Fat Grafting (Microfat Transfer Surgery)

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Fat Grafting

ABOUT FAT GRAFTING

Have you ever wondered if you could take a little excess fat from one part of your body and put it somewhere else where you’d like an enhancement? Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Deborah Ekstrom can remove unwanted fat from one area and use it to enhance your cheeks, lips, chin, hands, skin depressions and scars, breasts, and even the buttocks (Brazilian buttocks lift). Microfat grafting, or a fat transfer, is a safe, natural, non-allergenic procedure to add fullness wherever it is desired. These fat grafts last longer in larger areas of non-movement like the cheeks than they do in dynamic areas like the lips. It is most frequently used as an adjuct to facial surgery to help rejuvenate the cheeks, mid-face, and areas around the eyes. If you think a fat transfer might be right for you, call Salisbury Plastic Surgery in Worcester, MA to schedule a consult. We will be happy to discuss all the benefits of a fat transfer and what it can do for you.

Ideal Candidates

Men and women are turning to plastic surgeons to perform fat transfers to plump cheeks, fill lips, and make buttocks and breasts fuller and shapelier. Great candidates for a fat transfer:

Have areas of the body with enough excess fat for liposuction
Have areas of the body that are flat or thin and need volume
Are allergic to injectable fillers, such as Radiesse or Voluma
Need tissue replenished following a cancer removal surgery
Have overall good health but are not excessively thin (patients who diet and exercise a lot burn their fat, including any grafted fat)

What to Expect

Once the patient is under general anesthesia or local sedation, an instrument called a cannula is inserted into the skin to suction out the fat. Incisions for this procedure are routinely very small and will be easily hidden under clothing. The removed fat is then sorted and purified before being put into a syringe for the transfer. The plastic surgeon will inject the fat into the skin and massage the area so that the fat settles smoothly into the needed area. This process may have to be performed several times, which is also known as a layered fat grafting, for the best results. The patient will see redness and swelling initially, but fat transfers usually have a downtime of 7 – 10 days and total recovery period of 1 – 2 weeks.

Anticipated Results

Patients receiving a fat transfer may need additional grafting surgeries in the future. As the fat settles into the new area of the body, it may become reabsorbed by the body. Fat transfer is generally an easier and more natural way to enhance and add volume to areas of the body than dermal injectables or artificial implants. Some patients may consider having dermal injections in the area(s) that need volume as a test to see what they do or do not like about the size the surgeon makes their backside.

FILL IN WITH FAT GRAFTING

Weight loss, aging, and genetics are all reasons why an area of the body needs replenished volume. A fat transfer creates fuller, healthier looking areas of the body without allergic reactions, since it is the patient’s own fat. We invite you to schedule a consultation to learn more about fat transfer surgery and your options.