Fat Transfer - The Dream Surgery!
Also known as micro-lipo-injection or fat grafting, a fat transfer is most appealing to patients who want to take a more natural approach to cosmetic surgery. In the skilled hands of cosmetic dermasurgeon and renowned artist, Dr. Eric Finzi, your own fat is used to sculpt and re-contour your face and body. Gaining in popularity as an alternative to a surgical face lift, fat transfer is a more natural, less invasive way to restore facial fullness and volume. In what many are touting as “dream surgery,” Dr. Finzi performs a fat transfer by taking unwanted fat from one area of the body, purifying it, and injecting it where needed. As we age, our facial fat and collagen breaks down causing the skin to develop unwanted lines and wrinkles, cheeks to become sunken, and deep dark circles to develop under the eyes. A more youthful appearance can be easily restored by this minimally invasive and safe in-office procedure. Other body areas that can be enhanced with your own fat include the hands, neck, and breasts. A fat transfer is a safe and effective way to augment the breasts up to one cup size.
Come in for a complimentary cosmetic consultation with Dr. Eric Finzi to see if Fat Transfer surgery is right for you. Call 240-482-2555 for an appointment in Chevy Chase or 301-345-7375 for Greenbelt today!
About the Procedure
Dr. Finzi extracts fat using a tiny cannula from a donor site, most commonly the abdomen, thighs or buttocks. The fat is then purified and injected under the surface skin to the desired depleted body areas. Prior to surgery, you will receive a local anesthetic in both areas so that you will not feel any discomfort. If needed, you can request an oral medication to further relax you. For optimal results, a series of two to three treatments, two months apart, are required because half of the fat grafted with each procedure will dissipate. Dr. Finzi will harvest additional fat during your first visit that will be frozen and stored for up to six months for future treatments.
FAQs
What body areas are treatable by a fat transfer?
The face is the most common area treated, specifically the cheeks, under eye area, nasolabial folds, lips, chin and temples. Breast augmentation by fat transfer is an option for women who do not want implants, but want to enhance their breasts up to one cup size. Other areas treated by fat transfer include the hands, neck, facial and body scars, and any area to correct body asymmetry.
Is the fat transfer procedure painful?
The procedure is relatively painless using the tumescent technique combined with local anesthesia to numb the treated areas. The local anesthesia will last up to 12 hours helping with post operative discomfort.
How long does a fat transfer last?
Depending on the site(s) treated, a fat transfer will last for years. In most cases, the body will reabsorb about half of the transferred fat, making it necessary for up to 3 treatments to obtain optimal results. To compensate for the re-absorption rate, Dr. Finzi adds extra fat to the desired treatment areas, and will freeze and store additional fat for later use if desired.
How long does the procedure take?
Performed in-office in one of our surgical suites, the procedure takes 2-3 hours for the face and up to 5 hours for other body parts. Since the procedure is performed under local anesthesia, you can be driven home immediately after surgery.
How quickly will I see results?
Initial swelling and bruising may persist for at least a week and will gradually subside within 2 to 3 weeks. Once all the swelling has dissipated, you will see the newly sculpted you!
What can I expect after the procedure?
The treated areas will be swollen, bruised, and senisitive to the touch, and may feel hard for up to a few weeks.
Are there any scars?
Since the entire procedure is performed through tiny incisions, the wounds heal by themselves without the need for sutures and will virtually disappear over time.
When can I resume my normal activities?
You can be up and about that evening, and can return to work within a few days. You must keep your head elevated and sleep atop 2 pillows for several days. We advise you to avoid strenuous activities and sports, heavy lifting (20 pounds), aerobic exercise, and swimming, until your incisions have completely healed.
Can I smoke after a fat transfer?
Smoking is prohibited for 3-4 weeks following the procedure because it will inhibit the fat transfer from taking. Smoking depletes the body of oxygen and will cause the transferred fat cells to be rejected.
How effective is a fat transfer to the breasts?
A fat transfer is ideal for women who want a safe way to restore fullness after breast feeding, correct a size or shape variance, or an increase of up to one cup size. Women who do not want breast implants may prefer a fat transfer to the breasts. However, this is not for women who want a substantial increase. In order to harvest enough fat for the augmentation, a combination of tumescent liposuction and a fat transfer is necessary. The procedure, performed under local anesthesia, will take up to 5 hours.
Come in for a complimentary cosmetic consultation with Dr. Eric Finzi to see if Fat Transfer surgery is right for you. Call 240-482-2555 for an appointment in Chevy Chase or 301-345-7375 for Greenbelt today!