Fat Transfer in Scottsdale, AZ
When a man or woman loses weight or ages naturally, they lose that smooth and plump look in specific body areas where volume once resided. An excellent way to regain this lost volume is through a cosmetic treatment known as fat grafting (or fat transfer).
Our board-certified plastic surgeons incorporate the most effective techniques for performing fat transfers. This procedure at Forma Plastic Surgery in Scottsdale creates gorgeous, soft outcomes.
Table of Contents
What Is Fat Transfer?
A fat transfer involves removing fat from a section of the body and injecting it into another area that needs additional volume. Fat transfer procedures can be used on large areas, such as the buttocks, or on delicate and smaller zones, such as the laugh lines or cheeks. Fat grafting is generally chosen when an individual desires a natural enhancement instead of using implants or fillers.
Before & After
Areas for Fat Transfer
Facial Areas
Fat transfer to the face uses your own natural fat to restore youthful contours and smoothness. This technique is particularly effective for filling smile lines, plumping sunken cheeks, and addressing other areas where volume has diminished over time. Because the procedure relies on your body’s own fat, it provides a soft, natural look and feel that blends seamlessly with your existing facial structure.
Breasts
Fat transfer breast augmentation offers a natural alternative to traditional implants by using your own fat to enhance breast volume and shape. This procedure can provide subtle yet noticeable enhancements, improving symmetry and contour while maintaining a natural feel. Fat transfer breast augmentation allows patients to achieve fuller breasts without the use of foreign materials, making it a preferred choice for those seeking a gentle, natural enhancement.
Buttocks
The Brazilian butt lift is a popular fat transfer procedure that sculpts and enhances the buttocks using fat harvested from other areas of the body. This approach not only increases volume and projection but also contours surrounding areas, creating a more balanced and lifted appearance. Because the procedure uses your own fat, the results are soft, natural, and long-lasting.
Hands
Fat transfer to the hands can restore youthful fullness and reduce the appearance of veins and tendons that become more prominent with age. By using natural fat, this procedure rejuvenates the hands without synthetic fillers, providing a softer, more natural look. Fat grafting to the hands helps maintain a proportional, refreshed appearance that complements facial and body enhancements.
Preparation and Consultation
If you experience hollow cheeks or deflated regions of the body, fat transfer is a natural treatment option for adding volume to these areas. Using unwanted fat from another part of your body, we can purify and inject it into the cheeks or buttocks. During a visit to Forma Plastic Surgery, our doctors will create a surgical plan that outlines the techniques, anesthesia type, and any fees associated with the treatment.
How Is Fat Transfer Performed?
A fat transfer procedure includes a combination of liposuction, spinning the fat removed, and injecting the fat into the designated areas needing added volume. These steps are repeated until reaching the desired volume. A traditional tumescent liposuction is used for this type of procedure. In general, the fat transfer sites will be slightly “over-filled” as the body will reabsorb some of the fat during healing. Below you can find a more detailed description of the procedure.
Step 1: Anesthesia
Fat transfer can be performed under local anesthesia or general anesthesia, depending on the area being treated and the patient’s comfort. Local anesthesia numbs the targeted area, while general anesthesia keeps patients fully asleep for larger or more complex procedures. Your surgeon will discuss which option is more suitable for your individual needs.
Step 2: Incisions
The procedure begins with small, discreet incisions made in the donor site. These incisions are minimal, helping to reduce scarring while providing access for fat removal and transfer.
Step 3: Fat Harvesting
Our surgeon removes unwanted fat from areas of the body where it is in excess, such as the abdomen, thighs, or flanks. This fat is carefully collected through liposuction, ensuring it remains viable for transfer. The harvested fat comes from your own body, making it a natural source for enhancement.
Step 4: Fat Purification
Once the fat is harvested, it undergoes a purification process to separate healthy fat cells from fluids and other tissues. Purified fat is then prepared for precise placement in the target areas, ensuring the best possible results.
Step 5: Fat Injections
The purified fat is carefully injected into the areas requiring enhancement, such as the face to restore facial volume, the breasts, or the buttocks. Our surgeons place the fat in small layers to create a smooth, natural contour that blends seamlessly with surrounding tissue.
Step 6: Completion
After the fat is injected, the incisions are closed and dressed. The treated areas are shaped and assessed to ensure even distribution and a balanced appearance. The result is a natural, soft enhancement using your own body’s fat.
How Much Fat Can Be Transferred?
What Makes a Fat Transfer Procedure Successful?
Recovery After Fat Transfer
After a fat transfer, you will go through a healing phase. Remember, you have at least two sites on the body that require healing: the area involving liposuction and the injection sites. The recovery process might last longer if we address a larger area of the body. At first, the sites will appear swollen and red, but you can experience results almost immediately.
After a fat transfer, you will go through a healing phase. Remember, you have at least two sites on the body that require healing: the area involving liposuction and the injection sites. The recovery process might last longer if we address a larger area of the body. At first, the sites will appear swollen and red, but you can experience results almost immediately.
- Days 1-3: Swelling and mild bruising are most noticeable. Discomfort can be managed with medication, and gentle movement is encouraged.
- Week 1: Incision sites begin to heal. Swelling starts to decrease, and you may return to light daily activities.
- Weeks 2-3: Most bruising fades. You can gradually resume more normal routines, but strenuous activity should still be avoided.
- Weeks 4-6: Swelling continues to subside. The injected fat begins to settle, and the treated areas start showing smoother contours.
- Months 2-3: Results become more visible as the body fully integrates the transferred fat. Final volume and shape are typically established.
