Must I have general anesthesia for fat transfer or is there an alternative?

Hello,
  Facial fat transfercan be safely performed in the office without sedation. We routinely transfer smaller volumes 10-15mL using a combination of local anesthesia with Valium for relaxation. I tend to think we can achieve better resultswhen the patient is awake and in a seated position then we do when the patientis sedated and laying flat. Because thepatient is awake they can contribute to the results with use of a mirror duringintervals.
Hope this helps.

If you are an ideal candidate than it should not be a problem doing this as an office procedure under local anesthesia with or without oral sedation. Ideal candidates are in good health, and have excess fat in some parts of the body and too little in other regions. Fat grafting is most often used for the face, breasts and buttocks. Typically, the transferred fat results in a significant increase in volume of the body site being treated and is tolerated well. Dr. Nichter

Thanks for your question.Both general and local or IV sedation can be used for fat transfer.Please consult with your surgeon to determine the best option for you.Best wishes

We routinely do facial fat transfer under local anesthesia. If that is the only procedure being done then there should be no problem.

Micro fat transfer can absolutely be done without general anesthesia.  Sometimes it makes sense to have it done at the same time as another procedure when you are already under general anesthesia.  This is usually when it is being performed as an adjunct, but otherwise, I find it preferable to perform the procedure under mild oral sedation with local anesthesia.  Obviously this is not for everyone, but for the average patient, this is very well tolerated.

In my practice I perform fat transfer to the face under local anesthesia with only oral sedation. I only use general anesthesia if the patient requests it. 

Micro-fat grafts can be performed under local, intravenous or general anesthesia. Small amounts usually do not require a general anesthetic or deep sedation. Restylane can be injected after porior fat injections and after a facelift.I would suggest you discuss your concerns with your plastic
surgeon who should ideally be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a member
of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). Robert Singer, MD  FACSLa Jolla, California

Many doctors do the fat transfer under local anesthesia. It's easy to do and takes only a short time and the pain is easily taken away with the local anesthetic. but some doctors just feel better knowing their patient is asleep.