Three Tips to Keep Fat Away After a Fat Transfer
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There’s no question that injectable fillers and synthetic implants can make stunning and long-lasting enhancements to a person’s face and/or body, but there are some patients who are interested in a more natural approach to filling out their features. For these men and women, Atlanta, GA, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Brandon-Dzung Mang of Rejuve Aesthetic Surgery offers fat transfer — a unique solution that provides natural-looking results that can last for years or even decades without the use of artificial implants or fillers.
While fat transfer results can be long-lasting, it is important for patients to understand what things they need to do — and what to avoid — to keep unwanted fat from returning in the areas of extraction as well as prevent a reduction in volume in their areas of fat transfer. Below, you’ll find useful information on what to expect with a fat transfer to the face or body, including three helpful tips to preserve your cosmetic fat transfer results for as long as possible.
How does a fat transfer work?
A fat transfer is a cosmetic procedure designed to make natural-appearing enhancements to certain features on the face and/or body using fat extracted from another area of the patient’s face and/or body. Fat transfer procedures are commonly used to plump up flat features, restore lost volume related to aging and other factors, and improve the fullness and contours in certain areas of the body. As an added benefit, the area from which fat is extracted during a fat transfer is slimmed down. Some of the most popular features that can be rejuvenated with a fat transfer include:
- Cheeks
- Under the eyes
- Lips
- Hands
- Breasts
- Buttocks
Areas where fat is commonly harvested for a fat transfer include:
- Abdomen
- Hips
- Flanks
- Buttocks
- Thighs
How long do fat transfer results last?
The fat that is removed during a fat transfer will not return to that area. Instead, the transferred fat will establish a blood supply in its new location, allowing it to remain for years, decades, or longer. Almost immediately after a fat transfer, it is normal for some amount of the transferred fat cells to be resorbed by the body, but Dr. Mang accounts for this when determining how much fat should be harvested and transferred. While fat transfer results can last for many years, there are some things you’ll need to do to avoid compromising your outcome. Three of the most important tips for maintaining your fat transfer results include:
1. Maintain a stable weight
Avoiding weight fluctuation is critical for preserving your fat transfer results, both at the donor site and transfer site. Weight gain can cause fat cells to enlarge in both areas, while weight loss can cause transferred fat cells to shrink — effectively “undoing” your results. For this reason, it is also important to defer your procedure until you are done having children.
2. Avoid excessive weight loss prior to your procedure
Patients considering a fat transfer should schedule their procedure once they have achieved and maintained a healthy, stable weight for at least 6 – 12 months. Gaining weight prior to a fat transfer and/or losing a great deal of weight ahead of your procedure may not be sustainable following surgery, which can lead to a reversal of your results.
3. Follow your post-operative instructions
In the recovery period after a fat transfer, it is essential to follow Dr. Mang’s instructions closely, including avoiding putting pressure on the areas to which fat was transferred, which can cause the newly transferred cells to die, meaning you may not achieve as much fullness as desired or expected.
Boost your curves the natural, long-lasting way with a fat transfer to the face or body in Atlanta, GA
Are you interested in adding fullness to your breasts or buttocks, smoothing out facial lines and wrinkles, or plumping up thin lips without fillers or implants? If so, a fat transfer may be right for you. For more information about the exciting benefits of fat grafting, call Rejuve Aesthetic Surgery to schedule your private consultation with board-certified Atlanta, GA, plastic surgeon Dr. Brandon-Dzung Mang today.