Turning Liposuction Into Rejuvenating Fat Grafts

Fat cells can be a wonderful thing or a real pain, depending on where they are located inside your body. With age often taking away the necessary fat cells in your face, leaving them in unwanted locations elsewhere, it sometimes seems like you’re always moving in the wrong direction. If you’ve got sunken facial features combined with supple hips and thighs, you might be a good candidate for a smart recycling procedure: liposuction to fat grafting. Read more to see if you could take full advantage of this dual-procedure combination.

What Is Liposuction?

Liposuction is a procedure designed to effectively and permanently remove fatty deposits that have collected in specific areas of the body. While it is not an alternative to weight loss, liposuction can trouble-shoot the leftover fat cells that diet and exercise cannot remove. Common liposuction treatment areas include the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, arms, back of the knees, and even some areas of the face.

The surgery is performed using carefully placed incisions along the treatment area, which are then used to insert a small tube or cannula. Excess fat cells are then suctioned out of the body permanently through the tube. Other techniques are sometimes used to remove greater amounts of fat cells or to melt away fat cells before suctioning them out. Your plastic surgeon will work with you to determine the right course of liposuction treatment for you.

What Is Fat Grafting?

The fat grafting procedure is quite the opposite of liposuction, with fat being injected directly into areas that need additional volume. Fat grafting was designed to restore some of the mass lost due to the aging process or simply “plump” or “fill” parts of the face that are flat or out of balance with other facial features. Adding fat cells can rejuvenate the face and hands, even making them appear more youthful. Fat grafting is most commonly used to enhance the brow, lower eyelids, cheek, and chin. It can also be used to plump the lips.

Fat grafting is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that is often performed under local anesthesia. It begins with the collection of fat cells from a donor area, usually the abdomen, buttocks, or thighs. These fat cells are then purified and prepped for injection. Using a syringe, your plastic surgeon will inject these fat cells into the treatment areas to achieve the desired results.

How Can a Complete Fat Transfer Be Achieved?

Knowing what the liposuction and fat grafting procedures each entail, it’s easy to see how the two could be used together in an effective way. Fat grafting is a very quick and straightforward procedure that can be added on to the end of a liposuction surgery. It would not involve any additional incisions, since the fat removed during liposuction can be recycled as the “donor” fat cells for your grafting procedure. If so, discuss your liposuction treatment with your plastic surgeon to ensure that the fat cells gathered will be viable for the fat grafting procedure. By removing unwanted cells and adding them to depleted areas, you can achieve the optimum results for your body and face at the same time.

Am I a Good Candidate for Fat Grafting From Liposuction?

If you have unwanted fat in some places and a need for volume elsewhere, transferring the fat removed from your liposuction procedure could be an option for you. To be considered a candidate for any surgical procedure, you must be in good overall health, not smoke or be willing to quit, and have realistic expectations for your individual procedure. A consultation with a plastic surgeon is the most effective way to determine what procedures would be the best option for you.

Where Can I Learn More About These Procedures?

Patients having liposuction can benefit from reusing their unwanted fat cells in a new way. To discuss your eligibility and treatment options, meet with a plastic surgeon experienced in facial surgeries and fat grafting to get your very best results. Dr. Frederick G. Weniger, M.D., F.A.C.S. provides his patients with years of experience and knowledge during one-on-one consultations regarding the surgeries and nonsurgical treatments available at his practice. Dr. Weniger is board certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery and a member of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. He believes good information lies at the heart of success in all of his surgeries and interactions with his patients.

To schedule a consultation for any aesthetic service or other procedures, contact the office of Weniger Plastic Surgery today at (843) 757-0123. The practice is located at 350 Fording Island Road, Suite 200, in Bluffton, South Carolina.