A fat transfer (fat grafting or fat injection) is a procedure that transfers excess fat from one area of the body and uses it to increase the volume in another area. With a fat transfer, we can improve the appearance of the face and breasts. Fat transfers are well-tolerated and effective, making them a popular treatment for addressing volume loss after aging, pregnancy, or weight loss. Additionally, fat transfer procedures have the added benefit of sculpting the body by reducing fat deposits in unwanted areas. They also provide long-lasting volume to the skin with beautiful, natural-looking results.
Dr. Alyson Wells is a board-certified plastic surgeon with decades of experience helping patients enhance their appearance with customizable procedures. Dr. Wells specializes in reconstructive surgery, and her impeccable training makes her a sought-after specialist in Baltimore. At Valley Plastic Surgery, Dr. Wells and her team will personalize your treatment plan to help you achieve beautiful results. Schedule a consultation today to begin exploring your treatment options.
Contact our office online or call (410) 628-8200 to learn more!
About Fat Transfers And What They Can Do
Unlike dermal fillers, fat transfers replenish volume without an overfilled or unnatural-looking appearance. With a fat transfer, you can enjoy results that look and feel natural, with results that last longer than biodegradable injectables. Many doctors now prefer to use a patient’s own fat (autologous fat) as a filler medium when applicable, and this has helped the procedure rise in popularity. In 2023, specialists performed more than 34,000 cosmetic facial fat grafting procedures. (1) Autologous fat offers many advantages. It is readily available because it arrives with the patient, meaning that treatment is not reliant on supply chains. Additionally, the body does not see the transferred fat as a foreign entity, meaning that recovery is reduced and there is no risk of rejection or allergic reaction. Fat transfers also allow patients to reduce unwanted fat deposits and contour their bodies while enhancing the fullness of other areas.
Fat transfers also have numerous applications. At our practice, we specialize in using transferred fat to increase breast volume and rejuvenate the face after volume loss. It can also be used to rejuvenate the hands, decrease wrinkles, and more.
Liposuction
To harvest the fat necessary for transfer, Dr. Wells will perform liposuction, a treatment that removes pockets of excess fat with a small cannula and tumescent fluid. Tumescent fluid combines lidocaine, saline, and epinephrine, which causes the fat cells to swell for an easier removal while also reducing a patient’s discomfort by numbing tissue internally and constricting blood vessels. With a small incision, Dr. Wells can access the excess fatty tissue, remove it, and then purify it for reinjection.
Facial Fat Transfer vs. Facelift
Unlike a facelift that removes excess skin with incisions, a fat transfer can address aging and volume loss by replenishing fat. This can also reduce recovery times by eliminating the need for general anesthesia and using minimally invasive techniques.
Types of Fat Transfer Procedures
Facial Fat Transfer
A facial fat transfer can help you achieve a more youthful-looking appearance and address volume loss from aging in the upper and/or lower face. It can balance your facial proportions to create a smoother, plumper look. (2) This treatment can diminish wrinkles around the temples, eyelids, and cheeks. It can also reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds, gently smooth facial creases and folds, and reduce the appearance of marionette lines. Autologous fat can also restore volume to the lips. (3) Unlike cosmetic injectables that only temporarily address wrinkles, natural fat transfers can yield longer-lasting results, and some fat transfers can contain stem cells to enhance your healing and regenerative abilities.
Breast Enhancement
A fat transfer breast augmentation can increase the volume of the breasts without using implants. During a fat grafting procedure, Dr. Wells will carefully inject your natural fat into the breasts. She will distribute fat cells evenly in both breasts to ensure balanced results. This procedure can also improve the contours of the breasts and address asymmetries. Patients who would like to enhance the appearance of their breasts can achieve beautiful volume increases without having to undergo incisions or select the right implants. A fat transfer can also be helpful for patients who are undergoing breast reconstruction, which Dr. Wells specializes in.
Benefits
There are several benefits to a fat transfer, some of which include:
- Balanced appearance: Whether you receive a fat transfer to address facial or breast volume, we can balance and enhance your natural features for beautiful results.
- Minimal downtime: Dr. Wells’ minimally invasive techniques help to reduce downtime, and transferred fat does not elicit any immune responses from the body that implants or fillers would.
