Humans are always in quest of becoming the best version of themselves. These embellishments can help improve the looks but can’t change the way you look. You can create a better contour of your chubby cheeks using makeup skills, but that is not a permanent resort. But today’s advanced surgical world has made face and body enhancements possible. You can use the services of a Plastic Surgeon to alter the fat volumes of your body. This fat altering is known as Fat Grafting.
What is Fat Grafting?
Fat grafting, also known as Fat transfer or fat injection, transfers fat from one part of the body to another. Previously, most plastic surgeons did fat grafting in Singapore for medical purposes, but it is common for aesthetic enhancements today. It is an effective option to improve facial contours, add volume to key areas of the face to soften facial features, and fill hollow areas for smoothing wrinkles.
Steps of Fat Grafting
- Fat extraction from the donor site using the Liposuction technique.
- Fat purification by decanting, centrifuging, and processing.
- Reinjecting the purified fat into the recipient site where needed.
Fat Grafting in Singapore
Fat grafting is practiced in different parts of the world. Fat Transfer treatment in Singapore helps reshape your face, nose, and rest of the body for the better. You get clean environments, professional staff, and natural results of fat grafting procedures done in Singapore.
What to Consider Before Going for Fat Grafting: Selecting the Ideal Candidate
Fat grafting procedures are available to enhance facial contours and shape body parts. The Plastic Surgeon analyzes the area and makes a decision depending upon:
- The general health of the patient. If the candidate wants the procedure for aesthetic purposes, they must be healthy and disease-free.
- Absence of bleeding disorders. It is necessary for a successful transfer of the graft.
- Good Circulatory system. We only recommend a face graft if a robust network of blood vessels engorges the recipient site.
- The attitude of the patient. Patients with unrealistic expectations are not candidates for fat grafting.
Also Read: How Much Does Fat Grafting Cost In Singapore?
Areas of the Body that Can Transform with Fat Grafting
The Fat Grafting procedures are generally divided into Facial Fat Grafting in Singapore and Body Grafting:
Face
A Facial Fat Graft may be the treatment of choice for several aesthetic conditions that include:
- Improving acne scars
- Reconstructive procedures for injury or disease
- Improvement of nasolabial lines and creases of the forehead
- Restore volume loss for aging faces
- Volume restoration around the eyes (Volume loss) and cheeks
- Wrinkles and crow’s feet.
Advantages of Facial Grafts
- Improves contour of the skin and removes wrinkles from the skin
- Less expensive than facelift surgery
- Recovery time is less
- Is done with local anesthesia
- Is minimally invasive
- Has long-lasting effects
Body
Fat Graft surgery effectively improves the skin of different parts of the body, other than the face. The primary sites of Body Fat Grafting and the reasons (for grafting) are as given below:
Breast Augmentation Fat Graft
Breast enhancement surgeries with fat transfer breast augmentation in Singapore are more common nowadays as people appreciate the use of natural fat fillers over synthetic implants. The indications for breast augmentation with fat grafting are:
- Increase in breast size
- Contour irregularities
- Restoring volume
- Aging
- Restoring breast size after pregnancy or breastfeeding changes
Advantages of Breast Fat Grafting in Singapore:
- No need for breast implants.
- The scar is smaller as compared to implant surgery.
- Better correction of abnormalities and deformities.
- Efficient and the only way for restoration in Mastectomy patients.
Butt-lift Grafting
The conditions that indicate Butt-lift Fat Graft are:
- For making a fuller and rounder butt
Advantages of Butt-lift Fat Grafting in Singapore:
- More natural look as compared to implants
- Feels better
- No complications associated
Hand Rejuvenating Fat Grafting
Hand rejuvenation can be done via fat grafting when:
- Skin quality has to be improved
- Blood vessels are to be covered
- Wrinkled areas have to be plumped
Advantages of Hand Fat Grafting in Singapore
- The graft lasts longer as compared to dermal fillers.
- Improve bony appearance of hands
How Does Fat Grafting Procedure Work
The Fat Graft procedure involves different steps, as explained below:
1. Extracting fat from the donor site
In an autologous fat graft, fat cells are extracted from the same person’s body. The donor site may be belly or thigh, depending upon the amount of fat available.
