Fat injection is a technique that transfers fat from one area of the body to another. It is used to restore volume and definition to the face. Fat is harvested from fat rich areas such as the buttock, thigh or abdomen, with minimal access liposuction techniques, where the scars are hidden in natural crease lines. The fat is then separated and concentrated before being injected with a fine blunt tipped cannula into the areas of the face requiring treatment. The process has been dramatically refined over recent years to increase the survival of the fat once it has been injected.
This treatment restores volume to the face and can be done in isolation or as a combined treatment with a skin tightening facelift procedure. Done in isolation this is an office procedure which usually takes no more than 60 minutes. Down time of bruising and swelling can last up to 10 days. No visible scarring is evident, and the risks are considerably less than face lifting.
Liposuction can cause swelling and bruising. Occasionally pressure garments are advised following harvest for comfort. If you are thin, liposuction for fat grafting can cause some contour irregularities from where the fat is harvested. Temporary numbness can occur. Fat grafting can take more than one session to achieve the harmony required.
Removing fat from one area to increase and improve volume in another. Swelling and bruising are common but you need enough fat stores to have the procedure.