Body Contouring with Your Own Fat!
Fat transfer procedures are gaining in popularity. Transferring fat to areas of the face and body is not a commonly known cosmetic procedure but it is an effective cosmetic treatment to restore lost volume to the hands and other parts of the body using your own fat.
As we age, we notice that our face and body begins to lose volume. Many women are troubled by their hands’ wrinkled skin, bony appearance, and prominent veins and tendons.
Some of the most noticeable areas of fat volume loss in the body are:
- Hands
- Indentations in the skin
- Buttocks
- Breasts
Most of these changes are a result of losing fat as we age. In some cases, there are depressions in the skin caused by scarring or liposuction (dimpling) that can be corrected with fat transfer.
Autologous fat transfer is a method of body contouring that involves the removal of excess fat from one part of the body, filtering that fat, and then injecting it into targeted areas for added volume. It goes without saying that you must have enough excess fat to be removed from your body to transfer the excess to the desired area. Dr. Thomas A. Leach, board-certified plastic surgeon, reassures his patients that fat transfer is a safe, natural, and non-allergenic option for certain body contouring aesthetic goals.
Who Is a Candidate for a Body Fat Transfer Procedure?
Patients must be in good health and meet the criteria Dr. Leach uses for identifying good body fat transfer patients. Some areas of the body that can be helped with fat transfer include:
- Hand rejuvenation with fat transfer – Fat can be transferred into your hands to add volume and plump up your wrinkled skin.
- Breast augmentation – Fat can be transferred to your breasts for a modest increase in breast size. Patients should not have sagging skin. If you desire more than a modest increase in breast size or shape, ask Dr. Leach about breast augmentation with implants.
- Breast implants plus fat transfer – For those patients who are undergoing a breast implant procedure, fat transfer can be useful to optimize the shape. Breast irregularities after undergoing breast implants can also be filled in with grafted fat to produce a smooth contour and optimal shape.
- Breast reconstruction with fat transfer – For patients that have breast defects (skin imperfections) following a lumpectomy for breast cancer, fat transfer may be an appropriate option to address your concerns.
How Is A Fat Transfer Performed?
Fat grafting should only be performed by qualified medical professionals in a properly equipped office or an accredited outpatient surgery center or hospital. You are in safe hands at the Princeton Center for Plastic Surgery under the care of Dr. Thomas Leach.
The fat transfer process starts with the removal of excess fat, typically from your stomach, hips, or thighs using liposuction. The fat is harvested, purified, and readied for injection into the areas of the face and body the patient desires to re-volumize. The fat is carefully injected and sculpted to achieve the desired cosmetic renewal.
What Is the Recovery Process for Fat Transfer?
The recovery process is dependent upon the amount of fat removed during the liposuction procedure. However, typically downtime is minimal, and patients can return to their normal activities within a week. Patients are advised to expect some bruising, swelling and discomfort.
If you are considering fat transfer to restore lost body volume, contact us to schedule your consultation with Dr. Leach. Call 609.921.7161 or email us today.
