This cosmetic procedure involves using a person own fat to improve the appearance of a part of their body that requires volume restoration. This can be because the target area has lost tissue volume as a result of aging, surgery, trauma, birth defects etc. To achieve this body fat is harvested from an area where it isn’t required (such as the flanks or abdomen) and transferred to the area requiring correction.
Areas suitable for fat grafting include:
To minimise discomfort during the procedure a local anaesthetic along with adrenaline is injected into the areas of the body from where the fat is being harvested. Using a cannula, the fat is removed through a discreet incision. The fat is then prepared for transplantation through a filtering and washing process before being placed into the target area using a smaller cannula. The treating doctor will inject more fat than required to accommodate for the fact that the body will absorb a percentage of the fat soon after transplantation.
There is minimal downtime following this procedure and complications are rare. The majority of clients are able to return to normal activity the next if not the same day. The treated area can appear slightly swollen for a few days following treatment and occasionally mild bruising may occur. The procedure itself is usually well tolerated, and any discomfort afterwards can be adequately managed with oral paracetamol.
The chances of an allergic reaction (a concern associated with other forms of injectable treatments) is extremely unlikely and the results of this procedure can last for years. Although approximately 65% of the injected fat is absorbed by the body within a few months of treatment, the remaining 35% will remain in place for an extensive period of time. It is recommended that clients undergo a course of several treatments to achieve optimal results.