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How Does Fat Transfer Work?

How does fat transfer (fat grafting) work? What is the fat transfer procedure like?

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fat restore

Fat transfer is a biologic graft

Fat injection ("fat transfer") vs. LiveFill Doctors will tell you that fat is taken from one area and placed in another area, and the cells survive. I will attempt to show you how this is not a complete picture. My evidence is based on studies I have performed, presented at national meetings (ASAPS and ASPS) and published (PRS) and on other studies in the literature. I have studied 3-D CT scans to measure long term volume retention. I have studied the histology of fat... more

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Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Fat Transfer, Microfat Grafting

Fat grafting has been performed by plastic surgeons for decades. There is no question that fat is the ideal material for soft tissue augmentation, and that the results obtained with fat grafting are the most natural-appearing. However, one problem with this procedure in years past has been resorption (breakdown) of the grafted fat, so that the resulting improvement is not permanent. The grafted fat must gain its own blood supply in its new location in order to persist long-term, and this... more

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Michael Law, MD

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

How fat transfer works

Fat grafting is a relatively simple idea: harvest fat cells from your own body (autograft) and use these same fat cells as filler where needed (the face, for example). The procedure is not too difficult, and takes only a few hours. Under local anesthesia, your doctor will remove these fat cells with a specialized syringe from either the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks. Next, your doctor must isolate the harvested fat cells from the other fluids that were initially collected from the harvest... more

Kenneth Bermudez, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Fat transfer techniques are evolving

There is a lot of debate about how fat transfer procedures to the body and face are best done. Much of the debate involves how the fat is obtained and then processed prior to transfer. The basic principles are that fat should be harvested gently and then processed with minimal handling to ensure optimal graft survival. I don't think the use of a fancy fat processing machine like the Cytori device is critical here, but I'm sure others will disagree. The injection technique is important,... more

Scott Sattler, MD

Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Fat transfer

Fat transfer is an office surgical procedure. It involves harvesting the fat by gentle liposuction. The harvested fat is then carefully cleaned, then centrifuged to separate it from the anesthetic solution and debris, then placed into smaller syringes for injection. The one or two tiny incisions made to introduce the cannula to harvest the fat require no sutures. Injection of the fat into the site to be enhanced is the second of the two steps in the fat transfer process. The area on your... more

Samir Shureih, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Fat transfer is an excellent method for replacing fat...

Fat transfer is an excellent method for replacing fat lost in the face with age and filling in sunken areas of the face. Fat is harvested from the thighs or the abdomen. Depending on the technique used, it is then spun down in a centrifuge to remove excess water and other fluid. The fat is then placed into a syringe and reinjected into the desired location. The procedure can be done with local anesthesia or if the patient desires, with more conscious sedation or general anesthesia. more

D.J. Verret, MD

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

Fat Transfer and fat grafting...

It seems that just about every month we hear about a new filler that has come out on the market. These fillers continue to improve in safety and efficacy. However, one of the best fillers remains to be the patient's own fat cells. Fat grafting is the process in which fat from a part of the patient's body is harvested, processed (cleaned), and then placed in another part of the body. Fat can be placed all over the body, such as the face for facial rejuvenation, the breast for the correction... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

How does fat graftin work?

Fat is removed from an area of excess through a liposuction technique. The fat is then typically concentrated and the excess fluid is removed. This fat is then placed into the donor site through small cannulas and in very small amounts to ensure graft survival.

Robert Heck, MD

Columbus Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Autologus fat transfer works!

Transferring fat cells from one part of the body to another (face, breasts, buttocks) works because it's your own tissue (ie autologus). There is no allergic reaction or tissue rejection that occurs, and the body just thinks its supposed to be there. Although no definitive study exists, those of us that perform a significant amount of fat transfer believe about 20-30% of the fat will survive permanently, while the remainder disappears after several months because of... more

Randolph Capone, MD

Baltimore Facial Plastic Surgeon

Fat transfer

Fat transfer works by taking fat cells from one part of the body and transferring them to another part. Surgeons use different techniques in keeping the cells alive and isolating the fat cells so that they have the best chance of survival in their new location. The isolated fat cells are then placed in different locations throughout the face to provide improvement in facial volume addition. Differences in fat transfer results can sometimes be traced to how the fat... more

Anil R. Shah, MD

Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon

Fat transfer techniques and applications

Fat transfer is harvesting some of your own fat through liposuction and injecting part of it back into an area that needs to be enlarged. Probably the most common area is the face, which loses fat as a part of the aging process. Since the fat is your own tissue, if done well the fat cells simply take up residence in their new location and behave as they did where they originally came from. Another area that is talked about quite a lot now is using fat for breast enlargment. However, the... more

Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

How Fat Transfer Works

Fat transfer is the grafting of fat cells from one part of the body to another. The fat cells can be removed as a group or suctioned out via a liposuction technique. When placed in their new location, they need to reestablish blood supply to stay alive. Typically, some amount of the fat lives and some amount does not. When transferred as a large selection of fat, often time a similar area of skin is brought with the fat. This is known as a dermal fat graft and can increase the likelihood... more

