|
Fat Injections: Microfat Grafting
View Fat Injection Before and After Photos
Q. What is meant by fat injections?
A. It is the procedure where excess fat is removed
from areas such as the abdomen, flanks, hips or thighs and, after
special preparation, injected into areas of the body that need filling.
Drs. Pelosi specialize in the use of the microfat grafting technique.
The process requires gently fat removal using low-vacuum liposuction and
the use of thin, delicate, non-traumatic cannulas to protect the
survival of each harvested living fat cell. The fat cells are then
purified and slowly injected thru tiny skin incisions into the tissue of
the recipient site utilizing a small syringe and cannula. Tiny droplets
are placed throughout the tissues assuring that each transferred fat
cell will have an adequate blood supply to achieve the permanent
survival of the injected fat cells. [Return to Top]
Q. What are the uses for fat injections?
A. Face (aesthetic facial contouring)
With aging, the fat of the face undergoes atrophy and the dermis under the skin thins out, as a
result of these changes the face appears too thin, making the skin of
the face saggy. Microfat grafting adds fat to the area beneath the
skin, adding fullness where is needed. The fat injection creates a
lasting youthful appearance. Areas that can be treated with fat
injections include the temples, zygomatic arch, marionette lines,
infra-orbital rims (tear trough), jaw line, nasolabial folds, cheeks,
and scars due to acne, varicella, trauma or surgery.
Chin Augmentation
Fat injections safely and effectively correct the small or undeveloped chin avoiding the need to
undergo a surgical procedure to place an expensive synthetic chin
implant. A chin augmentation will strengthen the face profile, bringing
better balance to the facial features. A small chin undermines the
face, making the nose appear larger and an overbite more pronounced.
Lip Augmentation
Your own fat can be used for lip augmentation, achieving a permanent natural look. It can also
be used for correction of the lines around the mouth. Lip augmentation
can increase the fullness and definition of the upper lip, lower lip or
both. After 2-5 days the swelling is gone and the lips have a natural
fullness. There may be some bruising which can be covered with make-up.
Over the first few months some of the fat may be absorbed by the body. For permanent results,
2 injections over a six month period is recommended.
Hand Rejuvenation
Fat injections to the hands achieve the effect of fuller, more contoured hands as those of younger hands.
Buttocks Rejuvenation (Brazilian Lift)
Microfat grafting can add fullness to any part of, or the entire, buttocks to create the desired
look. The fat is first gently liposuctioned from the abdomen, flanks,
hips or thighs and then processed using a sterile decanting technique. The purified fat is then injected
into the buttocks with special cannulas. Postoperative recovery is mild and easily controlled by
medication. This office procedure is performed at our office totally under local tumescent anesthesia.
The surgical fee depends on the amount of fat which must be obtained and the number of donor areas which
must undergo liposuction to obtain enough fat. Microfat grafting assures lasting results and gives a
very natural shape and feel to the buttocks. Once the swelling is down, there is a return to normal
sensation, the grafted areas look and feel natural and there are no physical restrictions after the first 2 weeks.
Breast Augmentation
Patients who desire breast augmentation but are wary of implants can have breast augmentation using
their own fat. Drs. Pelosi use the microfat grafting technique for
breast augmentation. Following the fat transfer the breasts will look
and feel normal and the results are long lasting. A small number of
patients may develop small fat necrosis areas (also seen in patients who
have breast reduction using liposuction). In the past, breast
augmentation using fat injections was frowned upon by breast surgeons
because the presence of fat necrosis would interfere with breast cancer
detection. But MRI changed that. The MRI can determine what fat
necrosis is and what can actually be early cancer cells.
Correction of Skin Depressions, Subdermal Attachments and Scars
Facial lines, depressions, folds and depressed scars on the body and face can be successfully
treated with injectable fat. However, many deep folds, wrinkles, lines,
and scars are resistant to the injected fat or fillers (synthetic and
natural) because of the severe attachment of the depression to the
underlying deeper tissue. To overcome this problem, Drs. Pelosi use a
novel wire scalpel method that doesn’t require skin incisions to release
the attachments. Following the release of the skin fat injection is
performed to correct the defect and to act as a spacer to prevent
reattachment of the released area.
Fat Injection to Labia Majora
In some women with aging the labia majora may undergo a significant atrophy and the dermis under
the skin thins out. As a result of these changes the labia majora
becomes flat, saggy, wrinkled, and darkened. Drs. Pelosi can
drastically rejuvenate the labia majora with microfat grafting. The fat
injections add fat to the areas beneath the skin, creating fullness
where needed that results in a lasting, youthful appearance of the labia
majora.
Penile Enlargement Grafting
Most likely, the size of your penis is normal. More then 70% of men have penises that measure
between 5 and 7 inches when erect. A penis is considered abnormally
small only if it measures less then 3 inches when erect. However, many
men with micropenises are fully capable of having sex and fathering
children. Penis size has always symbolized strength, virility, power,
and domination in relationships and despite the fact that none of the
different enlargement cosmetic techniques to enhance the penis have been
endorsed by medical organizations, cosmetic penile enlargement has
acquired wide acceptance and tremendous popularity.
Drs. Pelosi offer 2 minimally invasive procedures as a cosmetic solution
for the patient who is not satisfied with the natural size of his penis:
- Liposuction
For overweight men, removal of the fat in the pubic area
using liposculpturing creates the perception of a lengthened
penis.
- Microfat Grafting
The harvested fat taken from another part of the body is injected
under the skin of the penis using the microfat grafting
technique and is then molded to the desired shape. Advantages
of this approach include the avoidance of tissue rejection and
scarring because the openings needed to inject the fat are very
tiny. When properly performed, the procedure is
associated with a high success of a penis of the same shape and
length but with a larger circumference. (The circumference can be
increased by 50% or more.) A second filling procedure 3 months
from the first is recommended to achieve lasting results.
Although no one can predict the exact amount of the fat that
will survive, at least 80% to 90% of the injected fat survives
a long time. Following fat transfer, sexual activity can usually
be resumed in 2 weeks. The post-op course is tolerable. There
is minimal pain or discomfort which responds easily to oral pain medication. There has been no reported loss of sensation. When
erect, the penis remains firmer with a thick cape of fatty
tissue surrounding it. In less then 5% of patients, the fat can
form small nodules that can be easily removed under local anesthesia.
[Return to Top]
Q.
How are fat injections different from commercial fillers?
A. There are many commercial
injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Restylane, Captique, Sculptra,
Cosmoderm, Cosmoplast, Hylaform, etc, that are available for facial
rejuvenation. Each of these products has its own unique set of
advantages and disadvantages.
Using fine needles, the fillers are
injected into the skin under each depression or wrinkle. The filler
pushes the depressed wrinkle forward and makes it less visible. There
is temporary discomfort associated with the injection. The use of ice
or an anesthetic cream can be used to numb the area, making the
injections painless. Three important factors should be
considered when selecting a filler: 1) longevity of the filler,
2) cost, and 3) ease of administration. As an example, Restylane
(a cosmetic filler) lasts 4-6 months, costs $440-$750 per syringe, is easy to administer, and feels natural. Fat
injection is a more involved procedure that requires first harvesting the fat using liposuction
and disposable harvest devices. Second, the fat must be processed and purified prior to injection.
Fat injections may be associated with more bruising and swelling then commercial fillers.
The advantages of fat injections include its long acting effects (the fat that does survive is there permanently); the fat is
your own tissue so there is no chance of an allergic reaction; and, unlike commercial fillers, the
availability of one's own body fat enables its use in larger volumes to fill larger defects.
[Return to Top]
|
