Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought to yourself “I wish I could just magically take volume from one spot and put it into another”? Well, there’s actually a procedure that does just that! Not through magic of course, but through science. Fat transfer surgery relocates fat from one area of your body to another to provide more a more contoured figure.
Fat transfer surgery is exactly what it sounds like. During your initial consultation a plastic surgeon walks through your body contouring goals with you and develops a plan to take fat from one area of your body (especially if there’s an area that can benefit from even a little fat-loss) and place it in another to provide augmentation such as the lips, butt, or breast. While it sounds pretty simple in concept, there’s actually quite a bit to it. We’ll outline a few things you should know about the procedure below.
What Areas Can Benefit Most From Fat Transfer Surgery?
Fat transfer surgery first uses liposuction to get the material for the augmentation. Even though it’s not enough to make a big difference as if it were purely a liposuction procedure, but if they’re going to take fat from anywhere, it may as well be from an area that can benefit from any kind of fat loss. For the most part, these areas tend to be:
- Abdominal area
- Hips or “love handles”
- Thighs
Okay great, the fat is drawn, but where’s the best place to put it? Everyone’s goals are different, but some of the most common areas that see a marked improvement are:
- The breasts
- The buttocks (aka Brazilian butt lift)
- Anywhere on the face that seems sunken/hollow like under eyes or cheeks
- Lips
What Can I Do To Make My Fat Transfer Surgery Go Smoothly?
It’s a fact that not all the fat injected into a site will make it to the end. Fat cells injected into an area for augmentation compete for space and blood supply, so while your surgeon will do their best to distribute them evenly, about 20% to 40% of them will end up getting reabsorbed by the body. Luckily there a few things you can do to make your fat transfer surgery as successful as possible:
- Don’t try to get too much done in one session. The fat cells will compete and undermine each other. It’s better to do multiple sessions to let the results build on each other.
- Your surgeon will prescribe you compression garments to wear on the treatment area. Even if it’s not the most comfortable, make sure to wear it 24/7 to help skin readjust.
- Avoid massages in the augmentation area as it can disrupt the blood flow to the new fat.
- Hydrate as priming the blood and nutrients is crucial at this stage.
- Avoid smoking which can hinder blood and oxygen delivery in the blood.
- Stay active to promote blood flow, but avoid strenuous activity which could disrupt the augmentation area.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully after reading this far, you feel informed on what goes into making a successful fat transfer surgery, and are confident in making an educated decision. If you think this is the procedure for you, then make it easy on yourself and use our listing for the quickest way to find a plastic surgeon experienced in fat transfer surgery in your area today!