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Fat Transfer

Fat Transfer

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Patients in NYC and Long Island often choose fat transfer procedures for their ability to naturally enhance and rejuvenate various areas of the face and body. This versatile technique allows individuals to restore volume, smooth contours, and combat visible signs of aging in a way that looks and feels natural. Whether addressing volume loss in the face or improving body contours, fat transfer appeals to those seeking natural-looking rejuvenation with the added benefit of reshaping another area of the body.

What is Fat Transfer

Fat transfer, also known as autologous fat transfer or fat grafting, is a versatile cosmetic surgery procedure that uses a patient’s own fat to enhance various areas of the body1. Through liposuction, excess subcutaneous fat is harvested from a donor site like the abdomen, thighs, or flanks. The collected fat is purified and reinjected into the targeted area to achieve natural-looking results. This surgical procedure is commonly used for breast augmentation, facial rejuvenation, and body contouring,2 providing a natural look and feel with long-lasting effects. The amount of fat utilized is entirely dependent on the patient’s preference and the surgeon’s discretion based on safety and efficacy.

Fat transfer can be used to enhance, augment, or rejuvenate the following areas:

  • The Face: Fat transfer offers a natural option for addressing volume loss in the face, often caused by the aging process. This technique is ideal for improving concerns such as hollow cheeks or temples, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, under-eye hollows, and other pronounced wrinkles or creases. Unlike traditional cosmetic injectables, this approach uses your own tissue, creating results that are both subtle and long-lasting.
  • The Breasts: For individuals desiring breast augmentation or breast reconstruction without relying on implants, fat transfer provides a natural alternative. This method enhances the breasts’ size and shape by injecting purified fat harvested from a donor site, such as the abdomen or thighs. The result is a shapelier silhouette achieved through a procedure that contours multiple areas of the body at once.
  • The Buttocks & Hips: Fat transfer for buttocks and hip augmentation, often referred to as a Brazilian butt lift, allows patients to enhance their curves without the need for implants. By using purified fat from areas of excess, this technique not only enhances the buttocks but also avoids some of the potential complications associated with implant-based procedures, offering a safer and more natural solution.
  • Hands: More and more patients are requesting fat grafting to their hands to reverse the effects of aging and improve the shape and fullness of the hands.
happy woman youthful face

Benefits of Fat Transfer

Fat transfer offers a range of benefits for patients seeking natural enhancement and rejuvenation through plastic surgery. By using fat from your own body, this procedure eliminates the need for synthetic materials, reducing the risk of allergic reactions and providing results that look and feel natural.

One of the key advantages of fat transfer is its versatility. It can enhance nearly any part of the body,3 from restoring volume to the cheeks and lips to augmenting the breasts or buttocks. The procedure also improves overall body contours by removing excess fat from areas such as the abdomen or thighs through lipo, allowing you to achieve a more balanced and harmonious appearance.

Unlike traditional implants or fillers, fat transfer provides long-lasting results by utilizing your own body’s tissue. Additionally, this dual-benefit procedure can address multiple goals at once—sculpting one part of the body while rejuvenating another. With minimal incisions and no need for implants, fat transfer is a natural and effective option for patients seeking comprehensive improvements through plastic surgery.

Preparing for Fat Transfer

To prepare for a fat transfer procedure, you’ll begin with an initial consultation with one of our plastic surgeons in New York City or Long Island to discuss your goals and develop a personalized treatment plan. In the weeks leading up to surgery, you may be advised to stop smoking, avoid certain medications, and maintain a healthy lifestyle to support optimal healing. If you’re considering combining procedures, such as a tummy tuck, facelift, or breast implants, this will also be addressed during your consultation.

The Fat Transfer Procedure

During the fat transfer procedure, you’ll receive anesthesia to ensure comfort. The process includes three main steps:

  1. Harvesting the Fat
    Using state-of-the-art liposuction techniques, a small incision is made in the donor area (e.g., abdomen or thighs), and a cannula is used to extract excess fat cells.
  2. Purifying the Fat
    The harvested fat is processed to remove impurities, ensuring only healthy fat cells are prepared for injection into the targeted area.
  3. Injecting the Fat
    The purified fat is strategically injected into the treatment area using precise techniques to enhance areas of the face, breasts, or buttocks for natural-looking results.
woman with smooth legs

Recovery & Results After Fat Transfer

Recovery varies depending on the area of the body treated and the amount of fat transferred. Most patients can return to daily activities within 7–10 days, with swelling subsiding over several weeks. Since a portion of the transferred fat is typically absorbed by the body, the final results of the fat injection typically appear within three months, offering a natural look with long-lasting benefits. By using your own tissue, there’s minimal risk of an allergic reaction, making this an excellent alternative to dermal fillers and implants. Patients who choose fat transfer can benefit from the redistribution of the body’s own fat for a more shapely, youthful figure.

 
 

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During the initial consultation, your plastic surgeon will conduct a physical examination to determine your candidacy for fat transfer and if the technique can fulfill your cosmetic goals. The fatty tissue used in the transfer is often harvested from a donor area of the body such as the arms, thighs, love handles, back, or abdomen using liposuction. The recovery period for this procedure is typically 1-2 weeks. Since a portion of the transferred fat is typically absorbed by the body, your final results may not be visible until several weeks after your procedure. Patients who choose fat transfer can benefit from the redistribution of the body’s own fat for a more shapely, youthful figure.

Contact Us

For more information on fat transfer, or to schedule a consultation with one of our plastic surgeons, please contact our office today.

FAQs About Fat Transfer

Where can I find fat transfer near me?

If you’re looking for fat transfer procedures for the face, body, or breasts in NYC, Manhattan, or Long Island, schedule a consultation with the experienced team at New York Plastic Surgical Group. Our board-certified plastic surgeons are skilled in achieving natural-looking results tailored to your goals.

Can I combine any other procedures with fat transfer?

Yes, fat grafting is often combined with other cosmetic surgery procedures, such as a facelift, tummy tuck, breast lift, or breast reconstruction, to enhance the overall outcome and streamline recovery.

How long do fat transfer results last?

The results of a fat transfer procedure can be long-lasting, as the transferred fat cells that survive the healing process integrate into the surrounding tissue. While some fat may be reabsorbed by the body, most patients enjoy permanent improvements, particularly with stable weight maintenance and a healthy lifestyle.

What areas of the body can be treated with fat transfer?

Fat transfer can enhance many areas of the body, including the face (cheeks, lips, under-eye hollows), breasts (for augmentation or breast reconstruction), and buttocks (such as in a Brazilian butt lift). It’s also an effective option for smoothing irregularities or scars in other targeted areas. During your consultation, your board-certified plastic surgeon will recommend the best approach to achieve your desired results.

Am I a candidate for fat transfer?

You may be a candidate for fat transfer if you have excess fat in one part of the body to serve as a donor site and are looking to enhance or rejuvenate another area, such as the face, breasts, or buttocks. Ideal candidates are in good overall health, non-smokers, and have realistic expectations about the results. A consultation with one of our plastic surgeons in NYC or Long Island, New York, can help determine if fat transfer is the right option for achieving your aesthetic goals.

 

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Sources

1 Cleveland Clinic. Fat Transfer. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24027-fat-transfer. Accessed December 6, 2024.
2 Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. Fat Grafting: Basic Science, Techniques, and Patient Management. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8932485/. Accessed December 6, 2024.
3 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Six of the most common areas that plastic surgeons do fat transfers. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/articles/six-of-the-most-common-areas-that-plastic-surgeons-do-fat-transfers. Accessed December 6, 2024.

The Doctors at New York Plastic Surgical Group have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.

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