Am I a Good Candidate for Fat Transfer?
Individuals who want more fullness in areas that appear visibly thin or deflated may be appropriate candidates for the fat transfer procedure. This specialized enhancement offers a natural approach by incorporating the patient’s fat tissue. Therefore, there is a lower risk of rejection compared to implants or other alternatives. Patients at Forma Plastic Surgery considering this procedure must be near their ideal weight and have enough fat to extract for the transfer.
What Are the Benefits of Getting a Fat Transfer?
Here at Forma Plastic Surgery, we encourage our patients to consider getting a fat transfer if they are interested in the following benefits:
- Ability to “repurpose” fat cells in unwanted locations to plump out other areas for a slimmer, more youthful appearance
- Receive a minimally invasive procedure with impressive results
- Have fewer post-operative risks
- Enjoy a simple way to reduce and fill in wrinkles or loose skin in undesirable areas
Fat Transfer Cost in Scottsdale, AZ
The cost of a fat transfer in Phoenix varies depending on many factors. The usual range is between $4,000 and $15,000. Our professionals at Forma Plastic Surgery can provide an accurate estimate during a comprehensive consultation. We will review information about payment methods, insurance coverage, and financing options so you can make an informed decision for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do facial fat grafting results last?
A fat transfer offers beautiful, effective results that can be lasting (10+ years) with proper care at home. Our board-certified plastic surgeons use advanced methods to purify and graft fat in a way that minimizes reabsorption. Patients are welcome to return for touch-ups as needed to maintain their outcomes long-term.
What if I don’t have extra fat for a transfer?
Some men and women don’t have enough excess fat for a fat transfer procedure. Fortunately, not much fat is needed to create a subtle improvement in areas like the face. If you don’t have enough tissue, our plastic surgeon can help you explore other options.
Can physical activity affect the results of a fat transfer?
Yes, physical activity can affect the results of fat transfer, especially during the initial healing phase. It’s important to avoid strenuous activities that might disrupt the newly transferred fat. Our team at Forma Plastic Surgery will provide detailed guidance on the type and extent of physical activities that are safe to resume, and when it’s appropriate to do so, ensuring the longevity and effectiveness of your fat transfer results.
Are there any dietary recommendations to follow before or after a fat transfer?
Before a fat transfer, maintaining a stable weight is key, so we recommend a balanced diet to ensure enough healthy fat is available for the procedure. Post-procedure, a healthy diet can aid in recovery and enhance the overall results. Our nutrition guidelines are designed to support your healing process and help maintain the results of your fat transfer.
How does aging affect the results of a fat transfer?
While fat transfer results can be long-lasting, aging can naturally alter the outcomes. Factors like skin elasticity, muscle tone, and fat distribution change over time, which can impact the appearance of the transferred fat. Our surgeons at Forma Plastic Surgery consider these factors when performing the procedure and may recommend follow-up treatments to maintain the desired results as you age.
Are facial fat grafting procedures safe?
In Scottsdale, AZ, facial fat grafting is a popular procedure for facial rejuvenation. The process involves removing fat from one area of the body and carefully transferring it to areas that need volume. Patients may experience mild swelling or minor bruising, which typically resolves within a few days. Because the procedure uses your own fat, it is generally very safe, and the results provide a natural, soft enhancement.
What are the benefits of natural breast augmentation compared to implants?
Natural breast augmentation uses fat injections composed of pure fat cells to enhance breast size, creating subtle volume that looks and feels natural. Unlike breast implants, the transferred fat maintains its own blood supply, improving long-term retention and reducing the risk of complications. With breast implants, patients can determine how many cup sizes they wish to increase, while fat transfer augmentation provides natural-looking results for up to one cup size.
What are the potential complications of a Brazilian butt lift?
As with any surgical procedure, a Brazilian butt lift carries potential risks. Complications may include infection, uneven fat absorption, or contour irregularities. Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced in fat transfer techniques significantly reduces these risks. Careful planning and precise technique are essential to ensure a safe, natural-looking result.
Can I combine breast augmentation and facial fat transfer?
Yes, breast augmentation and facial fat transfer can often be performed together, sometimes alongside a breast lift, to provide comprehensive rejuvenation. Combining these procedures allows patients to achieve natural-looking results in both the body and face. During your initial consultation, our surgeons will assess your goals and determine the safest and most effective approach for combining procedures.
Is fat transfer more effective than dermal fillers?
Unlike dermal fillers, fat grafting uses transferred fat cells from your own body as a natural solution to restore volume and smooth facial wrinkles. Our Scottsdale practice carefully determines how much fat is needed to achieve a subtle enhancement in each treatment area. Because the procedure does not involve foreign materials, the risk of allergic reaction is minimized. Fat transfer is performed on an outpatient procedure basis and can provide longer-lasting, natural-looking results compared to temporary fillers.
Are you doctors board-certified plastic surgeons?
Yes, each liposuction performed by our surgeons is done by board-certified plastic surgeons who specialize in fat reduction and restoring youthful volume. The fat transfer process is carefully executed to ensure natural results, and all procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. Our advanced skills allow us to safely enhance areas of the face and body, providing soft, proportional results using your own fat.
Take the Natural Approach
If you wish to add volume to your face and/or buttocks while decreasing unwanted fat from other areas of your body, this treatment may be a great option. Fat grafting can help you achieve the look you want without pursuing a major surgery that might require a long recovery period or associated downtime. We welcome you to call our team and schedule a consultation at Forma Plastic Surgery in Scottsdale, AZ.
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*Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary from person to person. Images may contain models.
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