- Small incisions: Liposuction only requires small incisions. These can be easily hidden along your body’s natural contours and will fade as you heal.
- Customizable treatment: Each fat transfer procedure can be customized to meet your unique goals.
- Natural-looking volume: Transferred fat provides natural-looking volume increases, ensuring that your results do not appear artificial.
Candidates
Individuals who would like to enhance the volume of certain areas while also reducing stubborn fat deposits see impressive results with fat transfer procedures. Suitable candidates are generally in overall good health and have realistic expectations regarding their results.
Candidates must have enough donor fat for a fat transfer procedure. If you do not have enough excess fat for a transfer, we can discuss alternative treatments like dermal fillers or implants. During your consultation, Dr. Wells will assess your goals and examine your anatomy to further determine your candidacy.
Consultation
The first step in your fat transfer procedure is a personal consultation. At this appointment, Dr. Wells will review your aesthetic goals, examine your anatomy, and review your medical history to create an effective treatment plan. We encourage patients to openly discuss their goals and concerns, as this meeting is your opportunity to inform yourself and feel confident about your procedure. If you wish to address multiple concerns in one session, we can discuss additional treatments at this time.
Schedule your consultation today by submitting our online contact form. If you have any further questions, please call us directly at (410) 628-8200.
Preparation
To prepare for your fat transfer, you should stop taking blood thinners, avoid sun exposure, and stop drinking alcohol. If you smoke or use other nicotine products, you will need to quit for several weeks before and after the treatment, since these can inhibit healing and can affect your results. We also recommend preemptively running errands, planning meals ahead of time, taking time away from work and other responsibilities, and creating a comfortable place in your home to recover. In addition to these guidelines, Dr. Wells will also provide you with additional instructions that cater to your unique treatment plan and medical history.
Procedure
Your procedure will begin with our team cleansing your skin and administering a local anesthetic. Dr. Wells will then make a small incision in the targeted donor site and perform liposuction to remove the excess fat. This fat is then processed and purified, ensuring that only the most viable fat cells are reinjected. Once prepared, these fat cells are injected into the targeted enhancement areas. This is done with precision, and Dr. Wells may place fat at multiple points across the enhancement area to ensure an even distribution with optimal blood supply, which helps to improve fat retention as you heal.
Recovery
The recovery from a fat transfer is minimal, and Dr. Wells will provide specific instructions to make the process as smooth as possible. Patients can expect minor swelling, bruising, and soreness in the donor and recipient areas. These can be alleviated with recommended medications and cold compresses.
If you receive a facial fat transfer, you should keep your head elevated when lying down to promote healthy circulation. You should avoid putting pressure on the areas where you receive a fat transfer.
Patients should remember that they will be healing in two places, not just one, and they should care for both the donor and recipient sites properly.
Results
Depending on the location of the fat transfer, you can enjoy lasting results and a smoother, plumper appearance. A transfer to the breasts will provide beautiful volume increases, balanced proportions, and a curvier appearance. Those who receive a facial fat transfer will see reduced wrinkles and replenished facial volume. The liposuction process will also create a leaner, contoured physique in the donor areas.
The results of fat transfers are long-lasting, though it is recommended to prevent weight fluctuations and practice proper skincare to maintain them.
Cost of a Fat Transfer in Baltimore
The cost of a fat transfer will depend on your specific aesthetic goals, the amount of fat you would like to remove, and whether you would like to address multiple goals during your procedure. Dr. Wells will provide you with an all-inclusive price quote during your consultation. Our practice also offers financing options to help make treatments more accessible.
Contact our office online or call (410) 628-8200 to schedule your consultation and begin planning your personalized fat transfer.
References
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons ® Endorsed Partner. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2023/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2023.pdf
- Shauly O, Gould DJ, Ghavami A. Fat Grafting: Basic Science, Techniques, and Patient Management. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2022;10(3):e3987. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000003987
- Schultz KP, Raghuram A, Davis MJ, Abu-Ghname A, Chamata E, Rohrich RJ. Fat Grafting for Facial Rejuvenation. Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 2020;34(01):030-037. doi:https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0039-3402767