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Body fat makes excellent soft tissue filler material. Fat
injection (also called autologous fat transplantation) transfers
fat from one part of the body to another to recontour the face;
diminish frown lines, crow’s feet and nasolabial folds
(smile lines); and provide definition to areas like the cheeks
and chin. It can also be used to fill out depressed scarred
areas on any part of the body. Fat injection is not permanent,
and may require an effective maintenance program.
Technique:
The donor site (for example, abdomen, buttocks or thighs)
and the treatment site are injected with local anesthetic.
Intravenous (IV) fluids also are injected into the donor site
to facilitate fat collection. Fat cells are extracted through
a small needle attached to a syringe. The fat is then processed
to remove excess fluids and reinjected with another needle
in multiple thin strands in the desired area. "Overfilling"
is a necessary corrective due to fat absorption in the weeks
after treatment. Fat also can be harvested during a lipoplasty
(liposuction) procedure in one area of the body, and then
reinjected in another. For longest-lasting effect, patients
generally receive 3 to 4 treatments over a six-month period.
Benefits:
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Natural, non-allergenic. |
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Outpatient procedure that generally takes
under an hour. |
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Injections may last from several months
to permanently. |
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Little or no downtime. |
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Minimal discomfort, which can be controlled
with medication. |
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Because fat is from the patient’s
own body, no pre-testing is required and the fat cannot
be rejected. |
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Good alternative if the patient is allergic
to bovine collagen. |
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Cost effective if combined with another
procedure like lipoplasty (liposuction). |
Other Considerations:
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Longevity of results can vary significantly
from patient to patient. |
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Some swelling, bruising—usually about
48 hours. Patient should avoid the sun until the condition
subsides. |
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Not every area is appropriate for fat
injection. Injecting fat into the breast, for example,
makes cancer
detection via mammography more difficult and is strongly
discouraged. |
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Lasts longest when reinjected in relatively
stationary areas (such as the cheeks). |
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Content provided by The
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).
For advertising info, please contact Terry McGovern terry.mcgovern@latimes.com at (213) 473-2599
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