When fat is harvested from your tummy for fat injections on the cheek, does the removal hurt? More questions...

Question

Just a few questions on the procedure: -does harvesting fat from the tummy hurt? -how many times does the doctor's needle go in at the tummy, and at each cheek? -how long does the procedure take all up? -do they typically provide painkillers in addition to local anasthetic?

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

There are many ways to numb up the areas for fat harvest and #lipoinjection that make the experience more pleasant (less painful). For example pre-warming the solutions, buffering the anesthetic, using fine needles and cannulas, and slow injection going forward rather than on withdrawal, nerve blocks on the face, etc. that makes the process go smoothly and relatively pain free. I typically use oral sedation as well as local anesthesia and find that many of my patients sleep through much of the procedure.

Tanuj Nakra, MD, FACS · Answer

Fat harvesting and transfer to the face and  breasts is a relatively low-pain procedure.  Harvesting is done with tumescent anesthetic, which numbs the region, with or without sedation.  Afterwards, most patients feel the sensation of an intense abdominal workout.  The areas of fat transfer (face and/or breasts) do not typically have much discomfort other than some soreness.  Overall, a low risk and a low pain procedure! Hope this is helpful for you.  Kind regards.

Anthony Youn, MD · Answer

Because the amount of fat that is needed for facial fat grafting is usually a pretty small amount, removal of this fat with a specialized harvesting cannula is usually pretty well-tolerated, with little pain and sometimes a small amount of bruising. This is different than when large amounts are needed for grafting areas like the breasts and buttocks. Then you are looking at something more like real liposuction. Good luck!

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Perhaps this is where the art and science of medicine diverge. There is no reason surgical procedures should be painful. If done correctly and using a combination of local anesthesia and potential sedation, whether it be pain pills or injections, the procedure should not cause pain. Using the correct technique allows this procedure to be tolerable without general anesthesia.Without the technique, surgery, such as what you described, can be very painful. Harvesting fat from the abdomen usually requires moving a small liposuction cannula back and forth hundreds of times. As the cannula moves back and forth, tiny particles of fat are harvested. When grafting the fat, fewer passes need to be made in the grafting cannula, which may be moved back and forth anywhere from 10 to 100 times. If you're in the hands of someone with talent and expertise, this should be an easy procedure that does not give you significant pain either during the procedure or after. Choose your surgeon carefully.Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.

When fat is harvested from your tummy for fat injections on the cheek, does the removal hurt? More questions...

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