People who visit our plastic surgery practice often share common concerns. Though the tiny details may differ, what we consistently hear are complaints about too much fat in a particular area and about the signs of aging on the face. The exact area where fat cells linger differs from one person to another. The signs of aging, as well, can vary from dark circles or bags under the eyes to sagging jowls. Interestingly, science has determined that not only can both problems be corrected at once, but that one can literally help the other.
Dr. Shridharani prides himself on staying up to date with the latest advances in plastic surgery. One of the most meaningful steps forward in recent years has been the development of fat grafting techniques. You may know fat grafting as fat injections or fat transfer. By any name, the process of taking fat cells from one area and utilizing them elsewhere has proven to be quite beneficial. Here’s how.
Fat Transfer sculpts the body.
The clear magic of fat transfer is the integrity of fatty tissue. To get the most concentrated form of fat, it is necessary to remove a larger amount of fatty tissue from an area such as the buttocks, midsection, or thighs. Most patients take this opportunity to sculpt a part of their body that has been problematic. Liposuction may be performed manually with a syringe in small cases or using standard techniques for more significant body contouring. After fatty tissue is obtained, it is processed to separate out the purest of cells from blood and other fluid.
Fat transfer results in a natural look and feel – because it is.
Not so long ago, we would hear murmured wishes for techniques like natural breast augmentation. Well, now we have it. When it comes to fat transfer, whether for breast enhancement or facial rejuvenation, we are replacing like with like. It is fat tissue that fills out the breasts naturally. It is the loss of fatty tissue in the temples and mid-face that leads to jowls, nasolabial folds, and a generally tired-looking face.
Fat stays.
Part of the problem with fat is that it sticks around when we really don’t want it to. That’s why people get liposuction. When we look at this characteristic of fat through the lens of fat transfer, we see a clear advantage. When we correct the signs of aging with dermal fillers, we see immediate results but know they will fade in a few months or years. When we introduce fat into the areas of the face that have degraded, it may take a few weeks to see results. It may take up to a year to see the final results. From then on, though, the fat cells that have lasted will live on forever.
Fat injections offer significant benefits for body contouring and facial rejuvenation. To learn more, schedule your consultation in our NYC office.