There are several different procedures that have emerged as ‘catch-all’ justifications for someone suddenly looking a whole lot different, though perhaps none is as readily floated as ‘fat transfer.’ Tabloids and social media users alike often refer to the surgery when speculating what kind of nip or tuck a celebrity may have undergone—who would say no to recontoured curves?<\/p>
Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva<\/a>, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Newport Beach, California, believes the popularity of fat transfer lies in its two-for-one approach: eliminating unwanted fat by redistributing it to other areas. She also notes that there’s a lower risk of complications than with implant-based procedures as well as a more natural feel and result. <\/p> Of course, the problem with fat is that depending on your body type, it’s either easy to lose or easy to gain, which means making your fat transfer go the distance requires proper maintenance. New York City board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Shafer<\/a> reveals that the natural average for fat survival is 60–80%, with results varying from patient to patient based on the recovery. Luckily, there are some key steps that can help you achieve optimal fat retention. Here’s how to get the best results post-fat transfer.<\/p> Immediately after surgery, Dr. Shafer says patients can experience bruising and swelling around grafted areas, and compression garments<\/a> can be effective in areas of removed fat to help smooth the skin. “Reducing pressure on the areas of grafted fat is also important so the precious fat cells have time to incorporate into the surrounding tissues.” Typically, doctors recommend wearing compression garments 24\/7 (yes, even while sleeping) for at least two to three weeks; after that, you should try to wear them as often as is comfortable until you’re fully recovered. This means you’ll likely need to buy a few different sizes of shapewear as your body adjusts. <\/p>1. Compression garments are crucial<\/h2>