Fat grafting is a procedure that involves removing a small amount of fat from one area of the body and injecting it into another area of the body in order to provide more volume, correct an indentation, or restore proportionality. Fat injections can be used to plump areas of the breast, buttocks, or hips. If a patient has undergone liposuction that has left any divets in the incision site, fat injections can be used to smooth over those areas.
Normally fat grafting is an outpatient procedure, or it is done in conjunction with another surgery. However, if an area requires only a small volume of fat, the transfer can be done in an office setting. Fat transfer will usually take more than one session to completely correct a defect or provide enough volume to a certain area.
Fat grafting has increased in popularity over the past decade, as it provides a long lasting alternative to dermal fillers, especially facial fillers. With fillers, the body absorbs the injection over several months, and patients must continue to get injections if they want to maintain the appearance the filler provides. One of the main advantages of fat grafting is that the correction is long-lasting, and the fat is not reabsorbed by the body. Dr. Self will carefully explain your aesthetic options and together you will decide how to best achieve your desired result.