Is it Possible to Transfer Body Fat to Other Areas of the Body?

Transfer of one's own body fat from a place that doesn't need it (abdomen, buttocks) to a place that does (face, breasts) is a well established procedure. Newer methods of covering areas affected by age (implants, collagen, lifts) have replaced it in many ways. However, it is still a viable and absolutely safe way to improve a patient's appearance. It is impossible to have an allergic reaction to your own cells, which makes it a still-attractive option for many.

Anyone who has passed the 30-year mark in life knows the first place where age begins to show: the face. Sunken cheeks, crow's feet and puckered lip lines all announce to the world that we are aging. Fortunately, one of the most successful sites for fat transfer is the face.

Facial Fat Facts

Facial fat transfer, or fat grafting, is increasing in popularity because it is safe, non-invasive and economical. Sites to which fat can be transferred successfully include cheeks, chin, temples, eyes (to relieve the hollow look), jaw, the space between the eyebrows and the lips.

The outpatient procedure for facial fat transfer is relatively simple. Both the donor site and the treatment site will be anesthetized and possibly injected with a chemical that constricts the blood vessels. The patient will receive a sedative.

Save the Cells

The point of the way the fat is extracted and injected is to do as little damage to the fat cells as possible. The more cells that "arrive" intact, the longer the treatment will last. Thus, the surgeon may use a very small needle, so that the cells will "thread" single file into the syringe. This takes some time, but most doctors consider the effort to be worth it for the quality of results.

The fat is then injected deep into the recipient site. A surface injection will break down more quickly, and another injection will be required sooner. Most patients need between three and five injections, if the treatment is to last up to three years. More injections may give longer lasting results, or they may not. The body reabsorbs up to 90 percent of the facial fat transfer, and the point of saturation is hard to reach, if at all. This is main shortcoming of the facial fat transfer. It is not permanent.

It is up to you to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of facial fat transfer. Your doctor can help you select the procedure that is right for you.