The fat used for fat transfer is liposuctioned from another part of your body like the abdomen or thighs and injected into another area that requires plumping. Fat grafting is performed in our office on an outpatient basis. Both the area from which the fat is taken and the treatment site are anesthetized with a local anesthetic. Using a small needle attached to a syringe, fat is removed from a donor site where your fat is most tightly packed, such as your abdomen.

Once removed, your fat is processed to remove excess fluids and then reinjected using another needle, which is placed just under your skin beneath the wrinkle. This process may be repeated until the desired correction has been achieved.

Injected fat is very suitable for the correction of grooves under the eyes and sunken cheeks, or for atrophic aging of the hands. Fat injections are not as effective in areas of frequent animation, such as for creating fuller lips, and also cannot be injected into the breasts because this makes it very difficult to detect breast cancer with mammograms.

Swelling and discomfort is expected after fat injection though can be easily controlled with medication. There may also be some bruising. Over the first few months your body will absorb about 65% of the fat. The remaining 35% will usually stay in place. For longer lasting results, patients usually receive three or four treatments over six months.