Fat harvesting process for "live" fat injections

How is the "live fat" harvested from the patient? How big of a surgical procedure is the fat harvesting and injecting? Is it done with local anthesthetics (sp) or under IV sedation? What about recovery time? Is it more suitable for younger patients than more mature patients? Thank you in advance for clarifying these points.

4 answers to “Fat harvesting process for "live"...”

A: Fat injections with simple harvesting of your own fat

Houtan Chaboki, MD

As many others have already stated, fat injection is a common procedure and combined with many other cosmetic procedures or done entirely on its own. Cosmetic procedures for facial rejuvenation with fat use many terms. All plastic surgery with placing fat into the face are essentially the same procedure. Terms... more

A: Fat harvesting technique for fat transfer

Edward D. Buckingham, MD

Usually fat harvesting and transfer is carried out under IV sedation with local anesthesia.  The procedure is intended to be done to rejuvenate global facial volume loss, but can be tailored to smaller areas in younger patients.  The procedure can be performed in younger patients or older, but older... more

A: Local Anesthesia Works Well

D.J. Verret, MD

If you are considering fat injection in the face, most of the time both the donor and recipient areas can be treated with only local anesthesia. For some patients, a light sedation may be used, especially when larger volumes of fat are being moved. As always, talk with your surgeon about your desires and... more

A: fairly straightforward procedure

Samson Lee, MD

Harvesting fat in smaller quantities can easily be done under local anesthesia. IV sedation may be required if harvesting larger amounts to avoid having to use to much local anesthetic which in very large quantities can potentially be dangerous. The major advantage of fat augmentation is that the fat tends to... more

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