The final results of a fat transfer are considered permanent. Between the ages of 16.5 and 18.5, your body loses its ability to produce new fat cells. This means that once fat cells are taken from the donor site, the donor site permanently has fewer fat cells.
Transferred fat is subject to the same biological effects as other fat cells. Losing a significant amount of weight can cause you to lose fat in the transferred area.
While fat transfer is safe, there are some downsides of the cosmetic surgery to consider: More involved procedure than dermal filler injections. Some fat transfer may be absorbed by the body for less dramatic results. May require follow-up procedure.
A surgical fat transfer is generally a safe procedure, but it can occasionally result in: a collection of blood underneath the skin (haematoma) death of fat tissue (fat necrosis) a blockage in a blood vessel caused by a piece of fat (fat embolism)
The transferred fat cells continue to live in the area where they were injected. If a patient has significant weight gain or loss, these fat cells could expand or shrink, affecting the overall results of the procedure.
To fill in scars or depressions, or for large areas such as the breast, 2-4 sessions may be necessary, spaced out at least 3 months apart. Some physicians freeze the fat from one session, saying they can use it during successive sessions.
We discourage deep massage for the first two months or more after surgery. The transplanted fat will usually have blood vessels growing into it by two weeks, but deep massage can disrupt the new vessels in the grafted fat. Touching the skin gently for washing and application of lotions, etc., is not a problem.
Not all of the transferred fat cells are going to survive. Around 70% of the transferred fat will remain, while the body absorbs 30%. This occurs the first weeks after surgery when the injected fat cells have not yet settled.
On average, patients can expect dermal fillers to last about 12 – 18 months before a repeat injection will be needed. This can vary somewhat depending on the type of filler that is used, how quickly the patient's body breaks down the filler, and other factors. Fat transfer results can last years or even decades.
About 50-70% of fat will generally survive after the surgery. The fat that does survive will act like normal fat as it's permanent but will also grow with weight gain.
During the first week, do not lift over 10 pounds. It is important that you not engage in strenuous activities in the first 3 weeks after surgery.
Once the fat transfer procedure is done you can expect that after about six months, the fat cells remaining should be enduringly established and last a lifetime.
You are still early on the healing process, it can take up to six months to see your final results, so please be patient. After a BBL, only about 70% of the transferred fat cells will survive, so it is normal to see a minor reduction in your buttocks.
Do fat transfers last? Results from fat transfer are permanent. However, not all fat cells survive the procedure, so you may not achieve the volume you want. It takes about six months for the injected fat cells to develop a new blood supply and to see final results.
Wear Your Compression Garment
In your recovery, the first thing your surgeon will recommend is that you wear your compression garment. Compression garments help to reduce swelling and bruising. With fat transfer patients, compression garments can also help smooth the skin in areas where fat has been removed.
It can take couple of months to get full effect of the procedure and remember that some fat may be reabsorbed by your body and the recovery takes up to 3 months. You will be advised by your surgeon to wear compression garment and post-operative bra.
Breast augmentation using fat transfer can provide women with many benefits, including larger breast size, without the need for breast implants. Because this procedure uses your own fat, your breast will increase a half cup to a full cup size after just one session.
A breast lift may be performed in conjunction with fat grafting, or as a standalone procedure. Fat grafting involves liposuction of either the abdomen, thighs, flanks or bra line to remove fat, which is then processed and transferred to the breast.
Fat necrosis is the primary risk of fat transfer breast augmentations. It can lead to lumps of dead fat cells forming in your breast tissue that can cause pain and changes in the appearance of your breasts.
Most often, after fat transfer to the breast they feel soft and natural. Occasionally you can get small lumps from oil cysts that can be drained using a needle if they occur.
Blood Clots Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis; DVT) in the veins of the arms, legs, or pelvis may result from fat transfer if it is done as a surgical procedure. These clots may cause problems with the veins or may break off and flow to the lungs (pulmonary embolus; PE) where they may cause serious breathing problems.
Fat grafting from the Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery of Central Texas can eliminate deep lines and wrinkles in the face, as well as facial scars. Fat grafting can also be used to boost volume and improve definition through the cheekbones and rest of the face.