BeautiFill is a first-of-its-kind FDA-approved system for laser liposuction and fat grafting. A BeautiFill procedure uses a 1470 nm wavelength, laser-encased cannula to loosen and harvest excess fat cells from areas like the chin, hips, thighs, flanks, and abdomen. This low-level laser breaks up the fat without liquefying it, gently suctions it out, and rapidly processes it for transfer to another body area.
This streamlined system allows plastic surgeons to more quickly extract, prepare, and transfer natural fat to other areas of the body or face, with a greater fat cell viability rate than any other harvesting method. The laser energy also tightens lax skin, reducing the risk of sagging once the fat’s removed.
In a process called autologous fat transfer, this refined fat can then be injected by your surgeon into other areas. It can add volume to cheeks, the under-eyes, lips, or nasolabial folds; fill pitted scars; or create more fullness in the breasts or buttocks.
According to a clinical study funded by the manufacturer, the most significant advantage of harvesting fat with BeautiFill is its average fat cell viability rate of more than 95%. It's worth noting that this study only included 10 patients, but these results are a significant improvement over traditional fat harvesting methods. With a method like tumescent liposuction, 30–50% of fat cells used in breast fat transfer or a Brazilian butt lift typically die within three months, and facial fat grafting patients may lose 40–60% of transferred cells. These poor viability rates have made fat transfer results unpredictable, with a risk of contour irregularities and asymmetry.Â
If BeautiFill results live up to the promise of those clinical trial results and the technology becomes widespread, it could take a lot of the uncertainty out of all kinds of fat transfer procedures.
Some doctors on RealSelf remain skeptical. "There are quite a lot of variables that make a difference in fat survival after transfer, and the method of taking the fat is only one of these," says Dr. Robert Buchanan, a plastic surgeon in Highlands, North Carolina. "Use of a laser, no matter how modified, is not going to make much difference in the result, but it does make the procedure more expensive. After you harvest the fat there are still multiple variables that determine the take and the results, and the laser cannot modify any of these."
Pros
Cons
BeautiFill treatment is suitable for nonsmokers in good physical health, without conditions that affect circulation or healing. Keep in mind that it’s not a weight-loss treatment.
Avoid BeautiFill (and other body contouring procedures) if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
First, you’ll have a consultation with your provider (typically a physician or plastic surgeon) to discuss your aesthetic goals, including where you’d like to add volume. They’ll assess the best areas for fat harvesting.
BeautiFill is performed on an outpatient basis, which means you'll go home after the procedure.Â
On the day of your procedure, your doctor will start by marking on your body where they’ll remove excess fat, typically the abdomen, hips, butt, or thighs. These areas will be numbed with a local anesthetic.Â
Your surgeon will make a small incision in the skin and insert the BeautiFill wand. They’ll move it back and forth to capture fat cells, which will be suctioned out and immediately processed inside a canister on the device.Â
They’ll then use these refined, live fat cells to fill a syringe and gradually inject the fat into the body area where you want more volume.
The procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia, so you'll be technically awake but deeply relaxed and sleepy, with no discomfort during the procedure.Â
If you're having a larger fat transfer procedure like a BBL, you may be given general anesthesia, so you'll be completely asleep.Â
According to the manufacturer, BeautiFill's laser energy results in less bruising and swelling than other fat-harvesting procedures like traditional liposuction. Because of this, recovery should be quicker and less painful.
You can expect 24 to 48 hours of downtime after volumizing small areas, such as the cheeks. With larger procedures like fat transfer breast augmentation, you may have more swelling and tenderness and up to a week of recovery.
Having fat injected into your buttocks, commonly called a Brazilian butt lift (or BBL), is a much more involved procedure that can involve several weeks of downtime. BBL surgery also comes with safety risks, so it’s essential that you find a board-certified plastic surgeon who has years of experience performing the procedure and is fully aware of the most recent BBL safety recommendations.
For replenishing lost volume in the face, injectable fillers are still the most popular option. They’re also less expensive, but the results won’t be nearly as long-lasting.
Updated August 30, 2023