Fat grafting is a surgery in which fat is suctioned from one area of the body (the donor area) and transplanted into another area of the body to be enlarged or made firmer.
Fat grafting addresses two issues: it removes excess fat from an undesired area and enhances or augments another area. The abdomen, waist, and thighs are the most common donor areas for fat, typically used for grafting to the face, breasts, or buttocks. Since the fat cells are transplanted from the same patient, there is no risk of rejection or allergic reactions, and the result is very natural.
Fat grafting is a minimally invasive procedure because liposuction (liposuction) involves very small incisions that heal without stitches. The fat is injected using a special instrument that also requires no incisions.
Fat grafting is a surgery in which fat is suctioned from one area of the body (the donor area) and transplanted into another area of the body to be enlarged or made firmer.
Fat grafting addresses two issues: it removes excess fat from an undesired area and enhances or augments another area. The abdomen, waist, and thighs are the most common donor areas for fat, typically used for grafting to the face, breasts, or buttocks. Since the fat cells are transplanted from the same patient, there is no risk of rejection or allergic reactions, and the result is very natural.
Fat grafting is a minimally invasive procedure because liposuction (liposuction) involves very small incisions that heal without stitches. The fat is injected using a special instrument that also requires no incisions.
The process of fat grafting
The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia and takes about 2-3 hours.
The surgery is first performed by liposuction of the fat from the donor areas. During liposuction, the body fat is removed in such a way that the living cells are not damaged and can successfully grow elsewhere in the body. The liposuctioned fat is carefully processed, and the surgeon uses a cannula to inject small amounts into the target area. The amount of fat to be transplanted can be a few millilitres (in the case of facial fat grafting) or a few hundred millilitres (in the case of breasts and buttocks).
IIt’s important to note that not all transplanted fat cells survive; on average, about 30-50% remain viable. Therefore, hypercorrection is often performed, with a larger amount of fat transplanted initially. For the same reason, repeated fat grafting may sometimes be necessary – several surgeries to achieve maximum aesthetic results.
Fat grafting leaves no scars.
Before surgery
During your consultation, the surgeon will assess the complexity of the surgery and discuss the problem areas and the scope of the future surgery, determining the exact cost.
Before surgery, inform your doctor if you have hypertension, cardiovascular or autoimmune diseases, allergies, blood clotting disorders, or other chronic conditions. Also, disclose if you smoke, take medications or supplements, or use weight-loss medicines.
We suggest you visit our pre-surgery memo page for additional information on preparing for plastic surgery.
Post-surgery period
The healing period typically depends on the areas where fat was suctioned and transplanted. Patients are generally discharged the next day and advised to return to work within 7-10 days.
The post-surgery period after fat grafting includes healing of both the area from which the fat was suctioned and the site where the fat was injected. Generally, liposuction is a well-tolerated procedure that may be followed by bruising, swelling and numbness for about 1-2 weeks. Healing is also directly related to the amount of liposuction: the more liposuction, the more bruising and swelling may occur and the longer the healing time.
Bruising, swelling, slight pain and tenderness are also common in the areas where the fat has been grafted and should subside after a few weeks. Usually, you will need to wear special compression devices, such as a corset or elastic band, at the surgery site. You may need to wear these for about 6-8 weeks.
Surgical risk
The risk of complications is extremely low, but bruising, bleeding or infection, unevenness or asymmetry are possible. Following the surgeon’s recommendations after surgery can usually avoid all of these complications.
Smoking, obesity, chronic cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, endocrine disease and some other chronic diseases increase the risks associated with surgery.
Results
Body contours and final results can be seen after 3-4 months, but maintaining a stable weight, exercising and eating a healthy diet is crucial for long-term results.
Price
The exact cost of the surgery will be determined during your consultation, when the surgeon assesses the complexity of the surgery.
Frequently asked questions
