Fat Grafting: Enhancing Natural Beauty
Fat grafting, also known as fat transfer or fat injection, is a cosmetic procedure that involves harvesting fat from one part of the body and injecting it into another area to enhance volume and contour. This technique is commonly used to augment facial features, improve body contours, and rejuvenate aging hands.
Fat can work as a long term “filler” and also is full of stem cells, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and growth factors. Therefore, it has benefits not only for volume restoration, but also for the skin. Dr. Nagy often combines facial fat grafting with other procedures such as blepharoplasty and deep plane facelift. You can also use it to augment your hands for volume loss or poor skin texture.
Who is a Candidate?
Candidates for fat grafting typically include individuals who are looking to enhance facial features such as cheeks, lips, or chin, or seeking by restoring volume lost due to aging.
The growth factors in your own body’s fat can rejuvenate the appearance of your skin by filling in wrinkles, hollow areas, or scars.
Ideal candidates should have adequate fat deposits in donor areas (such as abdomen, thighs, or buttocks), be in good overall health, and have realistic expectations about the outcomes of the procedure.
What to Expect During the Procedure
The surgeon performs liposuction to extract fat from the donor area. This involves making small incisions through which a thin tube (cannula) is inserted to suction out fat cells. The harvested fat is processed in a sterile manner to purify and prepare it for injection. The processed fat is then injected into the targeted areas using small cannulas, carefully layering it to achieve desired volume and contour.
The procedure duration varies depending on the amount of fat being transferred and the areas treated.
Post-Operative Recovery
Recovery from fat grafting involves minor swelling, bruising, and discomfort in both the donor and recipient areas. Pain medications and cold compresses can help manage these symptoms.
Rest and avoid strenuous activities for the first week. Your surgeon will provide specific guidelines on when you can resume normal activities. Maintain a healthy lifestyle and protect your skin from sun exposure. Results of fat grafting can be long-lasting, although some of the transferred fat may be naturally absorbed by the body over time.
