Fat transferFat grafting
Fat transfer uses tissue taken from other parts of your body to restore the shape of areas that have thinned and flattened over the years.
One of the great developments of the last 30 years in plastic and aesthetic surgery has been related to the ability to remodel fatty tissue around the face and body. Through the work of several surgeons the most prominent of whom is Dr Sydney Coleman from New York, the protocols for treatment using fat transfer have become more structured, yielding consistently better and more predictable results.
At the time of the consultation for fat transfer it is important to understand the general medical condition of the patient, as some medical problems can lead to significant issues related to healing or the safety of the anaesthetic.
When the fat transfer is planned in relation to facial contouring, in our practice we prefer to use 3D imaging and simulation to determine the target shape and allow for more in-depth planning.
The anaesthetic related to surgery depends very much on the treatment zone. For small treatments local anaesthesia is suitable both for harvesting and fat injection.
For more significant surgical interventions either general anaesthetic or local anaesthesia with intravenous sedation is more appropriate.
Recovering form fat transfer surgery is usually straightforward, as the surgical intervention is associated with limited discomfort or pain.
Bruising and swelling at the treatment area is common and when the fat transfer is carried out for the face it will involve a period of 10 to 14 days for the social recovery.
The anaesthetic associated with fat transfer surgery carries a small risk, whether it is local anaesthetic, local anaesthetic and intravenous sedation or general anaesthetic.
Pain after surgery tends to be moderate an primarily at the donor site.