call us:   470-440-1777

5445 MERIDIAN MARK ROAD, SUITE 395, ATLANTA, GA 30342

FAT GRAFTING

 

Fat grafting is a growing trend in plastic surgery to augment parts of the face and body. A technique popularized in the Brazilian butt-lift and natural breast augmentation, fat grafting uses liposuction to harvest fat from diet-resistant, or unwanted, areas of the body.  The fat is then processed and cleaned before being replaced into areas of the body needing volume.

 

With age the face loses soft tissue and bony volume that can be improved with fat grafting.  Similar to dermal fillers, fat can be added to specific parts of the face to restore the contours associated with youth.  As opposed to fillers, fat is a living tissue.  Once transferred, this fat is permanent and can improve the appearance of wrinkles, correct hollowing, and plump lips, while improving the quality of the overlying skin.

 

 

 

  • SURGICAL TECHNIQUES

     

    Fat grafting requires creating small (0.5-1.0 cm) incisions in the skin, camouflaged in body creases or inconspicuous areas.  Fluid containing medications aimed to provide pain-relief and limit blood loss is then infused into the harvest area, before special instruments are used to gently suction out the fat.

    The harvested fat is then processed.  The fat is placed into a series of test tubes that are then centrifuged to separate healthy fat from any fluid, blood, or tissue.

     

    The processed fat is then transferred to new syringes, and a blunt tipped catheter used to deposit small parcels of fat into the face.  The fat is distributed into different layers of the face, both vertically and horizontally, to recreate the desired three-dimensional contour.

     

     

  • RECOVERY

     

    For the first few days after surgery, pink colored fluid will seep from the fat harvest incision sites.  This is a combination of the fluid placed at the time of surgery and a small amount of blood. This is normal and expected.  Sleeping on towels, and repeatedly changing the gauze will help with fluid staining.  Because fat grafting does not typically remove the same amount of fat as in liposuction, compression garments are not needed during recovery.

     

    Patients may initially require prescription pain medication for comfort.  Soreness will persist for 1-2 weeks after surgery.  Bruising and swelling is minimal, and recedes within a few days.

     

    We ask patients to refrain from strenuous activity, and from placing any pressure over the grafted sites until completely healed, this ensure the transferred fat is well incorporated.

     

     

  • RISKS

     

    We believe in being preemptive to avoid any risks associated with surgery, but occasionally the following may occur:

     

    Bleeding/Hematoma – A small amount of bleeding is common after surgery, but if severe enough, another operation may be required to stop it.  Bleeding can also form a collection, termed a hematoma, which presents as a swollen, painful, and tense fluid collection.  These require drainage to prevent secondary problems.

     

    Infection – Fat grafting carries a small risk of infection, but if one occurs, it may require oral, or intravenous, antibiotics.

     

    Contour Irregularity – Despite proper technique, a skin or contour irregularity can occur from fat grafting at either the harvest or grafted site.  If significant, additional surgery may be required to correct the irregularity.

     

    Blood Clots:  Fat grafting can result in the development of blood clots in the legs.  These clots can travel to the lungs where they can be fatal.  Precautions before, and after, surgery are taken to avoid blood clots from forming.

     

     

     

  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     

    Volume Correction

    Depending on the amount of fat transfer required, multiple grafting sessions may be needed for full correction.  Rarely, too much fat may be grafted, requiring additional surgery to remove any excess.

     

    Fat Take

    Fat transferred to areas of the body with a robust blood supply, such as the face, have a better chance of living, termed fat “take.”  The fat that does not live, is typically absorbed by the body and excreted in urine.  In rare instances, the fat that does not take can form small cysts or calcifications.

     

     

Whether bothered by the facial signs of aging, or attempting to correct a feature that has always troubled you, Dr. Castillo employs a holistic approach to facial rejuvenation.  With techniques grounded in skin care, minimally invasive procedures, and surgeries, Dr. Castillo delivers noticeable, natural-looking results.

 

 

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FAQS

 

What is “overcorrection?”

When fat is grafted to correct an asymmetry, some of the fat does not survive and is absorbed by the body. Some surgeons initially overcorrect the asymmetry, anticipating a degree of fat loss, in order that the desired volume will be obtained.

 

How does the fat survive?

After careful liposuction and processing of the harvested fat, a blunt tipped catheter is used to make hundreds of passes underneath the skin surface, depositing small amounts of fat in different directions and different tissue planes with each pass.  The surrounding tissues then supply key nutrients to the deposited fat until new blood flow can be established.  If the fat lives, it will respond like any other fat cell in the body.

 

What are the advantages of fat grafting over fillers or lifting agents?

There are three main advantages of fat grafting over fillers.  Fat grafting transplants a person’s own tissues, removes fat from a diet-resistant problem area, and leads to permanent results because the fat is living tissue, and not absorbed by the body.

 

 

 

GENERAL PROCEDURES

›  Cosmetic/Aesthetic Procedures

›  Breast Augmentation

›  Breast Lift

›  Breast Reduction

›  Breast Asymmetry

›  Breast Reconstruction

›  Liposuction

›  Tummy Tuck / Abdominoplasty

›  Arm Lift

›  Thigh Lift

›  Labiaplasty

›  Buttock Augmentation

›  Post Bariatric Surgery Body Contouring

›  Lower Body Lift

›  Facial Rejuvenation

›  Brow Lift

›  Eyelid Surgery

›  Ear Surgery

›  Rhinoplasty

›  Lifting Agents

›  Face lift

›  Neck Lift

›  Wrinkle Removers

›  Injectable Fillers

›  Medical Reconstructive Surgeries

›  Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery

PROCEDURES FOR MEN

›  Cosmetic / Aesthetic Procedures

›  Wrinkle Removers

›  Injectable Fillers

›  Lifting Agents

›  Liposculpting

›  Tummy Tuck / Abdominoplasty

›  Arm Lift

›  Thigh Lift

›  Male Breast Surgery

›  Male Pec Implants

›  Brow Lift

›  Eyelid Surgery

›  Ear Surgery

›  Facelift

›  Necklift

›  Jaw Augmentation

›  Medical Reconstructive Surgeries

›  Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery

CLIENT CITIES

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›  CAMBRIDGE, MA

›  LOS ANGELES, CA

›  SAN FRANCISCO, CA

›  WASHINGTON, DC

›  DALLAS, TX

›  HOUSTON, TX

5445 MERIDIAN MARK ROAD, SUITE 395, ATLANTA, GA 30342

CALL US:  470-440-1777

 

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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.