“I’m satisfied with the body I have,” said no one ever. Keeping aside the vanguards of philosophy telling beauty comes from within, deep down we all know what parts of our body make us feel insecure. Of course, every body is beautiful and unique in their own way but who wouldn’t love some modifications? One such method of relocating your fat from one part of the body to another is Fat Grafting.

Fat grafting also called “Fat transfer” or “Lipomodelling” is the surgical method of moving fat from one part of the body to another. The surgical goal is to enhance or increase the region in which the fat is injected. The procedure involves liposuction (i.e removing excess fat), refining the fat, and then re-injecting processed fat into the region that needs improvement.

A board-certified Plastic and Cosmetic surgeon uses Fat Grafting reliably as a means of improving and augmenting the cosmetic appearance of the face, breast, hands, feet, hips, and buttocks.
The Process Of Fat Grafting

The procedure of fat grafting process involves three steps:

• Extraction(liposuction) of fat from the donor region.
• Decanting, centrifugation, and fat-processing.
• Reinjection of processed fat into the region where improvement is required.

In the first step, using liposuction techniques the fat is removed from a donor region. It is best achieved through manual methods that use thin liposuction cannulas with tiny holes. Laser or ultrasonic liposuction should not be used for extraction because the fat cells may get destroyed. The fat is then processed to separate debris, excess fluid, and dead cells from the viable adipose fat cells with decanting and centrifugation.

The sterile saline solution serves as an alternative way of washing the fat. The fat that is discarded bears the fat cells that are unable to survive in the graft, which may also cause

 problems for the healthy cells. In the final step, the fat is reinjected throughout the subcutaneous tissue of the receiver area in small droplets. This is to ensure that every fat droplet is supplied with good blood so that the fat graft can survive.
The proportion of fat injected is measured in cc, and ultimately varies depending on the specifics of the patient’s medical history and the area of the body where the processed fat is injected.
Types Of Anesthesia Used In Process

Fat Grafting is executed with a wide range of anesthetics. Choosing anesthesia typically depends on the volume of fat extracted through liposuction from the donor region. A local

 anesthetic can easily be used to tolerate the extraction of small volumes of fat. Yet greater volumes (> 500cc) almost always allow the patient to be sedated with IV or General Anesthesia.

Common Areas Of Fat Grafting

A summary of common applications for fat grafting and related volumes of the injected fat is as follows:

• Face (10cc-100cc, overall):

  • Restores the appearance of young people by adding volume to hollowed or wrinkled areas such as the area under the eye and the nasolabial folds.
  • Helps fix scars
  • Adds volume to the cheeks giving a higher appearance to cheekbones
  • Improves skin texture and appearance

• Breast (25cc-400cc, each breast):

  • Increases the breast size by a cup size or two.
  • Corrects breast asymmetry.
  • Repairs damage to tissues from radiation and can treat breast implant capsular contractures.
  • Helps correct lumpectomy or breast reconstruction scarring deformities.

• Hips (100cc–300cc, on each side):

  • Adds volume to make a more feminine profile and a bet
    ter ratio of waist-hips.

• Buttocks (200cc-1300cc+, each butt):

  • Makes buttocks look perkier
  • Increases the size of the buttocks (aka Brazilian butt lift).

• Benefits Of Fat Grafting:

  • Autologous fat (from your own body) replaces “like with like,” as opposed to dermal fillers, thus reducing the chance of allergic reactions to foreign substances.
  • The effects of fat transfers are normal, durable, and secure.
  • A non-invasive approach to achieve facial rejuvenation for patients who are allergic to derma; fillers such as bovine-derived collagen.
  • Undergoing fat transfer in addition to Abdominoplasty or Liposuction serves more cost-effective than going for each procedure separately.

• Possible Mild Side Effects Of Fat Grafting:

  • Swelling or bruising.
  • Small scars on the treated areas. (which fade away with time)
  • Loss of some of the fat from the recipient area during the first few months after treatment. (which builds up back slowly)
  • Temporary numbness.
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