As we age, many people lose volume in parts of our body such as the breast and buttocks. In many cases, this is also associated with sagging of the breast, also known as breast ptosis. Fat grafting is a discreet body contouring procedure that results in a firmer and fresher appearance. The process differs from using dermal fillers or implants, and often leaves a natural-looking and more attractive result.
Fat grafting in Parker County can help you age gracefully and enjoy the benefits of plastic surgery without concerning yourself with silicone implants.
Fat grafting, sometimes referred to as autologous fat transfer, is a technique that allows fat to be harvested from one part of your body and re-injected into another area to add volume. The technique is used for cosmetic purposes, including buttock and breast augmentation.
Many experts consider autologous fat the ideal material for cosmetic procedures since it is 100% biocompatible with you and produces a natural result. Although silicone implants are generally safe, they are not a lifetime device and may have problems such as infection, rupture, or capsular contracture require revisionary surgery. These issues are not typical with fat grafting.
Another benefit to fat grafting in Parker County is it can be used in breast reconstruction. The stem cells found in your fat tissue help restore a youthful appearance.
During the procedure, Dr. Matthew Steele uses liposuction to harvest fat from other body areas that you may want to slim down, such as the stomach, thighs, or buttocks, and injects it into your target areas. This outpatient procedure uses general anesthesia, after which you will receive postoperative instructions for the recovery period.
Fat grafting does not result in weight loss. A good candidate for fat grafting in Parker County is someone who has achieved their ideal body weight and, if they are a smoker, is committed to not smoking for at least two months before and after surgery. Smoking hastens the onset of aging and increases the risk of infection and poor outcomes.
Several instances exist when a person should not have an autologous fat graft, such as those who plan on losing a significant amount of weight, are experiencing a current weight gain, or patients without adequate fat stores for grafting.
Individuals with health conditions that affect blood flow or wound healing may have complications and must inform Dr. Steele of this information.
Side effects in both the harvesting and injection areas can include bruising, swelling, and tenderness. Dr. Steele will recommend a postoperative compression garment to help with contour and swelling. Potential risks of fat grafting include scarring, fluid pockets (seroma), bleeding (hematoma) contour irregularities, and some degree of fat resorption, typically around 33%.
Recovery time is similar to liposuction, about 3 weeks, and you will have swelling for about 3 months. We will prescribe medication to help with pain and offer suggestions to help minimize swelling. After the surgery, you should call our office immediately if you experience rare cases of a high fever, excessive bleeding, pain that doesn’t subside, or fluid buildup under the skin (seroma).
Fat grafting is permanent, but the fat that survives (about 60-65%) is biologically active and gain increase or decrease in size as you gain or lose weight. Also, there is a finite space to place the fat, so it may take several sessions to obtain the optimal volume for your goals.
We can utilize fat grafting as a standalone procedure or as an addition to another procedure such as a breast lift. Depending on your comfort level, you can return to a simple desk job in three to seven days and can generally resume physical activity three weeks after surgery.
If silicone implants do not interest you, there is always the option of allowing your existing fat cells to do the work. Fat grafting in Parker County is one way of addressing your cosmetic concerns when you want a makeover that looks natural. Call us to schedule your appointment with our qualified plastic surgeon and learn more about the various ways we can sculpt your body to perfection.
