Fat Transferin Austin

Have you ever wished you could take the fat from your abdomen or hips and move it to another body part such as your breasts? With a fat transfer in Austin, you can do just that. Your fat is harvested from one part of your body and injected to add natural, soft volume that lasts.

Achieve volume where you want it

Where your body stores fat can be determined by genetic factors. Eating a balanced diet and exercising will allow you to lose fat, but your body decides where this fat disappears from first. You may be genetically predisposed to larger thighs or a rounder abdomen, or you may find you store excess fat in your love handles or arms. In a fat transfer, your surgeon will take fat from an area where you have excess and move it to an area where you desire volume, such as your breasts, facial features or buttocks.

Honesty, integrity, and expertise: Austin Plastic Surgery Institute

At Austin Plastic Surgery Institute, we are focused on building a relationship with you. We are hands-on and involved in every aspect of your treatment, from consultations to follow-ups. We will discuss your available options openly and honestly with you, only recommending a procedure if we truly feel it is the best option for your unique circumstances and goals. We are eager to hear what you envision for yourself, and to help you get there. We are here to address any insecurities that will help restore and boost your self-confidence and allow you to feel beautiful again.

How can natural fat transfer enhance my look?

During a fat transfer procedure by our board-certified plastic surgeons at Austin Plastic Surgery Institute, fat is first removed through liposuction. There are various liposuction techniques that can be used to achieve the fat removal portion of the surgery. Advances in medical science have made the purification of the fat a much simpler and more effective process. It is typically extracted from body parts like the abdomen, thighs, or flanks and injected into another area that requires plumping, such as your facial features.

Common areas of the body cosmetically treated with a fat transfer include:

Facial features (to regain volume and to fill in wrinkles)
Lips
Buttocks
Breasts
Hands

How is a fat transfer performed at APSI?

During the consultation, you and your surgeon will discuss which areas will be most suitable and desirable for fat removal. During surgery, your surgeon will remove fat from the donor site using a cannula similar to liposuction. The tissue will then be separated and purified so that only the healthy fat tissue remains for transplantation. The fat will be placed in a syringe and augmented into the transfer site. Your surgeon will simultaneously massage the area so that the fat settles where needed to create a satisfactory, smooth shape and contour. Multiple injections might be needed depending on how much volume you are looking to add. The body will absorb about 50% of what is injected. If too much is injected, nodules may form.

What can I expect?

A fat transfer in Austin is considered an outpatient procedure and is performed at our accredited surgical facility. In most cases, especially where larger injection areas are concerned, general anesthesia will be used. For smaller areas, such as the lips, your surgeon will use a local anesthetic.

After the procedure, the fat removal areas, as well as the injection sites, may be swollen and red. This will subside in a short time. This procedure continues to be popular among patients because it offers little risk and little downtime, while delivering great results.

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Fat transfer FAQs

Are the results long-lasting?

When performed by an experienced plastic surgeon, a fat transfer can result in an enhanced appearance that can last for years and years. While about 50% of the fat will be reabsorbed back into the body, a skilled fat transfer expert will understand the proper mechanism behind creating a result that will last. There are new modern techniques available to help lengthen the life of the transferred fat cells. Platelet Rich Plasma is an example of this. When added to the transferred fat, it can increase cell survival. This is a therapy that is still being studied.

Is it a one-time surgery?

A fat transfer typically results in long-lasting fullness. However, because a portion of the transferred fat will be reabsorbed into the body over time, some of the results may diminish. The good news is that this is a procedure that can be performed again very easily if there is enough excess fat, resulting in additional body contouring results.

What about allergic reactions?

An allergic reaction to synthetic materials used in other fillers is not a factor with injected fat since it is harvested from your own body. With little to no downtime after having surgery, you should be able to return to normal activities within a few days.

Alternative procedures

While fat transfers produce great results for many patients, there are other alternatives that some may consider. Luckily, the market for injectables is wide and diverse. An injection, such as BOTOX®, may produce the results you desire — especially where wrinkle correction is concerned. If you are looking for volume, there are countless filler products that offer many different choices and options. Some fillers, including collagen and hyaluronic acid, offer temporary outcomes, while the heaviest of fillers, PMMA, offer lasting results.