Fat Transfer
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Newport Beach, CA
A fat transfer is a very popular procedure. Once fat is harvested via liposuction from one area of the body, it is then transferred to another area of the body where the patient is requesting more volume. For patients looking for a long term result with synthetic dermal fillers, a fat transfer is a great option because it is your body’s own tissue and will remain. A synthetic filler will begin to break down and eventually disappear anywhere from 3 months to one year after the initial injection (depending on which brand of dermal filler is used). Likewise, for patients requesting a larger volume transfer for procedures like breast augmentation, cheek augmentation, chin augmentation or a butt augmentation (brazilian buttlift), a fat transfer is an ideal method. Learn more about Fat Transfer at our Newport Beach, Orange County office.
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Before and After Photos
Who is Fat Transfer recommended for?
Fat transfer is recommended for anyone wanting more volume in a certain area, or anyone who is looking for a more permanent option rather than dermal fillers. For patients requesting a larger volume transfer for procedures like breast augmentation, cheek augmentation, chin augmentation or a butt augmentation (Brazilian butt lift), a fat transfer is an ideal method.
Pre-operation
How can I prepare?
As for any surgery, a patients’ health and well-being is our main priority. We require that patients who are undergoing surgery be healthy with normal lab work (your labs will be performed within 2 weeks of surgery). Furthermore, Dr. Bandy provides patients with a vitamin protocol to being before surgery to aid in the recovery and healing process. During your consultation 2 weeks before surgery, our staff will thoroughly review with you all important information that needs to be completed prior to surgery in order to ensure the best outcome and easiest recovery possible.
Will anesthesia be administered?
Yes, the procedure will be performed under a general anesthetic.
Is painful?
Following the procedure patients will be prescribed pain medication in order to minimize discomfort. The amount of discomfort varies depending on a patient’s own level of pain tolerance, as well as the type and amount of surgery performed.
What if I am sick before?
If a patient is noted to be sick prior to a procedure, it is advised to contact Dr. Bandy’s office immediately to discuss the best way to move forward.
How long before I see results?
Results of a Brazilian butt lift can be seen immediately, however bruising and swelling may take 4 weeks or longer to fully resolve. For any fat transfer procedure, a portion of the transferred fat will reabsorb prior to receiving the blood supply that is being constructed for the newly transferred fat. It is hard to predict what percentage will be absorbed. However, estimates of 15%-30% are typical for an absorption rate. Therefore, the amount of volume added immediately following surgery will be larger due to overcompensation of fat transferred, along with swelling. Therefore, it typically takes at least 6 weeks until much of true result can be seen.
Post-operation
Is scarring expected after?
Patients may get bruising to the treated areas of the body, however this may be minimal in some people. Bruising can last for several weeks and it is not uncommon for bruising to last for up to a month. This can be minimized with arnica and bromelain supplements started pre-operatively and continued through the healing process.
Can I drive home after?
It is always recommended to have someone assist you in getting home or to your recovery center. If a patient does not have anyone that can assist them at home, we do have a post operative recovery center that we work with that will pick up the patient from our facility.
Should I try avoiding touching the area after?
After surgery it is advised to avoid touching the incision areas as they will be covered with steri-strips.
What activity should I refrain from after?
Following a fat transfer, patients are advised to try to avoid placing direct pressure on the area in which fat was transferred. Patients are also advised to limit going up and down stairs to once a day for 2 weeks. While climbing stairs, you are to do it slowly, one step at a time. DO NOT stay in bed or be sedentary for prolonged periods of time as this increases your risk of blood clots. Do not over exert yourself. Avoid strenuous activity and exertional exercise for at least 3 weeks. No lifting over 5 pounds for 2 weeks.
Do I need to take any medication after?
A patient is usually prescribed an antibiotic and a pain medication. If a patient is undergoing a general anesthesia, sometimes they are prescribed an anti-nausea medication to combat any feelings of nausea that some patients experience after having a general anesthesia.
Costs
What is the average cost?
