What is a Fat Transfer or Lipofill?

A fat transfer, also known as lipofilling, fat grafting or autologous fat transfer, is a surgical procedure in which fat is removed from one area of the body using liposuction, and then injected into another area of the body to add volume or restore contours. This procedure is often used in plastic and reconstructive surgery to enhance features such as the cheeks, lips, and breasts, or to fill in depressions or defects caused by injury, surgery, or disease. Fat transfers can also be used for non-surgical cosmetic procedures, like facial rejuvenation and body contouring.

Why Would You get a Fat Transfer?

There are several reasons why someone might choose to have a fat transfer procedure. Some of the most common reasons include:

• Adding volume to the face: Fat transfers can be used to enhance the cheeks, lips, and other facial features, giving the face a more youthful and aesthetically pleasing appearance.
• Filling in wrinkles and lines: Fat transfers can be used to fill in wrinkles and lines on the face, including those around the eyes, mouth, and forehead.
• Improving breast shape: Fat transfers can be used to augment the breasts, either alone or in combination with other breast enhancement procedures.
• Restoring lost volume: Fat transfers can be used to restore volume and contours to areas of the body that have lost volume due to injury, surgery, or the natural aging process.
• Body contouring: Fat transfer procedure can be used to reshape and contour the body. By removing fat from unwanted areas and injecting it into desired places.
• Non-surgical facelifts and other cosmetic purposes

It is important to note that, while fat transfer is a safe procedure and can be very effective, the results are not permanent and may require additional treatments to maintain the desired results.

How Long Do Fat Transfers Last in Each Area?

The duration of the results from a fat transfer can vary depending on the area of the body where the procedure was performed. In general, the results of a fat transfer are not permanent and the duration can vary from person to person.

• Facial fat transfer: The results of a facial fat transfer can last for several years, but the length of time can vary depending on the individual’s skin quality, age, and other factors.
• Breast fat transfer: breast augmentation with fat transfer typically last shorter than traditional breast implant, anywhere between 12 to 24 months.
• Body fat transfer: The results of a body fat transfer can last for several years. The fat cells that survive the transplant will integrate into the surrounding tissue and behave like normal fat cells. So, if the patient gains weight after the procedure, those areas will tend to gain fat too, thus reducing the contouring effect.

It’s important to remember that follow-up treatments may be required to maintain the desired results. Also, it’s important to have realistic expectations and understand that while the procedure is considered safe, there is always a chance of complications and risks such as infection, bleeding, asymmetry, and others.

What are the Disadvantages of Fat Transfers versus Implants?

Fat transfer and implant are two different procedures with their own advantages and disadvantages. Some of the main differences between the two include:

• Longevity: Implants are generally considered to be a longer-lasting option for breast augmentation, whereas fat transfer results tend to be shorter-lived.
• Safety: Both fat transfer and implant are considered safe procedures, but implants have a higher risk of complications such as rupture, infection, and capsular contracture.
• Volume: Implants come in a variety of sizes and can provide a larger increase in breast volume than fat transfers.
• Natural look: Fat transfer results in a more natural look since it uses the patient’s own fat. However, the amount of volume that can be achieved is limited by the amount of fat that can be harvested and the percentage that will survive.
• Recovery time: Recovery time is generally shorter for fat transfers, as the procedure is less invasive and does not require a significant incision.
• Touch-up: Fat transfer may require multiple sessions to achieve the desired result, unlike implants that can be filled to the desired volume in one procedure.
• Cost: Fat transfer is typically more cost-effective than implant because it requires less medical equipment and follow-up treatment is often not needed.

Next Steps

If you are interested in getting a fat transfer and/or other procedures you can request a quote below or schedule a consultation.