Fat Grafting/Autologous Fat Transfer in Delhi

Fat grafting, also termed autologous fat transfer or fat injection, is an emerging technique for breast reconstruction. It is as well used as a rectification for facial aging or mends areas of the body that lack volume, such as the face, hands, or buttocks. Fat grafting is an invasive procedure. The procedure of fat grafting is performed by removing the fat tissue from other parts of the body – generally the belly, thighs, and buttocks — by way of liposuction. The extracted fat tissue is then processed into liquid and injected into the breast area to reconstruct the breast or any other area of the body, where the surgeon needs to add volume.

Another type of fat grafting is called lipofilling. The process has been in use for the past many years in order to fix minor differences in the shape, position, and balance of the recreated breast or if there are any deviations in comparison to the other breast. Since the procedure has worked well through the years, doctors perceived they might be able to reconstruct or reshape a whole breast using fat.

It can be tempting to visualize fat grafting as a “safer” procedure, given that it doesn’t involve any major surgery. However, the success of fat grafting over the long term typically relies on the efficient performance of the doctor. Since fat grafting is relatively new, it requires great precision and skills on the part of the surgeon performing it. It’s also crucial to note that in many cases, the fat grafted into the breast area may be reabsorbed by the body over a period of time, and eventually the breast may lose some volume.

This is why some proficient plastic surgeons may add more fat initially than they think you would require. That being said, if performed well, fat grafting is safe, long-lasting, and well-bearing. The average follow-up time is approximately 4 years and it produces highly natural-looking results. Most people who have undergone fat grafting at Care Well Medical Centre have experienced, successful fat grafting and are delighted with the results.

• If you have a beast that lacks volume or is out of shape, you can consider breast augmentation via fat grafting. It gives the required shape, volume, and lift to the breast.
• For use in breast reconstruction, to fill in contour deformity.
• To hide evident signs of breast implants.
• Having facial areas that look, droopy, creased, and sunken
• If you desire a permanent fix than is provided by temporary fillers

If you seek to enhance your body contour, minimize scarring, fill body depressions, and revitalize your face and hands.

The major benefits of getting done fat grafting are:

• The strong safety profile in a way that it uses your own tissue rather than an implant
• Fat is eliminated from an area of the body where it is unwanted
• Sunken and loosen body areas are efficiently filled with your own fat tissues
• As opposed to fillers, replaces “like with like,”
• Minimize the likeliness of allergic reactions to foreign materials
• Fat grafting is non-invasive for achieving facial rejuvenation
• Natural results that are safe and long-lasting

• Little time taking procedure since it requires preparing fat tissue before transferring it, as opposed to dermal fillers, which are pre-packaged.
• For breast or buttock augmentation, you may need multiple sessions if the area is highly depressed or to achieve your desired breast or buttock size.

The key is to weigh the pros n cons when considering fat graft, particularly if you seek to focus on what is unique to you. For the best consultation before making a plunge into the procedure, consult a qualified aesthetic plastic surgeon.

The purpose of fat transfer is to augment or fill in volume to the depressed/deficient bodily areas. Usually grafted, or injected, areas include the breast and buttock (for augmentation), face (for scars and indents), lips), the hands, and deficient in the skin (following scarring or liposuction). Moreover, undeniably you should have donor sites from which fat can be extracted. Also, it is crucial that you do not have any circulation issues, either from smoking or a medical condition.

The purpose of fat transfer is to augment or fill in volume to the depressed/deficient bodily areas. Usually grafted, or injected, areas include the breast and buttock (for augmentation), face (for scars and indents), lips), the hands, and deficient in the skin (following scarring or liposuction). Moreover, undeniably you should have donor sites from which fat can be extracted. Also, it is crucial that you do not have any circulation issues, either from smoking or a medical condition.

New age, the clinical procedure of fat transfer is not only restricted to correcting certain areas of the body like the breast or buttocks but is much more than that. It includes various successful augmentations and fixations of the body areas which are as follows.

