Fat transfer, also called autologous fat transplantation or micro-lipoinjection, plumps up facial features with a patient’s own fat, and is a popular alternative to other wrinkle treatments. Fat transfer to the face is a safe, natural procedure, designed to recontour your face, and can provide restoration of the lost volumes. It can also be used to correct facial deformities.
Reinjected fat lasts longer in larger areas of non-movement, so it is very successful for the correction of sunken cheeks, because this area does not move as often.
Fat transfer to the face can be performed on an outpatient basis. Both the area from which the fat is taken, and the treatment site, are injected with a local anesthetic. Using a small canula attached to a syringe, fat is removed from the donor site, where the fat is most tightly packed, such as the abdomen or the flanks.
Once removed, the fat is processed to remove excess fluids, and then reinjected using another small canula. This process may be repeated until the desired correction has been achieved.
Harvesting the fat cells for reinjection is often performed in conjunction with other procedures, such as liposuction, tummy tuck or cosmetic breast surgery. When fat is harvested during another procedure, it is often possible to obtain a larger amount of fat.
The fat is not only used for volume restoration, but its regenerative properties are beneficial for the skin rejuvenation. Infact, adipose tissue is rich in stem cells which are responsible to stimulate the formation of new collagen and to create a new vascularization in the injected tissue, granting more blood supply to the receivant area.