How do the Surgeons extract fat: Is liposuction required?
Yes, the Plastic Surgeon uses Liposuction to extract fat cells from the donor site.
Is general anesthesia given to the patient?
That would depend on the volume of fat required for the procedure. In cases where a small amount of fat is required, local anesthesia is given to avoid pain. Your surgeon will apply local anesthetic to the donor site and extract small quantities of fat with Liposuction needles and cannulas. Fat is purified
The fat cells are then placed in an ultracentrifuge machine. The extracted cells are decanted and centrifuged, and then a small quantity is taken in an injection.
In other cases where a huge amount of fat is required, your plastic surgeon may recommend general anesthesia for better comfort throughout the procedure.
2. Small amounts are injected at the donor site
The liquified and purified fat is injected into the facial skin via syringes.
What are the areas of face grafted/types of grafts?
The most common facial areas grafted include areas under the eyes, cheeks, and nasolabial fold areas. Common body areas would include the breast, buttocks and hands.
Is Facial Fat Graft permanent?
The injection of fat cells into the skin leads to angiogenesis (production of new vessels). These vessels develop to keep the new entrants alive. In general, around 70% of grafted cells survive, and a second session may be preferred by some for better results.
Fat Graft Surgery Alternatives
Alternatives to Fat Graft Surgery include:
1. Implants
Facial implants, Breast implants, and Butt implants are used to provide volume and contour. Implants are mostly preferred in younger clients. Most of the implants are made out of Silicone and serve a similar purpose as Fat Grafting.
2. Fillers
Anti-aging injections that include dermal fillers and Botox injections can also be used to achieve facial esthetics. These chemicals can fill in the crevices and push up your saggy facial skin, thus removing the folds and wrinkles.
Benefits of Fat Grafting for Face and Body Augmentations
There are several benefits of Fat Grafting Surgery. This natural autogenous grafting process is superior to fillers and implants.
1. Results in Fat reduction
An indirect advantage of fat grafting is that it results in a loss of fat from the donor site. The belly and thigh are the most common donor sites. The extraction of fats from these areas results in fat reduction, which is excellent for enhancing body contours.
You don’t have to lose weight by carrying out strenuous exercises!
2. Improved quality of the skin in areas that receive fat injection
The scientists believe that the injected fat cells have Stem cells in them. These stem cells cause the regeneration of cells in the skin, forming newer and healthier skin.
3. Improved facial contours
The natural filling of the hollow areas helps achieve a better contour. It is especially true for Facial Fat graft which is considered a natural method to remove the folds and wrinkles.
It plumps a hollow area just like a natural filler. Fat Augmentation and Fat Grafting improve facial contour and symmetry (Denadai et al., 2019).
4. Reduced chances of allergic reactions
It is also an important benefit of Fat Grafting. There is a greater risk of tissue rejection with implants and an allergic reaction with artificial fillers. As this procedure involves an autogenous graft (graft from oneself), the chances of an allergic reaction are near zero.
5. Natural look
A more natural look is imparted with this procedure, thanks to the natural fat injections used. The injected grafts jell well with the surrounding tissues, and as a result, a more natural look develops.
6. Long-lasting results
The results of Fat Graft usually last long. The stem cells accompanying the fat tissue allow for rejuvenation of the skin. Fat tissues that survive the grafting process usually stay permanently in the area, providing long-lasting results.
Are the results permanent?
It is a tricky question to answer. Fat Graft procedures are way better than artificial fillers and Botox injections, period. But it’s not like that grafted fat lasts for a lifetime.
Where artificial injectable fillers are absorbed over time and need replacements, grafted fats are generally more long-lasting.
The body absorbs most of the injected fats within the first few weeks (4-6) after injection. However, many of these cells survive and continue to exist as normal fat cells in their new abode. Small amounts of fat may continue to get absorbed for the next six months.
Avoid major weight loss situations as you may lose the fat cells grafted in the treatment area. Ideally, maintaining a constant weight and a healthy lifestyle will help to prolong the results from your procedure.
