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  • Breast Implant

    Silicone implants have been employed for a while now in plastic surgery such as breast augmentation and buttock enhancement. Currently, fat grafting in lieu of implants is slowly taking the center stage. Fat transfer is nothing new in cosmetic surgery though. It has long been used in filling in hollowed cheeks and pitted scars. At our practice, fat grafting is now in demand for breast augmentation and buttock enhancement too.

    What is fat grafting?

    In a nutshell, fat grafting refers to using your own fat in one part of the body to augment or improve the appearance of other areas in the body. The harvested fat is consequently spun, filtered and purified through a centrifuge.

    Who is the ideal candidate of fat grafting?

    Like all types of surgery, anyone considering fat grafting should be physically healthy and free from health issues that could possibly hinder healing or increase the patient’s risk for post-surgical complications such as pneumonia and infection. In addition, there should be sufficient amounts of fat to successfully augment a body part.

    Quitting smoking weeks prior to surgery is also advised because cigarette smoke can significantly slow down healing. Lastly, having realistic expectations of the procedure is a must.

    Which cosmetic procedures employ fat grafting?

    Fat injections may be used in the following cosmetic procedures/ treatments:

    • Facial fat transfer – Fat fillers can fill in laugh lines and hollowed tear troughs. Acne scars can benefit from fat transfer too.
    • Breast enhancement – Women can choose to improve the size and shape of their breasts via fat injections alone or decide to combine fat transfer with breast implants. In some cases, fat is also used in breast reconstruction after lumpectomy (removal of a portion of the breast) or mastectomy (removal of the entire breast).
    • Buttock augmentation – This procedure is also known as the Brazilian butt lift and has soared in popularity for the past year or so among women who desire bigger, fuller, and firmer buttocks.
    • Hand rejuvenation – Hands with prominent tendons and veins due to advancing age can also benefit from fat transfer.

    For more information on the aforementioned fat grafting procedures, call 415.398.7778 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Mosser today!

     

  • Fat Grafting Results can vary, depending upon several factors such as what area is being grafted and how it is placed.  Fat grafting is a highly skilled procedure, requiring a surgeon with experience and knowledge to perform it successfully.  The survival of the fat will depend upon those skills and will be the result of how the fat was harvested, how it was purified, and how and where it was injected.  Specifically, a process called ‘micro fat grafting’, though labor intensive, is the best way to ensure that the highest percentage of grafted fat will take.

    When done successfully, the injected fat grows a new blood supply and begins to receive the nourishment it needs to survive from your body.  When this happens, results can and often are permanent.  However there can be a percentage of fat that does not take and this is why touch-ups are sometimes necessary.  It is important to discuss options in advance to determine the best course of action for your situation.

  • Fat Grafting Fat grafting is the process of removing excess fat from one part of a patient’s body by liposuction, processing the fat removed, and then selectively injecting it into other areas of the same patient’s body.

    Fat grafting has been in use for years for facial reshaping and to replace sunken areas caused by aging, surgery, or wasting illness. Esthetically satisfying results can be obtained, and since the patient’s own body fat is used the risk of allergic reaction is minimized.

    A newer application for fat grafting is for facial rejuvenation.We are discovering that facial aging is more due to volume loss than skin sagging, and facial fat grafting or other volume replacement might be the only thing needed in some patients with early facial aging.

    See your board certified plastic surgeon to discuss whether you are a candidate for fat grafting for facial rejuvenation.