David Bogue, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

How fat transfer works

Fat transfer is used to take fat from one area of the body where it is in excess, and transfer it (fat injection) to where volume is needed to improve contour. This could be in the aging face where deep lines or a gaunt appearance can be made more youthful with fullness provided by the fat. Buttock augmentation, or Brazilian Butt Lift, needs a lot of fat, as you can imagine. These are just two of many applications for fat transfer. How the fat is harvested is critical to success. For... more

Douglas J. Mackenzie, MD

Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

How fat transfer works

Fat transfer takes fat from one part of the body and puts it in another part of the body. The key to successful fat transfer is to make sure the fat is taken out gently, processed correctly and injected carefully. See the linked post, and related video see video

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Ricardo Rodriguez, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Fat transfer

Fat transfer is the process of harvesting fat from one area of the body and injecting it into another area to augment areas of soft tissue deflation.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Fat grafting achieves a more youthful face through volumization

Essentially, the fat transfer procedure harvests fat from one part of the body where an excess exists and then places it in another part of the body where the additional bulk is used for cosmetic and aesthetic purposes. Fat transfer -- which is also known as fat grafting, fat autografts, autologous fat transplantation, fat injecting or microlipoinjections is utilized in facial plastic surgery to restore lost volume to the face. The youthful face is round, full and heart shaped. The aged... more

Ross A. Clevens, MD

Melbourne Facial Plastic Surgeon

Fat Transfer Done Well Works

Fat grafting has become one of the most important parts of my practice, and the single most important way to rejuvenate the aging face. Fat grafting works by improving the lost volume to the face, which I believe is the most important way to make a face look younger. Fat grafting works properly if done right and done with care so that the graft acquires blood supply and lasts permanently minus aging. Here are a couple of links to help you understand my thoughts and philosphy. I literally... more

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Samuel Lam, MD

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

How fat transfer or fat graft works

A fat transfer or a fat graft is a method of moving fat from one area to another area. This involves harvesting or removing the fat using gentle liposuction techniques from an unwanted area, for example, the abdomen. Then the fat is spun down to separate out the blood and fluid from the pure fat cells. The pure fat cells are then carefully injected, using a thin metal cannula or needle, into the desired area, such as the cheek or facial area. The idea is to restore volume or fullness to an... more

William Bruno, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Fat grafting has become a mainstream procedure for many plastic surgeons

Fat grafting is more common in the last few years and has become more technically advanced and reliable in experienced hands. Most of the micro-grafting is done in the face to enhance certain features and reverse some signs of aging. Donor sites for these procedures are variable and the amount of fat needed is quite A buttocks enhancement, the so-call "Brazilian butt lift" is quite popular in the Latin and African-American communities, as well as in some other cultures. This... more

Talmage J. Raine, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Fat Transfer

Fat transfer or fat grafting involves aspirating fat from the abdomen or thighs via liposuction, preparing the fat, then injecting it into the deficient areas. The key to good fat transfer is SMALL PRODUCT! The the traditional Coleman system the cannulas or tubes to suck the fat out with are large, on the order of 2.5mm. This results in large fat droplets and thus a lower "take rate" or amount of fat that survives. Micro fat transfer or fat grafting utilizes much smaller... more

Christopher L. Hess, MD

Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Fat transfer works for many areas

I use the Viafill system. Note: I am the creator of the system. The system is designed to maximize the number of viable cells for injection. The Keys to a good fat transfer are: minimal manipulation to the fat during the harvesting and injection procedure. limited air exposure. small fat globule size at harvest and injection. The use of disposable cannulas for harvesting and injection to avoid biofilms and damage to the cells on the inside of reusable cannulas. It will reduce the risk of... more

Robert M. Freund, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Fat injection, transfer, or grafting aka lipoinjection

Subcutaneous augmentation can be performed utilizing several different techniques and in the case of lipoinjection (fat injection) typically requires multiple staged procedures. In our office, fat injections are performed using a modified Coleman technique. The fat is aspirated from the abdomen or thighs using a syringe method. The fat is then transferred to a centrifuge where it is separated into 3 layers. The fat is then transferred to smaller syringes where it is injected into the desired... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Fat Transplantation

The basic concept is that you harvest (suction) fat from one place (donor site) and place it into another location (recepient site) were we want an augmentation. It is important that the recepient site has good blood supply. We are depending on the survival of at least 50% of the fat cells as they are revascularized in their new home. The cells then remain, grow and fill the defect or add bulk to area augmented.

Richard Greco, MD

Savannah Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

How fat transfer or grafting works

Fat transfer / grafting is only a subsection of grafting or "auto-transplantation" The earliest grafting involves taking a cutting from one plant (IE rose bush, Apple tree (with the qualities the Gardener liked), putting it and securing it into a cut in a bush or tree with other qualities. The resulting hybrid had the qualities (look, small, taste) of both. In Medical tissue Grafting, we move a piece of living tissue from one part of the body (the Donor area) to another area (the... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Fat Transfer is moving fat from one part of your body to another

Plastic surgeons often move parts of your body from one location to another. If the part being moved is very small or thin (thin slice of skin, small particles of fat, small pieces of bone or cartilage) it can become revascularized from the blood vessels that are around the location to where it was moved, and live. We call these small transfers "grafts". Skin grafts are often used to help burn patients, bone grafts can augment small bone defects, and fat grafts can add volume to... more