Can I Use Fat from Smart Lipo or Tumescent Lipo for Fat Transfer?

Question

I want to get smart lipo for my abdoman, sides and a couple of other places. I want to also get fat transfer to my buttocks, is that possible?

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

As SmartLipo is subjecting the fat to thermal (or heat) trauma, the fat cells are destroyed and won't live well in the new area. Tumescent liposuction, however, does not damage the fat in this way, and those fat cells can be retrieved and used for fat injecitons.

Kurtis Martin, MD · Answer

Yes, fat transfer is always possible if the patient has enough fat to liposuction. I would recommend standard tumescent liposuction as smart lipo will damage the cells.

Ritu Chopra, MD · Answer

We simply harvest the fat before the therapeutic liposuction begins. That way we are assured of good, healthy fat for transfer. We pick the area to be done that needs the most liposuction and take the deepest layer of fat, usually the sub-scarpa's fat of the abdomen. Knee fat works even better.

Houtan Chaboki, MD · Answer

Hi punkin,

	Facial fat transfer cannot be performed with Smartlipo.

	Fat for facial fat injections is typically obtained via gentle liposuction manually by your plastic surgeon. Next, this fat is processed to purify the fat, stem cells, and other viable tissue while minimizing damage. The fat is then immediately transferred to the face via small injections to rejuvenate the face, during face lift, lip enhancement, or other cosmetic surgery.

	Liposuction for body shaping is typically performed with more aggressive methods, which may be appropriate for a good looking abdomen but is not appropriate for facial fat transfer. Smart lipo destroys the fat cells. Speak with your plastic surgeon to help determine appropriate options for you. Best of luck.

	Dr. Chaboki

Siamak Agha, MD, PhD, FACS · Answer

For successful fat transfer, it is best to use fat cells that are alive and not injured. Smart lipo uses laser to burst the fat cells. Thus most will not be viable. Therefore your result will be negatively affected.

Trevor M. Born, MD · Answer

Dear Punkin,

	Thank you for your question.  I am uncertain as to whether there is disruption of the fat cells with smart lipo- this laser actually targets water to generate heat and supposedly skin tightening.  There are techniques to harvest your fat and use it to shape the face and body  I have done this for the breasts, buttocks, face and contour irregularities from liposuction and other scars.  The technique of harvest and injection are both important- and can achieve amazing results!

	With Warm Regards,

	Trevor M Born MD

Robert W. Kessler, MD, FACS · Answer

Liposuction and fat transfer are performed routinely but the liposuction technique used is critical to maximizing the viability of the fat cells transfered. The short coming of fat transfer has been in the harvesting and transferring of the fat.
	Tumescent liposuction is very good at harvesting and maintaining healthy viable cells. Smart lipo used laser to burn and destroy the fat cell. A fat emulsion is harvested which contains little if any viable fat cells.

	Your procedure can be performed if your surgeon uses tumescent lipo to harvest the fat but then finishes the contouring with the smart lipo. Personally I feel the smart lipo is unnecessary in this situation.

	I hope this is helpful.

Frank P. Fechner, MD · Answer

You are bringing up a very important question: What is "good" fat for fat transfer?

	In short, fat obtain through smartlipo is useless for facial fat grafting because the fat cells have been destroyed through the smartlipo process.

	Good fat grafting results rely on the transferred fat to "take" (i.e. live) in their new location. For that to be the case in a predictable fashion, every step in fat grafting is of utmost importantce.

	Fat harvest is best done in a non-traumatic way; with only a small amount of negative (suction) pressure applied, I use a syringe attached to a small harvesting cannula.

David Shafer, MD, FACS · Answer

Fat obtained from Smartlipo cannot be used for fat transfer.  The laser treatment used to "melt" the fat makes the cells non-viable.  Harvesting fat for fat transfer requires very gentle suction to help maximize the viability of the cells. 

	 

	Good Luck.

Roger Bassin, MD · Answer

When a smartlipo procedure is performed, the doctor will put the tumescent solution in the area to be treated. Tumescent solution is another name for numbing fluid which is a mixture of IV fluid, or salt water, and lidocaine. The numbed area is then treated with the smartlipo laser. The purpose of the laser is to melt the fat cells and provide a heating effect to the skin to obtain skin tightening. The fat is then removed with traditional type fat removal procedures. Because the fat has been irreversibly damaged by the laser, you can not use this fat for fat transfer. To accomplish a fat transfer, a more gentle procedure, such as Aqualipo should be performed, and then the fat transfer, or Naturalfill procedure can then be succesfully used to transfer your fat.

Can I Use Fat from Smart Lipo or Tumescent Lipo for Fat Transfer?

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