Fat grafting is also referred to as fat transfer or fat injections. It is a cosmetic procedure used by many plastic surgeons to help patients. Patients looking to plump up their skin and achieve a more youthful look in the face can see positive results. More specifically, a fat grafting procedure fills the patient’s facial features with his or her own fat. A plastic surgeon extracts the fat used in the procedure from other parts of your body, such as the abdomen or thighs. He or she then injects that fat into the targeted treatment area that requires plumping. Because the fat being used originated with the patient, it is much easier for a significant portion of the fat to become permanent. In other words, your body accepts it more easily. This procedure, therefore, eliminates the need for constant reinjections, making it a better option than some other available materials.

Before choosing to undergo a fat grafting procedure, it is important that you learn as much as you can about what to expect. When you go in for a consultation with your surgeon, you will then be prepared to have an educated conversation about your goals. This will help you to make the best medical choice possible for your health and wellness.

What is fat grafting?

Simply put, fat transfer, also called fat grafting, fat injections, or lipofilling, is a procedure that uses a person’s own fat to fill in irregularities in the skin’s appearance. While the procedure can be used to plump up the areas around the eyes, the lips, and the cheeks.

A patient chooses to undergo fat grafting due to a variety of aesthetic irregularities. This can include the following.

  • Sunken cheeks
  • Deep lines running from the nose to the corners of the mouth
  • Deep lines between the lower eyelids and the cheek
  • Thin lips

This procedure can also be used to correct any unwanted results from poorly performed liposuction or previous injuries.

What to expect from the procedure

Fat grafting can be performed in an inpatient or outpatient setting. This depends on where your plastic surgeon is located as well as how much fat is being relocated in the procedure. When you arrive at the facility, you will fill out the necessary paperwork and then, the nursing staff will take you to a prep room. A doctor will administer anesthesia for your comfort during the procedure. The necessary fat is then obtained by a limited liposculpture through one or several 3-to-5 mm incisions. It is normally taken from the abdomen or inner thigh. The fat is then processed by centrifuging, filtering, or rinsing, which results in pure liquid fatty tissue ready for injection.

Your cosmetic surgeon then inserts the fat in the targeted treatment areas. The fat is evenly distributed into the area by injecting small amounts in the tissues so that the injected fat is well surrounded by healthy tissue. This ensures that the transplanted fat remains in contact with the surrounding tissues that must supply it with oxygen and nutrients. The procedure takes about an hour, depending on the size of the treatment area.

What is recovery like?

There will be swelling in the treatment area immediately after the procedure. This is especially true if the lips were treated. Your plastic surgeon will likely recommend that you use a cold pack and a compress in the first few hours to minimize the swelling.

The swelling will increase until about the third day, but will then gradually subside. Seven to ten days after the procedure, you should feel confident about going out and resuming a normal social life. If any bruises developed, they might remain visible for a little longer. Typically, they can be hidden with makeup.

Patients should have a check-up with the surgeon after five to seven days and again three weeks later. By then, most of the swelling will have subsided.  It is important to note that the correction may still look rather exaggerated. You should know that plastic surgeons usually over-correct. This means injecting more fat than is actually needed. They do this because 25 to 30% of the transplanted fat cells do not survive. After about three months, the final results of the procedure can be assessed.

Side effects and risks of fat grafting

Some of the risks of fat grafting include the following.

  • Asymmetry
  • Irregularities, bumps or grooves
  • Overcorrection or extra fat in the target area
  • Infection of the treated area

If you undergo a fat grafting procedure, you should be aware of the possible side effects. They include the following.

  • Bruising
  • Swelling
  • Tenderness

Am I a good candidate?

The best candidates for a fat transfer are those who are healthy and have a significant amount of volume loss in the face. It is also important that the patient has an area with excess fat from which the necessary fat can be taken. Risks and complications are low, but you should tell your plastic surgeon if you suffer from diabetes, hypertension, or other uncontrolled conditions.

Finding the Right Plastic Surgeon Can Help

Your fat grafting procedure will only be as successful as the plastic surgeon you choose. Working with an experienced cosmetic surgeon who has experience with fat grafting is crucial. He or she should be able to show you before-and-after photos from past clients. Most importantly, your surgeon should be able to answer any lingering questions you may have about the procedure. Your choice of surgeon should put your mind at ease. Dr. Anthony Berlet has been serving patients in the northern NJ and New York City areas for over 20 years. To learn more about fat grafting procedure and how we can help you, contact us!