Body Fat Transfers

Toned and fit (Credit: wonderferret)

Fat transfers have been used for more than 100 years to fill in facial flaws such as hollowed cheeks and sunken eyes or indented scars. Today, fat transfers are used to augment many other areas of the body, including the buttocks, bicep, tricep, calf muscles, breasts, hands, and penis. Fat transfers are considered the traditional method for surgically rounding out the edges of a small localized area of the body as compared to the newer body implant approach in which implants are used to produce a more shapely appearance required by a larger area of the body.

The beauty of a fat transfer is that the materials used to augment the desired body part are your own fat cells. This makes the procedure unquestionably biocompatible and non-allergenic. Also, a body fat transfer feels more natural than a body implant.

The results of this particular plastic surgery may be unpredictable. The reason is that much of the injected fat is absorbed, leaving an average of about 40 percent in place.

Is Fat Transfer Right for Me: Exercise is the best way to improve the appearance of your body; however, aging and genetics may make workout programs unrealistic for certain small areas of the body. Genetically, fat may be unevenly distributed causing disproportional features. Patients in their mid 30s to 70s who have lost volume in a specific body area may benefit from fat transfers. Realistic expectations are extremely important in the decision for a fat transfer.

The Fat Transfer Procedure: Body fat transfers are most often performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. The location of the procedure may be the doctor's office, outpatient center, or hospital. The procedure may take up to two hours. The procedure is often performed under "twilight sedation," which includes a combination of medications that make you feel sleepy and numbed, but awake. The procedure may be performed under general anesthesia, while you are asleep. You should discuss the type of anesthesia with your doctor. The waiting time before returning home depends on the amount of fat that is transferred.

The procedure varies depending upon the technique used by the doctor and the area to be treated. The most commonly treated locations are the buttocks, chest, calf, and bicep or tricep muscles. The procedure can be described in three steps:

Antiseptic is applied to two areas: 1) the location where the fat will be removed and 2) the treated area, where the fat will be injected.
The fat cells are typically removed from the buttocks, stomach, or thighs using liposuction. The doctor uses a cannula (a thin hollow tube) that is connected to a vacuum device to remove fat cells.
 
After the fat cells are suctioned by the cannula, the fat cells are processed and purified by the doctor. In some cases, the doctor will use a technique that spins the fat cells before the cells are injected beneath the skin. Some doctors do not spin fat. Different doctors may use different techniques of spinning fat. A bandage may be applied.

It takes three to four days for the first capillaries in the body to reach the transplanted fat cells. Unfortunately, during those three to four days, up to 60 percent of the transferred fat cells will die. For this reason, doctors will overfill the treated area to allow for the dissipation of transferred fat cells. Since many of the transferred fat cells may eventually be reabsorbed in the body, the results may be unpredictable. The results of fat transfers may last about three years. Many cases result in the transfer lasting a lifetime. Each time the procedure is repeated, more fat is accumulated in the treated area. This tends to offer longer-lasting results.