Fat Grafting

Candidates for fat grafting are individuals looking to enhance or correct areas of their body by using their own fat cells to add volume or reshape specific areas. Ideal candidates are those with adequate fat deposits that can be removed from certain parts of their body, such as the abdomen, hips or thighs. This procedure is a good choice for patients seeking a natural alternative to implants or synthetic fillers to enhance areas such as the lips, breasts or buttocks. It is especially beneficial for those undergoing breast reconstruction, as it can help address asymmetries and improve the overall shape and volume of the reconstructed breast.

Candidates should be in good overall health, have realistic expectations about surgical outcomes and possess good skin elasticity to accommodate the added volume without sagging. It’s important to be a non-smoker or willing to quit, as smoking can impair healing and increase the risk of complications. Additionally, candidates should not have significant weight fluctuations, as this can affect the longevity and effectiveness of the fat transfer.

Fat grafting, also known as autologous fat transfer, is a technique that involves harvesting fat from one part of your body and injecting it into another area that requires augmentation or correction. The process typically consists of three main steps: harvesting, purification and injection.

Fat is removed from the donor site using a liposuction technique where a thin tube called a cannula is inserted through small incisions to extract fat gently. The process is carefully controlled to ensure that the fat cells are not damaged during extraction.

Once the fat is harvested, it undergoes a purification process to separate the viable fat cells from the damaged cells, blood and other fluids. The purified fat cells are then carefully injected into the target area. Dr. Tieman, our board-certified plastic surgeon, injects the fat in small amounts at various depths to ensure an even distribution and natural-looking results.

The results of fat grafting can be very gratifying. By volumizing and contouring specific areas of the body, fat grafting offers natural-looking enhancements and corrections.

It's important to note that a small amount of the transferred fat is expected not to survive, so initial overcorrection is common. Successful fat grafting can yield long-lasting results, assuming no significant weight fluctuations occur.