Fat Transfer

What is Fat Transfer?
As we age we lose fat from our face, breasts and hands. We also tend to accumulate fatty deposits in areas that we don't want such as the stomach, thighs, arms, chin and back. Fat Transfer is the process of removing fat cells and re-injecting them into areas where we have lost fat, restoring a more youthful appearance.

The use of your own fat in this procedure means that allergic reactions and side effects caused by the introduction of foreign materials is avoided.

Can Fat Transfer help me?
Fat transfer can be used to correct cheek depressions and contour deformities, fill in deep laughter lines and facial wrinkles and enhance the breasts, hands, lips and cheeks. Fat transplantation is used mainly to fill deep lines and folds. Superficial wrinkles still need to be treated with chemical peeling, laser or fillers such as collagen.

How much fat survives the transplant?
When the fat is harvested for fat transplantation care is taken to collect the fat cells with some surrounding blood vessels and connective tissue in filaments rather than as individual fat cells. This significantly increases the survival rate of the fat cells. As with all grafts in the first three days following implantation are the most critical and determine the number of cells that will grow a new blood supply and survive. Once the new blood supply is well established the fat cells will live as long as the fat cells that they have replaced.

The survival rate for fat grafting varies from 30 to 100 percent. The proportion of transferred fat cells that survive varies from one area of the body to another. The fat injection can be repeated to counter any re-absorption of transplanted fat cells. Areas such as the cheek usually need to be injected 3 times to maximise the increase in fullness.

How long does the procedure take?
Fat Transfer is a day only procedure done under local anaesthetic. Sedation is available if you require it.