When it comes to stubborn areas of fat, whether that be on our thighs, buttocks, abdomen, or flanks (a.k.a. love handles), it can feel like we’ve tried everything to shift it. From grueling workout regimens that are supposed to reduce fat in specific areas while enhancing others (booty exercises anyone?), to fad diets that leave us feeling hangry all the time. It’s exhausting trying to change your body composition. But what if we told you that there’s a versatile and natural way to enhance your body shape without resorting to drastic measures? It’s called fat transfer, also known as fat grafting or lipofilling, and in this complete guide, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about it.
Fat transfer is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that removes fat from one area of the body that may have too much and injects it into another area to improve its contours, shape, and overall volume. If you’ve lost fat due to aging, extensive weight loss, or previous liposuction, fat transfer can help plump up these areas to give you a more youthful appearance. Fat grafting is often used on the face to restore a patient’s natural facial volume, but it can also be used on other areas of the body including your hands, breasts, and buttocks.
Now that we’ve gone over how the fat transfer treatment works, let’s take a look at some of the benefits:
The fat transfer process is quite effective in that 75-80% of the fat that gets grafted into the enhanced area will survive and take hold. The remaining 20-25% will harmlessly and naturally be absorbed and metabolized by the body. In terms of immediate effects, you should notice an improvement directly after the surgery, but the final results will take 6-12 months.
After the fat transfer procedure is complete, you should be able to go home the same-day, within 2-4 hours after treatment. You will be given compression garments/bandages/pads to cover the treatment areas, which will help control the swelling and fluid retention. In terms of recovery time, this varies depending on the location of the areas treated, but on average it takes anywhere from 1-2 weeks to recover initially. In the first few days after the procedure, expect swelling, light bruising, and light discomfort. You should refrain from rigorous exercise for the next 2-3 weeks, and avoid putting pressure on the fat transfer areas for a period of at least 4-6 weeks.
With a healthy diet, exercise, and proper maintenance, the results from your fat transfer treatment should last you years. However, it’s important to have realistic expectations and understand that the fat transfer process does not prevent the growth of any remaining fatty tissue. This means that your results can change if you gain or lose weight. Plus, it is possible for your body to absorb or disperse the newly added fat tissue over time, requiring additional fat transfer procedures in the future. If you’re interested in fat transfer treatment and would like to learn more about how fat transfer can help you naturally enhance your body shape, please contact us today to schedule a consultation. We’d be happy to answer any of your questions, and look forward to helping you achieve your aesthetic goals!
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