Fat Transfer

Although most people consider fat "the enemy" in their lives, it can often times become an advantage when harvested and reinjected in the face to improve various cosmetic problems. Fat injection has been around for years, but has reemerged due to new technologies and research. There are advantages to using a patient's own fat for an implant material. It is readily available, is a living tissue, will not be rejected, feels natural and can be replenished.

Fat transfer is used to:

• Increase lip size
• Correct facial folds, laugh lines and wrinkles
• Increase cheekbone size and contour
• Fill in acne or traumatic scars
• Fill in facial defects

The procedure for fat transfer is relatively simple and is performed in the office environment with local or IV sedation. Fat is harvested by liposuction from the abdomen, thigh, or buttock area. The fat is then washed and treated and injected into the face to correct the specific problems. Excess fat may be frozen and reinjected at a later date. The image above shows harvested fat ready for injection into the face.

Since fat is a living tissue, it will become part of the body's natural tissue when transplanted. Some of the fat is digested by the body and often times several injections are performed in the same area before the results are permanent. Although some patients may get a permanent result with a single injection, most patients will need a second or third session to obtain a permanent result.

This patient above had a facial growth defect from a malignant tumor. Dr. Niamtu treated the patient with several sessions of fat injection. Dr. Niamtu is shown at Stony Point Surgery Center with the harvested fat for injection into the patient’s face.

Click on the links below for more information on:

• Cheek Augmentation
• Lip Augmentation