Factors that affect the result of Fat Grafting
Certain factors affect the results and quality of the Fat Grafting:
1. Surgical Characteristics of the Fat Cells
White fat (adipose) tissues are considered the best for the purpose. The stromal vascular structure of the fat tissues proves to be better in grafting. These types of fat tissues tend to produce better results. However, it is hard to predict the type of fat tissue obtained from the donor site until they are extracted.
2. Local Anesthetics
The use of a local anesthetic can influence the results of the Fat Grafts. Certain components in local anesthetic medication can affect the growth and adaptation of grafted fat tissues. Hence, other anesthesia or sedation options may be more beneficial for the procedure.
3. Donor Site
The donor site also influences the results of the surgery. The fat cells around the butt and thigh region tend to be larger in size and are ideal for fat grafting.
4. Processing the Graft
Washing and centrifugation are the selected methods to process and purify the fat cells. Proper processing of fat tissues during the procedure helps to achieve cleaner and purer fat tissues for grafting, in turn, increasing the survival rate of the transplanted fat.
Risk factors and side effects of Fat Grafting
There are no specific side effects or risk factors of the Fat Grafting procedure. Autologous fat transplants are the safest of all procedures.
However, complications may arise after the operation. The possible complications may include:
- Infections of the sites (donor and recipient)
- Embolism after injection of fat into vessels, i.e., fat embolism formation in blood vessels
- Liponecrotic cysts formation is an outcome of a large number of grafts
- Graft migration to another site
- Irregularities of the skin that develop after surgery
Considering a fat grafting procedure?
Fat graft surgery is an essential breakthrough in the world of plastic surgery. The Fat Graft procedure is an easy and acceptable one.
It is used for aesthetic purposes to provide volume to saggy cheeks, lips, nose, and other facial regions. This method is also used for Butt and breast augmentation. It is safer as it involves only natural products and that too autologous. There are no complications related to the process, but a lack of proper surgical skills can cause some issues.
So, if you are dubious over whether to get a Fat Graft or not, then it’s a green signal from us. Explore your options and how fat graft can benefit you with a personalized consultation at Dream Plastic Surgery.
References
1.Moore JH Jr, Kolaczynski JW, Morales LM, Considine RV, Pietrzykowski Z, Noto PF (1995) Viability of fat obtained by syringe suction lipectomy: effects of local anesthesia with lidocaine. Aesthetic Plast Surg 19: 335–339
2.Hudson DA, Lambert EV, Bloch CE. (1990) Site selection for fat autotransplantation: some observation. Aesth Plast Surg 14:195-197
3.Denadai, Rafael, et al. “Facial contour symmetry outcomes after site-specific facial fat compartment augmentation with fat grafting in facial deformities.” Plastic and reconstructive surgery 143.2 (2019): 544-556.
4.Schultz, Kelly P., et al. “Fat grafting for facial rejuvenation.” Seminars in plastic surgery. Vol. 34. No. 01. Thieme Medical Publishers, 2020.
5.Khater R, Atanassova P, Anastassov Y, Pellerin P, Martinot-Duquennoy V (2008). Clinical and experimental study of autologous fat grafting after processing by centrifugation and serum lavage Aesth Plast Surg 33: 37-43 (1)
6.Khater R. (2010) Autologous fat transplantation – clinical and experimental researches. Thesis for conferring a Ph.D. title in medicine, Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria
7.Har-Shai Y. (1999) An integrated approach for increasing the survival of autologous fat grafts in treating contour defects. Plast. Reconstr. Surg 104: 945-954
About Dream Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery
Bespoke surgical for cosmetic or medical reasons is what Dream covers to bring out the beauty in every individual. Going beyond the aesthetics and working on physical anomalies are what we value the most in leading our patients to cherish self-improvement and confident lifestyles.
Derived from Associate Professor Vincent Yeow’s long-standing experience performing plastic surgery in Singapore, our treatment plans deliver physical remodelling in our patients’ favour. One of the notable remodellings is droopy eyelid correction. The ptosis surgery used for treatment eventually fixes drooping eyelids, improves vision and enhances appearance.
Most importantly, as a trustworthy plastic surgery and aesthetic clinic, we treasure positive and natural outcomes for each individual. We will ensure to deliver the beauty refinement of your dream without compromising your safety and privacy.
