Fat transfer (also known as lipostructure, autologous fat grafting, or micro-lipoinjection) is a safe procedure using your own tissues. It is useful as a technique to re-contour facial features, or irregularities of contour elsewhere in the body. Recent science is revealing that the stem cells in your body transferred with the fat have the potential to repair and rejuvenate tissues. This is leading to new applications in cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and promises to be an exciting new area in plastic surgery.
Questions and answers
Before meeting with your surgeon, you may want to take the opportunity to discuss your concerns and expectations with one of our specialist nurses. She will give you information about this procedure and discuss what is involved in detail.
When you meet with your surgeon he will listen to your concerns, examine you and then discuss the procedure and what results you can hope to achieve.
Both the area from which the fat is taken (donor site) and the treatment site are anesthetized with a local anesthetic. Using a syringe, fat is aspirated from the donor site, such as your thighs, abdomen or your buttocks. Once removed, your fat is prepared to remove excess fluids and thenreplaced in your tissues to treat the problem area.
The amount of your fat that survives this initial grafting can vary from 35 to 100% depending on a number of factors including the quality of tissues in the treatment site, a patient’s age, previous scaring, radiotherapy, illness etc. The fat that does 'take' should last for many years and there are even cases of this fat enlarging if a patient gains a lot of weight. The fat that does not 'take' is absorbed by your body. Further grafting may be necessary to achieve the best result.
Patients are up and around immediately after the procedure, and any discomfort can be easily controlled with medication. Some swelling at the treatment site can last up to 36 hours and there may be some bruising, which you can cover with makeup.
For optimum, long-lasting results, patients may require between two to four fat grafting procedures over a six-month period.
If you would like to know more about plastic surgery pricing, please click here for an indication of what could be expected. You can also request a brochure or contact us for a personal consultation.
More detailed information can be obtained during a consultation with one of our plastic surgeons. Please contact the Institute for a consultation.
Pre and post operative photographs of all procedures are available to view at the Institute during your consultations.
| Plastic Surgery Procedures | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| breast | body | face | skin | reconstructive |
| Breast Augmentation Breast Reconstruction Breast Reduction Male Breast Reduction | Tummy Tuck Body Lift Liposculpture Thigh Lift Arm Reduction | Facelift Necklift Eyelid Surgery Brow-lift Lip Enhancement Laser Resurfacing Nose Reshaping Prominent Ears Fat Transfer |
Skin Cancers
Melanoma
Skin Care
Skin Fillers and Plumpers | Reconstructive Surgery |
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