Fat Grafting
What is Fat Grafting?
Also known as fat injections or autologous fat transfer, fat grafting is an advanced contouring procedure that utilizes your own natural tissue to add volume to your face or body. At Hankins & Sohn Plastic Surgery Associates in Las Vegas, fat grafting can be used to achieve a wide range of beneficial effects. Furthermore, this popular treatment is often added to other techniques to obtain more comprehensive results. Our board certified plastic surgeons, Dr. W. Tracy Hankins and Dr. Samuel M. Sohn, will determine if fat grafting can optimize your results during your initial consultation.
Fat grafting is an incredibly versatile outpatient cosmetic procedure and offers longer-lasting and more natural results compared to dermal fillers. If you’d like to learn more about fat grafting procedures, or if you would like to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Hankins or Dr. Sohn, please contact our office today.
Fat Grafting for the Face
Facial fat injections can be performed as a standalone procedure or in conjunction with a facelift or another facial plastic surgery treatment. This technique is designed to smooth deep creases and to add volume where there is a deficiency. Volume loss can occur as part of the natural aging process or due to an illness or adverse health condition.
The fat transfer procedure begins with harvesting fatty tissue from an area of the body with a liposuction cannula under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. Generally the best parts of the body for collecting excess fat will be the stomach, hips, and thighs, and you can have input regarding the targeted spot. The fat will then be gently processed and prepared for injection. The surgeon will precisely administer injections of the patient’s own fat into the area of concern to ensure optimal blood supply. If the fat transfer is done in combination with a facelift, the tissue can be directly placed during the procedure. It’s important to note, facelift recovery will be longer with this approach due to the increased swelling associated with fat grafting.. However, the outcome can last even longer than with a facelift alone.
Fat Grafting for the Buttocks
Fat grafting for the body is in many ways similar to facial fat grafting. Also known as a Brazilian Butt Lift, fat grafting for the buttocks is designed to enhance the volume and shape of the lower body. No implants or foreign objects will be used in this technique, which many patients find appealing. Again, fat will be harvested from a donor site, typically the abdomen, flanks, or thighs, although virtually any area or combination of areas could potentially be used. Since liposuction is a necessary step in this procedure, more comprehensive body contouring can be achieved as determined by your unique anatomic needs and cosmetic goals.
Fat Grafting for the Breast and Body
The buttocks are only one region of the body that can be addressed with fat injections. In certain cases, fat grafts also can be used to augment the breasts, fill defects, reduce rippling and visibility of breast implants, and soften contours. It’s important to note, breast tissue and fatty tissue are different, and our doctors can help you determine whether breast augmentation with fat grafting alone or with breast implants can achieve the best possible outcome for you. If you would like to consider using your own tissue to enhance the size, shape, or appearance of your breasts, our surgeons will be happy to discuss your options during your initial complimentary consultation.
Fat grafting can also be used to improve the outcome of other surgical procedures. If you’re dissatisfied with the liposuction results performed by another surgeon, fat transfer can help to further refine your body contour.
Recovery Following Fat Grafting
Typically there will be some discomfort when recovering from fat grafting to the buttocks, breast, or body. There is usually little pain associated with the injection sites, and we can prescribe medication to help make the healing process as pleasant as possible. Most patients notice more tenderness in the area that received liposuction than where the fatty tissue was placed. During the first few weeks, it’s important that you avoid sitting for long periods or sleeping on your back after a Brazilian Butt Lift. Pressure to the fat cells can cause them to be absorbed, which can lead to unwanted changes in the shape or size of the buttocks. There will be a small amount of volume loss that occurs after fat transfer, which our surgeons will take into consideration. Fat grafting offers long-lasting results; as long as your weight remains stable, the effect should be permanent.
Recovery from facial fat grafting combined with a facelift tends to be more extensive. Fat transfer can cause additional swelling, which can take four to eight weeks to subside. While healing can require more patience, the outcome typically provides a more youthful look than often can be achieved with the surgery alone. We offer a wide range of facial rejuvenation treatment options, and our surgeons will be happy to discuss them all. We will create a customized plan that best suits your needs, goals, and lifestyle.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) About Fat Grafting
Curious about fat grafting and how it can help you achieve your cosmetic goals? We have provided answers to some commonly asked questions about this popular procedure. We hope this information serves as a useful resource. If you would like to learn more, or if you’re ready to schedule a consultation, please reach out to our skilled and knowledgeable medical team.
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What are the benefits of fat grafting?
Fat grafting is used to rejuvenate, restore, and add volume to different areas of the face and body. It can improve the contours of virtually any region and create a smooth, natural-looking result. Fat grafting uses a patient’s own natural tissue to create the desired effect, so there is virtually no risk of an allergic reaction. And you can rest assured that you are simply enhancing what already exists without the need for foreign substances or objects. That said, fat grafting can also be combined with other procedures, such as cosmetic injectables and breast augmentation, to heighten the effect and achieve more comprehensive enhancement.
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Who is a good candidate for fat grafting?
The most important thing is for a person to be in overall good health. We will also discuss reasonable expectations for the result, and what can be achieved with your procedure. Patients considering fat grafting for the breast and body will need to have sufficient fatty tissue to complete the treatment as designed. In some cases, a patient may be asked to gain a small amount of weight prior to the operation, and our surgeons will discuss this with you if it applies to your situation. Other factors may also apply depending on the unique details of your plan, which will be covered during your initial consultation.
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How much does fat grafting cost?
Fat grafting can range in cost by a great deal, depending on the number of areas to be treated, what other techniques are being utilized, and other considerations. The fat transfer process alone can be anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars. We want to give you the information you need to make the right decision for you, and our medical team will provide the full estimated price of fat grafting and any other treatments you’re receiving, including anticipated fees for anesthesiology and the hospital facility, during your first meeting. We work with a number of reputable plastic surgery financing companies in the event you would like to consider a payment plan. Talk to us about your needs and goals, and we will help you find a suitable solution.
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Is there a limit to the number of areas I can address?
In most cases, we recommend limiting your treatment to up to three to four adjacent areas when it comes to liposuction. Many patients choose the abdomen, hips, and thighs, for instance. You may only need to target one area to achieve the necessary amount of tissue; however, you may want further contouring to obtain your desired cosmetic outcome. Facial fat grafting usually only requires a small volume of fat, and this may be found almost anywhere on the body. You should be able to select the donor area with guidance from our surgeons.
If you have additional questions about fat grafting with our Las Vegas plastic surgeons, we encourage you to reach out to our friendly and knowledgeable staff. Contact us today at (702) 948-7595 for more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation.
1 ASPS. Fat grafting history and applications. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/fat-grafting-history-and-applications. Accessed December 22, 2022.
2 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Most Plastic Surgeons Now Use Fat Grafting as Part of Facelift Surgery. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/press-releases/most-plastic-surgeons-now-use-fat-grafting-as-part-of-facelift-surgery. Accessed May 14, 2020.
2 Cansanção AL. Abstract: Brazilian Buttocks: Fat Grafting Technique Standardization. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2016;4(9 Suppl):29-29. doi: 10.1097/01.GOX.0000511262.75725.8a. Accessed May 14, 2020.
3 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation. Available at: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/fat-transfer-breast-augmentation. Accessed May 14, 2020.
This content has either been authored or reviewed and approved by the doctors at Hankins & Sohn Plastic Surgery Associates.