How to Have a Better Recovery from Fat Transfer Surgery

Excess fats in the buttocks, thighs, and abdomen can be useful in restoring volume or smoothing wrinkles in other parts of your body. Transferring them to another body part is a procedure known as ‘fat transfer’, and it is a surgical technique that uses liposuction to get the fat out. Fat transfer surgery is an outpatient procedure conducted under local anaesthesia. Small incisions are created for fat removal and liposuction, and the fat is then re-injected into the graft area. Fat transfer surgery comes with a considerable amount of recovery period, and there are certain things you must remember and do to ensure a better recovery. Here are some of them:

• Choose the right surgeon – Fat cells will survive longer in their new area if only the smallest amounts are injected gradually at a time. A good cosmetic surgeon knows this, so he may ask you to return for multiple sessions to ensure the best results. Be sure to ask questions about proper post-surgical care, especially concerning the drains (if any have been placed), the typical symptoms, and signs of any potential complications.
• Follow the surgeon’s advice – Your cosmetic surgeon will prescribe antibiotics to help prevent infections. You may be given mild painkillers to address any discomfort, too.

• Avoid exercising and strenuous activities – Chill for two weeks to avoid bursting the stitches and straining your wounds. You can resume work after a couple of days. The surgeon will remove your stitches after five to seven days.

• Wear the right support garments – If you have had fat transferred to your breasts, you may have to wear a sports bra daily for two to three weeks. You should avoid sleeping on your stomach for four to five weeks, too. A compression garment must be worn for up to six weeks if you have had fat transfer to your butt, and you should refrain from driving and doing strenuous tasks for a week.

The Benefits of Fat Transfer to Face Surgery

Fat transfer surgeries involve transferring of fat taken from one part of the body to the desired area of the body. It is basically injecting the fat into the areas that lack firmness or volume. The purpose of the fat transfer is to correct facial imperfections and add volume with the use of a non-allergic autologous material. The material is generally derived from the patient’s own body excluding the collagen injections.

It is important for the patient to understand the benefits and risks of the procedure before undergoing the fat transfer surgery. Some benefits and risks are explained below that will help you decide whether to go for the treatment or not.

Benefits of the Fat Transfer Surgery:

•        It is a cosmetic treatment that is natural, versatile, long-lasting, and safe.

•        It is a highly preferred method for facial volume enhancement for the patients who are allergic to dermal fillers such as bovine-derived collagen.

•        The biggest advantage of this surgery is that it has no allergic reaction as body easily accepts its own fat.

•        Another beneficial factor about the fat injection is the duration of the procedure’s results. 65% of the injected fat is absorbed by the body within a few months. However, the remaining 35% fat stays in the placed area for years.

•        Facial fat transfer can be easily combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as Botox, cosmetic or liposuction.

•        Facial fat transfer is also cost-effective as compared to the other cosmetic procedures. For more sustainable results many patients choose to go through several fat transfer surgeries over the course of a few months.

Risks of the Fat Transfer Surgery:

•        Soreness and swelling can occur in some patients after the fat transfer surgery.

•        Another significant drawback of this procedure is that the patient’s lips and face will absorb most of the transferred fat. It happens with almost half of the patients who undergo the procedure.

•        In rarest of the rare cases, an allergic reaction is possible that can cause a permanent discoloration or scar due to a ruptured blood vessel.

Getting disappointed with the results of a fat transfer surgery can also be considered as a risk. Sometimes patients feel that their lips are not appearing as they expected them to be. With the relatively low cost and low-risk factors of the fat transfer surgery, it is considered a great option to get a youthful appearance.