Fat Transfer Procedures for Face and Body

With society making a constant push towards physical perfection and beauty, there is no question as to why operations focused around plastic surgery or beautifying the body are becoming more and more popular. A good example would be looking at a type of procedure known as fat transferring or fat grafting. A fat graft procedure is exactly how it sounds and involves moving the fat from one area of your body to another. This is especially popular in women to augment their breasts and their buttocks. While the procedure itself is very routine and basic, that does not dispel many of the fears and questions that people have when looking towards getting a fat graft. Here are some of the important things to know and consider when getting a fat graft.

fat transfer

Is It Safe?

This is the very first question people will ask when they become curious about the procedure itself and how it works. Of course, the procedure comes down to if it is performed correctly or not, but if you find a reliable doctor, the procedure will be smooth and safe just like any other medical procedure. In fact, according to some medical officials, a fat transfer is better than any other medical procedure in this regard as the fat is coming directly from you. There are issues of bodies sometimes rejecting silicon or plastic that is injected into them, but with fat grafting none of that has to be worried about because the tissue itself is organic and it is coming right from your body. To answer the first question, getting a fat graft is completely safe with the right doctor and you should have no fears.

Can It Replace Breast Implants?

This is a tough question to answer as it depends on how you want your breasts to look and what you want the implants to do. On a basic level, a fat graft can help to provide the breast with some extra volume and help define the contours of it, however, it is not a structural mechanism like a standard implant is. Remember that fat is generally not perky, and therefore will not help to perk up your breasts if you inject it. If that is what you are looking for, then standard implants would be the procedure you are looking for. If you are just looking for a little extra size or volume however and are happy with the shape of your breasts, a fat graft can do wonders for you and provide you with what you are looking for. Another concern to look at regarding breast implants is your athletic ability. There have been cases where implants have shifted and moved due to physical activity, especially in athletes. This is another reason why you would replace a breast implant with fat grafting as it would ensure that there is no shifting or moving. Fat grafting can replace your standard breast implant, but it depends on what you want to accomplish with the procedure.

Will the Procedure Hurt?

Whenever people are about to go through a medical procedure they always ask, will it hurt? This is a completely normal question and the answer varies depending on the type of person you are. While the pain has never been documented as being excruciating by patients, many have reported discomfort and pain in the area where the fat is being harvested and taken from. This makes sense, as you are removing some of the soft tissue in the area and your body now has to adapt to what has happened. Most of the time, the area where the fat is injected will not have any pain, however, there have been a small number of cases where the patient has experienced pain in those areas. If you have any more serious questions or medical conditions that can make the pain worse, it is important to speak to your doctor beforehand. Getting a fat graft procedure will invoke some discomfort, but the pain will not be unbearable or excruciating.

How Long is the Recovery?

Once the procedure is done, patients often look to the doctor and ask how long they have to recover before getting back to standard physical activity. Doctors have connected the recovery times to that of liposuction stating that a patient needs roughly two weeks to fully recover and conduct their activities as per usual. The one exception to this rule would be the buttocks area. Patients must not sit in the area and will have a compression garment that they are required to wear for a minimum of four weeks followed by on and off for the next two weeks. If you do not follow this, you risk damaging the area and putting yourself through a lot more intensive pain. Recovery times for fat grafting will take about two weeks to completely heal and allow you to carry out your life as per usual.

How Long Does It Take to See Results?

Most people think that when they get a fat graft that they should instantly be seeing results and get the results they are looking for. It is important to remember that fat grafting is a surgical procedure, and therefore both areas involved will be swollen for a period of time as the body is recovering. Approximately 3-5 days after the surgery, the swelling will be at its worst and will slowly get better over the next several months. Your results will most typically be visual roughly four months after the surgery. The process might take a long time, but it is definitely worth it if it is something you are considering. Never panic if you don’t see results instantly as it does take some time to view your results.

These are some of the most common questions patients ask when they are considering getting a fat grafting procedure. Always remember that the procedure is safe and that it does take time to see the results. Fat is a natural part of the body, so it is much safer to inject when compared to silicones and plastics. Where part of the body do you want to transfer your fat to?