1. Breast Augmentation With Fat Transfer – If you wish to have a modest yet impressive increase in breast size, fat grafting to the breast can be your way out. You make for a good candidate for breast enhancement by fat transfer if your breasts are already in decent shape and have a good skin tone. If you have drooping breasts, poor skin texture, or desire a sizeable increase in breast size, breast augmentation with fat grafting might not be for you. The major issue with only using fat for breast augmentation lies in obtaining large volumes of fat for a foreseeable “take.”
2. Breast Implants Combined With Fat Grafting – In cases where breast shape requires optimizing during a breast implant procedure, fat transfer can be quite useful. If you are going through residual breast deformities after undergoing breast enhancement with implants, the deformity can be significantly filled in with fat in order to create an optimal shape and a fine contour.
3. Breast Recreation With Fat Grafting – Breast reconstruction using fat transfer is an ideal procedure for those with breast irregularities following a lumpectomy for breast cancer. Fat grafted or injected is an effective technique for filling in such irregularities. Fat grafting is also a good option for complete breast recreation following mastectomy. However, in order to achieve enough breast volume, this is generally a multistage process that would need a minimum of 2-4 sequential fat grafting treatments.
4. Buttock Augmentation using Fat Grafting – Almost any of us would desire a curvaceous body and that is certainly achieved with toned, rounded butts. Those who wish to have a fuller, rounder, and firm buttock can opt for a “Brazilian butt lift,” which uses fat grafting to render a more curvaceous buttock. What’s amazing is that buttock augmentation with fat transfer does not require the use of an implant. It is important to know that surgical Liposuction is typically used to sculpt the area surrounding the butt as well as gather the autologous fat to be injected.
5. Facial Rejuvenation with Fat Graft – Many people these days are encountering facial creases even before attaining a certain age. Causes can be any from stress to pollution to an imbalanced lifestyle. That said, if you have facial creases, such as smile lines, laugh lines, and crow’s-feet, they can be fixed with fat transfer. Fat is taken off your thighs, abdomen, or other areas and injected into the area of irregularity in your face. Fortunately, people facing the issues of acne scars, sunken cheeks or under eyes, and lips, can be relieved as it can also be filled in through the fat transfer method. The grafted fat can even be used to significantly reduce lines between your nose and mouth, correct skin indentations, and reduce forehead wrinkles.
6. Hand Rejuvenation with Fat Transfer – Fat transfer into hands is an effective method for adding volume, “plumping up” and smoothing the creased areas, while also covering underlying tendons and vessels. Fat grafting also aids in improving the quality of your skin over time. If you are healthy generally and have an optimistic outlook and realistic expectations, you are likely an ideal candidate for this procedure.

Also known as fat transfer, the procedure is carried out by harvesting the fat from one part of your body, cleaned, purified, processing, and then cautiously re-injected into the areas of augmentation using specially designed needles. Your plastic surgeon may require repeating the fat transfer procedure several times to obtain the desired result. Thus we can call fat grafting a 3-stage process that includes:

1. The procedure of Harvesting: Your surgeon with your consent will select a donor site for fat extraction and will inject it with a local anesthetic. For this purpose, the surgeon will then make a small incision (cut) in the area for fat removal. Then, using a sterile method will insert a cannula linked to a syringe to cautiously remove fat (liposuction).
2. The procedure of Purification and Transfer: Once sufficient fat is garnered from your donor site, your doctor will process it to prepare the fat cells for transfer to syringes (small) that will be utilized for fat injection. Purification may also necessitate the use of a centrifuge for the purpose of spinning the fat or a filtration process to eliminate any impurities prior to injection, just as it’s done in the PRP procedure.
3. The procedure of Placement: The bodily area assigned to receive the graft will then be prepared by your surgeon and staff. They will insert a needle or cannula into the point of incision at the site to be augmented.

The injection needle is generally made to pass in and out of the areas to be enhanced several times. Each time the cannula or needle is withdrawn, a dash of fatty tissue wraps is cautiously collected in natural tissue planes. This process is repeated until the wishful fixation has been achieved, forming a grid of grafted fat. You might also be advised to get the grafted areas massaged in order to get a satisfactory contour. While some surgeons rely on the placement method in order to develop an appropriate contour. A bandage or dressing will then be placed over the grafted area.

Your plastic surgeon may use your own extra body fat to alter your body contour, correct scarring, and revise depressions developed by liposuction or cancer surgery. The most common sites for collecting fat include the thighs, abdomen, posterior arms and flanks (love handles or side stomach bulge), and hips.

Fortunately, the adverse effects of fat grafting are infrequent. Some women who have undergone fat grafting reported that their fat-graft-recreated breast initially has some sensation and feels soft, much similar to the other unreconstructed breast.

Other complications that might occur:

• Hematoma or seroma (collection of blood or fluid beneath the skin that may require removal)
• Bleeding at the site
• Hematoma ( collection of blood that looks like bruising)
• Formation of blood clots
• Scarring
• Adverse anesthesia risks
• Likeliness of infection
• Less sensation in the nipples
• Disproportionate bodily appearance as an outcome
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Ongoing pain, infection, or allergic reactions
• Damage to underlying tissue or structures
• An unsatisfactory outcome that may necessitate additional procedures

However, one can dwindle down the possibility of certain complications by following the advice of their surgeon, both before and after your fat transfer.

A. Will, I have scars, post-fat grafting?

There are 2 kinds of scar-like marks that are left behind on the patient’s skin after liposuction. One is what we call a true scar, and the other is called dyschromia, a light (hypopigmented) or dark (hyperpigmented) spot on the skin.

