Cosmetic Surgery – How Does Fat Transfer Work?

Most people on the planet have an extra bulge or two that they wouldn’t mind having removed. To have it placed in an area that needs to be filled in or boosted appears to be a win-win solution. And that is exactly what the procedure entails.

A physician or plastic surgeon will use a suctioning device, called a cannula, to suction away the fat from a source, such as the abdomen. This is also referred to as adipose tissue. The adipose tissue which is removed is then put through a thorough cleansing process utilizing a centrifuge spinning device. Excess blood and broken cells are removed during this process. The remaining is then injected into the appropriate locations which are in need.

There are many other dermatological fillers and implants which are also used to augment or fill in sunken areas. The weakness of these other options, however, is that they are foreign to one’s own body. What better augmentation material than a substance that actually was made by the same body where it will be replaced?

Fat transfer has been used in non-surgical facelifts, in buttocks enhancements, breast augmentations or contour irregularities. The degree of success depends heavily on the surgeon’s skill and surgical technique.

It is natural that some of the transferred adipose tissue will be reabsorbed by the body. It is estimated that from 25 to 50 percent of the injected fat will be absorbed by the body. It is for this reason that surgeons typical overfill areas to allow for the re-absorption.

Other methods related to this one include fat grafting or live cell grafting. These would entail a different type of preparation before replacing the fat in the body. The live cell method would not be as harsh in cleaning the fat in hope that more intact living cells would be left. The belief behind this philosophy is that live cells are more likely to adapt and stay alive.

If you are interested in having a transfer performed on your body, it would be wise to seek a professional consultation with a reputable plastic surgeon who specializes in this procedure. You can get references or information on this from your local medical licensing board, your family physician or friends who are satisfied customers. During the initial appointment, the doctor will perform a physical examination to determine whether you are a viable candidate and then give you detailed information on what the procedure would entail for your individual case.

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