Sculpt your body by relocating excess fat

Procedure Summary

The body’s own fat has been used to correct defects in the skin since the late 1800s. Dr F. Nueber, from Germany, published data in 1893 regarding a procedure he carried out to correct a facial problem by injecting fat from the patient’s arm. The popularity of the procedure declined after the discovery of other ‘fillers’ in the 1980s, however, new innovations in liposuction have led to a revival of interest in using the patient’s own fat to ‘plump up’ areas of their body.

What can a fat implant do for you?

Generally, you can be a candidate for fat implant cosmetic surgery as long as you are in good general health. The fat transfer procedure can be applied to many areas of the face and body, though it works best in areas with relatively little movement. Frown lines, sunken cheeks and crows feet are typical areas benefiting from the fat transfer technique. Another increasingly common application is to ‘build up’ the backs of the hands to reverse the scrawniness that can occur with age.

“After years of exercise and diet I was left with immovable fat deposits on my hips and abdomen,” said one women in her mid-thirties. “I underwent surgery to have it sucked out – and then had some of it injected into my behind to give me the ‘bubble bottom’ I’ve always wanted.”

One part of the body where fat implants are not advisable is the breasts. Most plastic surgeons would recommend alternative procedures instead. Before considering fat implant plastic surgery, it is wise to talk to your doctor and cosmetic surgeon about any alternatives that are worth considering.

The fat transfer process

After applying local anaesthesia to both the extraction and the insertion areas, the fat implant cosmetic surgery is carried out in two stages. Firstly the surgeon will make a small incision, usually in the abdomen or hip, and insert a liposuction canula (thin metal tube). Fat is extracted through the cannula and washed in saline to remove defective cells. The second stage of the procedure involves injecting the fat back into the body at the appropriate location. A number of injections will be required to achieve the desired result, and if, for example, the fat implant is being injected into the face, a series of very small needles are used.

The whole operation usually takes up to two hours, depending on the scale of the procedure. Although you should not require an overnight stay at the hospital, your recovery time will typically be in the region of 10 days, again, depending on the scale of the procedure. There will be some initial  swelling and bruising, and you should be fit enough to return to work within a week.

The permanence of the outcome varies form person to person. Normally, you could expect to lose at least half of the ‘plumped up’ effect within 6 months, so repeat procedures may be necessary.

As with all cosmetic surgery, there can be side effects. Most people experience some discomfort and itching in the immediate period after the procedure, but, as the fat is gathered from your own body, there is no risk of an allergic reaction. As one fat implant patient commented, “Because the procedure involved two different areas (in my case the abdomen and the cheeks), I was left with two sensitive parts of the body to heal. I was quite tender for about 3 days before the discomfort dissipated, and then I was very happy with the outcome.” As with all cosmetic surgery, it is essential to follow the advice of your practitioner after the procedure. This will make the outcome as successful as possible and reduce the risk of complications

Who should carry out your fat implant?

Implanting the correct amount of fat in precisely the right place is a specialist skill, so selecting a suitable practitioner to carry out the procedure is very important. Only properly qualified doctors and surgeons should perform the operation – ideally someone specialising in liposuction and fat transfer with experience in an establishment registered with the Healthcare Commission. The procedure can cost anything from £2000 to £4000 or more depending on the number of procedures necessary to achieve the desired result. If a fat implant is something that you are considering, you can discuss all of the issues mentioned here in greater depth during a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon.

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