Fat Injections & Grafts

In Denver, Colorado
The Art of Compassion    The Science of Beauty

Fat injections & grafts have been used since the late 19th century. They’re also called liposculpture, volume restoration, and autologous fat transfer.

A fat graft is a procedure where fat is removed from unwanted places and grafted or injected to where it’s more desirable. For instance, when you have a face lift, some of the fat removed from under the chin can be injected or grafted into naso-labial folds to fill out that area next to the lips.

Fat grafts and injections use your own fat, which could be taken from another part of the body, such as the abdomen or thighs. The advantage of using your own fat is that you won’t be allergic to it.

Some locations for fat grafts

  • To fill in frown lines
  • To plump out the lips
  • To fill out hollows under the eyes
  • To fill in creases running from nose to corners of mouth
  • To fill in creases running from corners of mouth to neckline
  • To smooth facial scarring
  • To fill out aging hands where the bones have become prominent

The procedure

There are 3 stages.

  1. Local anesthetic is injected into the area where fat will be taken (although sometimes, general anesthesia is used)
    • A small incision is made
    • A cannula is gently inserted to suck out fat into a syringe
  2. The fat is purified to prepare the cells for grafting, and this can be done by hand or mechanically
  3. The area of the graft is swabbed and prepared
    • Fat cells are gently injected into the area, using a needle or cannula
    • Injection is repeated until the desired result is achieved

After the procedure

  • You can use icepacks for a day or two to reduce swelling in the short term; it will gradually subside over a couple of weeks
  • Try to keep the area as still as possible, to prevent the fat migrating away
  • There’ll be follow-up visits about a week later and 6 or 8 weeks later

Over the longer term

Some of the fat will inevitably be resorbed by your body, and this could be as much as two thirds of it. Since this seems to be related to the grafting techniques used, work is ongoing to devise ways of minimizing this fat loss.

You might have several treatments over 6 to 12 months, to overcome the fat resorption.

If you’re interested in learning more about eyelid surgery, cosmetic surgery, eyelid lift, facelift, eyelid tuck, necklift, puffy eyelid, brow lift, plastic surgery, blepharoplasty, or any other cosmetic surgery, in Denver or Boulder, Colorado, contact Dr. Fante for an initial consultation.