on your procedure, you’ll be advised to refrain from vigorous exercise for a few weeks; a compression garment may be recommended for the liposuction site.
The final outcome may not be fully apparent for several months to a year, when the swelling is completely gone. The results can be expected to last a lifetime.
