Fat Transfer

In the skilled hands of board-certified dermasurgeon and renowned artist, Dr. Eric Finzi, your own fat is used to sculpt and re-contour your face and body. Gaining in popularity as an alternative to a surgical face lift, a fat transfer is minimally invasive, allowing you to return to your normal routine quickly.

Lips Fat Transfer Before and After Photo

Fat transfer takes unwanted fat from one area of the body and injects it where needed to resture natural fullness. As we age, our facial fat and collagen break down causing the skin to develop lines and wrinkles, cheeks to become sunken, and deep circles to develop under the eyes. A more youthful appearance can be easily restored by using this safe in-office procedure. Also known as micro-lipoinjection or fat grafting, a fat transfer is most appealing for patients who want to take a more natural approach to cosmetic surgery. Other body areas that can be enhanced include the hands, neck, and breasts. Your fat can also be used to correct scarring and body abnormalities. 

Benefits of Fat Transfer: 

  • Restores a more youthful appearance with minimal downtime 
  • Local anesthesia minimizes surgical risk 
  • Using your fat alleviates the possibility of an allergic reaction 
  • No stitches means virtually no scarring 
  • Results are long lasting

Face Fat Transfer Before and After Picture

Come in for a cosmetic consultation at Chevy Chase Cosmetic Center to see if Fat Transfer is right for you.  Call  Chevy Chase Cosmetic Center 240-482-2555 for an appointment in Chevy Chase or 301-345-7375 for Greenbelt today!   

The Ideal Candidate for Fat Transfer

The ideal candidate for liposuction is someone who is in good general health, exercises moderately, and eats well-balanced meals, but who is unable to reduce fat in certain areas due in most cases to a genetic predisposition. In today’s health conscious world, many people are now including liposuction as a part of their overall wellness plan. Medical studies have proven reducing fat in certain body areas can help reduce the risk of heart disease, lower cholesterol, and other medical conditions. This procedure is not recommended to treat obesity.

About the Fat Transfer Procedure

Dr. Finzi extracts fat using a micro-cannula from a donor site, most commonly the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks. The fat is then purified and injected under the surface skin to the desired body areas. Prior to surgery, a local anesthetic is administered to both areas so that you will not feel any discomfort. If needed, an oral medication may be given to further relax you. Several treatments will be required to obtain optimal results. Additional fat will be harvested during your first visit and stored for up to six months for future treatments. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Does Fat Transfer hurt?

The procedure is relatively painless using the tumescent technique combined with local anesthesia to numb the treated areas. The local anesthesia will last up to 12 hours helping with post operative discomfort. Any further discomfort can be alleviated with over-the-counter medication. 

Are there any scars after Fat Transfer with Liposuction?

No. When using the tumescent technique, the incisions made for the micro-cannulas are so small that they heal without stitches and become almost invisible in time.

What body areas are treatable by fat transfer?

The face is the most common area treated, specifically the cheeks, under eye area, nasolabial folds, lips, chin, and temples. Breast augmentation is an option for women who want to enhance up to one cup size. The hands and neck also rejuvenate beautifully from fat transfer. In addition, it can be used to correct body asymmetry and to alleviate the effects of facial and body scarring. 

How effective is a fat transfer to the breasts?

A fat transfer is ideal for women who want a safe way to restore fullness after nursing, correct a size or shape variance, or increase up to one cup size. This is not for women who want a large enhancement. In order to harvest enough fat for the augmentation, a combination of tumescent liposuction and fat transfer is necessary. The procedure, performed under local anesthesia, takes up to 5 hours. 

How long does the fat transfer procedure take?

Performed in our state of the art accredited office surgical suites, the procedure takes 2-3 hours for the face and up to 5 hours for other body parts. You can be driven home shortly after surgery. 

When can I resume my normal activities?

Although you will need someone to drive you home, you can be up and about that evening, and return to work within a few days. For facial treatments, you must keep your head elevated and sleep atop two pillows for several days. In all cases, you are advised to avoid strenuous activity and sports, heavy lifting (20 lbs), aerobic exercise, and swimming until your incisions have completely healed. 

What can I expect after the procedure?

The treated areas will be swollen and bruised, may feel firm, and be more sensitive to touch for up to a few weeks. Applying a cold gel pack to the treated area will alleviate swelling and bruising. 

How quickly will I see results?

Initial swelling will last for at least a week and gradually subsides within 2-3 weeks. Once all the swelling has subsided you will see the newly sculpted you! 

How long does a fat transfer last?

Depending on the treated area, a fat transfer will last for years. In most cases, the body will reabsorb about half of the transferred fat, making it necessary for up to three treatments to obtain optimal results. To compensate for the reabsorption rate, Dr. Finzi adds extra fat to the desired treatment areas, and will store additional fat for later use if desired. 

Come in for a cosmetic consultation at Chevy Chase Cosmetic Center to see if Fat Transfer with Liposuction is right for you.  Call  Chevy Chase Cosmetic Center 240-482-2555 for an appointment in Chevy Chase or 301-345-7375 for Greenbelt today!