B. What will my scars be like?

Your only fat transfer incisions and scars may outcome in an action of liposuction, which is used to eliminate fat from the donor site. Since incisions made in liposuction are small, the scars are small too, and often placed in hidden areas. However, remember that at times, depending on the location of fat accumulations on your body, the incisions cannot be hidden. Moreover, the degree and amount of scarring depend on your surgeon’s skillfulness, technique, and genetic tendencies. Most liposuction scars grow faint and are scarcely detectable over time. Visible scars have a great possibility of visibility in cases of patients having darkly pigmented skin or where large liposuction cannulas are used.

C. How do I select a surgeon for the best consultation and treatment?

Selecting a surgeon calls for even more responsibility than taking the decision of having surgery done. Your surgeon must fulfill the following criteria:

• Medically approved certification, education, and training
• Enough experience with fat grafting and fat transfer incisions
• Have a good point of reference
• Not reluctant to show the testimony of patients as well as before and after photos
• Shares a level of comfort and belongingness
• Understands your goals and make you well aware of what fat grafting can do for you
• Is transparent about your individualized complications, expectations, and outcomes

D. What happens at the initial consultation appointment?

Your doctor may ask the following questions to decide your treatment plan:

• Do you have any medical conditions? If yes, are you presently taking treatment for any medical conditions?
• Do you have any drug allergies?
• Have you undergone any surgeries previously?
• What is your history with any non-invasive cosmetic surgery if any?
• Are you currently on any medications, supplements, or vitamins?
• What is your current consumption of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and any other recreational drugs?
• What is your main motivator to have a fat transfer?
• What outcome do you expect from the fat grafting procedure?

E. What evaluations are made in a consultation?

• Your doctor may ask you to look into the mirror and highlight the exact area you would like to get corrected
• Take your photos for a medical record, measure your face, and use computer imaging techniques to show you the enhancements you can expect.
• Assess your health status, including pre-existing health conditions or complications.

You will be given preoperative instructions by your surgeon. Your physical fitness, mental preparedness will be assessed to identify your fitness for this procedure.

• Your pre-procedure photos will be taken in the treatment room
• Hydration will be given to the skin pre-procedure for better outcomes and safe recovery, regardless of the type of surgery you are provided
• You will be asked to stop smoking at least 6 weeks before the fat grafting procedure to prevent poor wound healing and scarring.
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, vitamins, homeopathic regimens that can instigate bleeding.
• Arrange for a mate to drive you home and stay with you for a minimum of one day.

• Depending upon the surgeon you chose, your fat transfer procedure may be conducted in a licensed hospital/clinic, a freestanding, private ambulatory facility, or an office-setting surgical suite.
• The duration of the surgery will depend on the number of liposuction sites and the amount of fat to be removed and. For example, you will require much less fat for facial correction than to enhance your breasts or buttocks.
• General or local anesthesia will be administered. Intravenous sedation is also given to patients undergoing fat transfer.
• Several scanners are used to monitor your blood pressure, heart rate, and the amount of oxygen circulating in the blood. This is done to ensure the utmost safety during the operation.
• The surgical plan discussed will be followed.
• After the procedure is completed, you will be moved to a recovery area, where the doctor will continue to closely monitor you.
• You will be wearing a compression garment at your liposuction site which aids the skin to “shrink” sufficiently. You might feel soreness at the liposuction site; especially if you underwent a vigorous workout previously.

After a brief observation, you will be permitted to go home unless you and your surgeon have any plans for immediate post-op recovery.

Post-operation, you and your caregiver will get detailed guidelines about your after-surgical care, including details about:

• Swelling, bruising & inconvenience will subside in the initial 1-2 days.
• You can begin your normal routine tasks, subsequent to the day after surgery
• You can go for a walk, but do not jog or do a brisk walk in the initial 2 weeks
• If you are on a desk job, you can resume working 3 days after the surgery.
• Avoid weight lifting, exhaustive exercises, sudden movements, etc., for about a month
• Use compression undergarments for at least a month post-op surgery to maintain the contours accomplished immediately post the procedure.
• Swelling, bruising, and discomfort will go away in a month and you will feel “back to normal”.
• You can start all sorts of physical activities in 6-8 weeks, but make sure to first consult your surgeon.
• Do not exert physical pressure until a month

Wondering how long fat transfer results last? Fortunately, you can expect almost permanent results with fat grafting if performed adroitly. You can expect your treated area to appear fuller and softer, giving you a rejuvenated look. The survival of the injected fat and longevity of outcomes typically depends on the surgeon’s skills, how the fat was collected, processed, and purified, and how and where it was grafted.

A micro-fat grafting procedure is an ideal way to make sure that the largest percentage of grafted fat will take. When performed successfully, the injected fat launches a new and fresh blood supply that allows your body to acquire the nourishment it requires for survival. When this takes place, the results are often permanent. Touch-up procedures are sometimes necessary for a percentage of fat that does not take.