How long should I expect fat transfer or Airsculpt results to last?

Question

How long do results from fat grafting or AirSculpt typically last? Is it easy to maintain? Most before-and-after photos show ppl in their 20's and 30's w/firm skin. I’m skeptical that the fat transfer results last beyond 5 years at my age (40). I’m hoping for a breast procedure for more fullness, would love to use fat transfer. Also considering tummy tuck. Some doctors proposed lipo 360 and fat transfer which sounds less invasive and awesome. But I have lots of loose belly & breast skin.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Fat transfer results can vary in longevity, but generally, they are considered long-lasting. Once the transferred fat cells establish a blood supply and survive, they can remain in place for many years. However, it's common for some of the initial volume to be lost, typically around 20-50%, within the first few months. The remaining fat cells that survive are likely to be permanent. Maintaining a stable weight can help prolong the results.

AirSculpt, a form of liposuction, provides more immediate contouring results but doesn't address skin laxity. The longevity of AirSculpt results depends on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and stable weight.

For individuals in their 40s with concerns about skin laxity, combining fat transfer with procedures that address excess skin, such as a tummy tuck or breast lift, might be beneficial. These procedures can provide more comprehensive and longer-lasting results by addressing both volume and skin laxity.

It's important to discuss your goals and concerns with a qualified plastic surgeon, who can tailor a treatment plan to your specific needs and provide realistic expectations regarding the outcomes and longevity of the procedures.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Can you bring up several issues.
Differentiating between what Liposuction can deliver and a tummy tuck is quite important.
In a nutshell, Liposuction reduces subcutaneous fat only.
A tummy tuck primarily treats pregnancy related changes, which are abdominal skin laxity, and muscle separation.
 in general statement, younger people do better with both Liposuction and fat compared to those who are older.
There’s no single age cut off but people get into their mid 40s. The impact of Liposuction can be less and potentially problematic.
As we lose skin elasticity due to age, the skin is more dependent on the subcutaneous fat to maintain an attractive appearance.
Removing flat Aggressively on older people can compromise what the skin looks like anyways we don’t see on young people.
I suggest you have multiple in person consultations with air sculpt and other plastic surgeons in your community to get each sides perspective.
Bring pictures of your body taking the same way plastic surgeons take before and after pictures to use as reference during the consultation.
Don’t rely and memory what your body looks like.
 During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before and after pictures of previous patients who had similar body characteristics to your own.
This should include patients who were similar age as well. 
Seeing results on patients, whose candidacy for the procedure was different than your own is not helpful in having a clear understanding of what the procedure can or cannot accomplish.
In regards to fat transfer the procedure can potentially increase breast size by 1/2 cup or maximum one cup When done correctly on a patient who are good candidates.
Transfer can make the breast larger, but has very little impact unchanging the shape of the breast.
Patients seem to have a difficult time differentiating what increasing the size or changing the shape means.
If you love the shape of your breast and you just want a bigger version than fat transfer may be an option.
If you don’t like the shape of your breast like the upper half of the breast has no volume then fat transfer isn’t really going to address that very well.
Breast fat transfer results are subtle and don’t change breast shape in any meaningful way.
Most of the fat grafted will dissipate over the first couple of months.
Whatever volume you have at three months is going to be permanent.
There’s no long-term loss of grafted fat volume after three months.
Even though breast fat transfer can deliver visible increases in breast size the results of this procedure varies dramatically, depending on who does the surgery.
With all plastic surgery operations, the outcomes are highly provider dependent.
Breast fat transfer does not create good breast projection.
When you say you want fullness, I have a feeling that’s what you’re looking for.Breast implants is more of a shaping procedure.
Implants do give the appearance of the breast being larger, but more than anything implants create projection and fullness in the upper half of the breast.
For that reason, many patients do much better with implants than they do fat transfer. 
Finally, it’s important to understand that early fat transfer results can look very impressive bordering on breast implant like results.
Early fat results are, however, not at all the same as long-term final outcomes.
Plastic surgeons or clinics may be tempted to use early transfer results when promoting the business with before and after pictures.
In order to understand what the procedure can accomplish its imperative that you confirm the timeframe of when after pictures were taken.
In order to be representative after pictures should never be taken less than three months from the date of surgery.
If results seem too good to be true, then they probably are.
Breast fat transfer should not be compared to breast implant augmentation.
The procedures are drastically different.
A lot of people are hoping to get implant type results and avoiding having to have implants placed.
Likewise, there are lots of individuals, hoping to get tummy tuck results from liposuction and avoid the scar, general anesthesia, and potentially painful recovery.
Ideal candidates for Liposuction can be described as Young, tight and pudgy. The opposite is also true.
Other individuals with lots of loose skin and thin layers of subcutaneous fat are not going to have good outcomes, regardless of who does the procedure when it comes to Liposuction.
These individuals should be looking to have proper skin surgery.
Finally, I’d like to point out that the ability to deliver consistent quality, liposuction, and fat transfer results is more difficult than most people realize.
The number of plastic surgeons who approach mastery of this kind of work is relatively small.Poorly done, liposuction, and fat transferred to some degree can’t potentially leave people disfigured.In the end, provider selection is the most important variable.
Good luck,
Mats Hagstrom MD

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