The average cost of fat transfer depends on how many area of liposuction are being performed and how many areas fat is being transferred to. In order to obtain an accurate price for your surgery we advise meeting with Dr. Bandy for a consultation.
Are there financing options?
The patient has multiple financing options. For example, the patient can pay for the surgery on credit card, and make monthly payments back to their credit card. Additionally, CareCredit is a financing company specific for cosmetic surgery; patients can apply for CareCredit, and there are multiple options for CareCredit. Sometimes, patients opt to make payments directly to the office. This is a prepayment plan where a patient would pay until he or she pays the entire balance for the surgery; then, they would have their surgery.
Recovery
What is the recovery time and the healing process?
The more minimal the liposuction and fat transfer, the more minimal the recovery period is. Patients that undergo a liposuction procedure in which enough fat for a larger transfer is harvested are usually required to wear a specialty compression garment for several weeks to achieve maximum results. These garments provide firm compression and support to suctioned areas, also allowing for skin retraction to optimize final body contour. The garments used are to be worn on a continuous basis day and night, however can be removed for bathing. Dr. Bandy does provide the first surgical garments for her patients. However, additional garments can be purchased at an additional cost from our office. The amount of time a patient is required to wear this specialty garment is determined by Dr. Bandy and varies depending on the area(s) that are treated, how much fatty tissue is suctioned and how the patient is healing. Patients may get bruising to the treated areas of the body, however this may be minimal in some people. Bruising can last for several weeks and it is not uncommon for bruising to last for up to a month. This can be minimized with arnica and bromelain supplements started pre-operatively and continued through the healing process. Pain can be controlled by medication that is prescribed at the time of the pre-operative appointment which is usually 1-2 weeks prior to the scheduled surgical date. In addition to the recovery from the liposuction, there will be a recovery from the fat being transferred.
Is there a post-operative recovery facility that you recommend?
We do have a post operative recovery facility that we refer our patients to in Orange County, CA and Los Angeles, CA. In these situations, they will be picked up by the post operative care facility from our recovery room and brought to the recovery center where they are recovered overnight, and then brought back the next day for their follow up appointment.
We are here to listen and address your concerns.Schedule A Consultation
– Dr. Amy Bandy, Over 20 Years of Experience
FAQ
How much fat is needed?
The amount of fat that is needed depends upon the area that a patient is looking to transfer to and how much of a volume increase is requested. A patient looking to fill in their smile lines on their face or fill in the crevice left by a scar would not need a great deal of fat for transferring and would involve minimal liposuction, which many times can be performed under a local anesthesia. Patients requesting a larger fat transfer for procedures like a Brazilian butt lift (butt augmentation), breast augmentation, or transfer to multiple areas on the face or body would most likely require a larger amount of fat to be harvested through liposuction. Many patients love that they see the outcome of creating a physique with the liposuction and also contouring with fat transfer.
Does the fat stay where it is transferred?
Because your own tissue is being transferred, your body does not reject it as a foreign object. Instead, it provides a blood supply to this tissue. A portion of the transferred fat will reabsorb prior to receiving the blood supply that is being constructed for the newly transferred fat. It is hard to predict what percentage will be absorbed. However, estimates of 15%-30% are typical for an absorption rate. A patient is strongly encouraged not to compress the area and to put as little pressure as possible on the area where the fat is transferred for the first 6 weeks after the procedure in order to obtain their best results.
Will the fat that is taken grow back with weight gain?
This is a question that until answered correctly, sometimes haunts patients. Humans are born with a certain number of fat cells that will increase during puberty. Each individual cell can grow bigger or smaller with weight gain or weight loss, but additional fat cells typically only grow when a person has become morbidly obese – 100% over their ideal body weight. A patient that continues with an improper diet and no exercise can still gain weight as each fat cell that remains can still significantly expand. The fat that is accumulated with weight gain still needs to be stored somewhere, and with fat cells in areas treated with liposuction having been reduced, fat is stored in the fat cells that remain. This is why it is important to adopt a healthy lifestyle after any liposuction treatment.
