Unlock a New You with Body Fat Grafting Benefits
Considering plastic surgery but worried about the risks and short-lived results? Body Fat Grafting offers a groundbreaking solution that’s natural, enduring, and minimally invasive.
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Natural and Safe
Elevate your beauty with fat from your own body, minimizing the risk of rejection and allergic reactions.
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Long-Lasting Results
Forget frequent touch-ups! Our procedure offers semi-permanent results that outlast dermal fillers.
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Minimally Invasive Magic
Rejuvenate your appearance without enduring the long recovery times associated with more invasive surgeries.
Get the shape you want with fat grafting
What woman hasn’t occasionally fantasized about taking the fat from her stomach and using it to boost the shape and size of her butt or breasts? Each year, more and more women (and men) are turning to fat transfer as a more natural approach to plastic surgery. While it’s not the right option for everyone, fat grafting is a versatile, safe, and effective method for facial rejuvenation and body contouring, helping many patients reach their aesthetic goals each year.
Dr. Gabriel Salloum, M.D., F.A.C.S., of the Miami Center for Plastic Surgery, is a double-board-certified plastic surgeon known throughout Miami Beach and South Florida for his patients’ beautiful results from fat transfer to the body and face.
- Unlock a New You with Body Fat Grafting Benefits
- What is Body Fat Transfer?
- Why Patients Choose Body Fat Grafting
- The Fat Transfer Process
- What to Expect on the Day of Your Surgery
- Good Candidates for Fat Transfer
- Investment in Yourself: The Cost Aspect
- Risks Involved in Body Fat Transfer
- Body Fat Grafting Aftercare and Recovery
- Side Effects of Body Fat Transfer
- Common Body Fat Transfer Procedures
- Other Fat Grafting Procedures
- The Consultation for Fat Grafting
- FAQs about Body Fat Transfer
What is Body Fat Transfer?
Fat transfer, AKA fat grafting or fat injections, is a cosmetic surgical procedure that involves taking excess fat from one part of the body and transferring it to a more desirable area. Fat is often harvested from “problem areas” of the body where there is unwanted bulk, such as the thighs, stomach, or upper back in women. The harvested fat is then injected into areas like the breasts, buttocks, tops of the hands, and creases or hollows in the face.
*All patients are unique and individual results may vary.
Why Patients Choose Body Fat Grafting
Men or women may consider a fat grafting procedure in Miami Beach if they wish to improve their body contour or achieve a fuller, curvier appearance, such as with a Brazilian butt lift (BBL). BBL using fat grafting is one of the procedures Dr. Salloum performs most commonly in Miami Beach.
Other patients wish to rejuvenate age-related hollows in their faces or hands and may turn to fat transfer as a more permanent and natural alternative to dermal fillers such as Juvéderm. Fat injection is also frequently used in breast reconstruction or to provide additional contouring and to hide the edges of a breast implant.
It’s important to also consider that fat transfer does have some limitations. Dr. Salloum will let you know what is possible with fat transfer for your unique body and goals. When using fat transfer for breast augmentation or BBL, multiple sessions may be required.
The Fat Transfer Process
The procedure involves removing fat from one part of your body using liposuction techniques, purifying it, and then injecting it back into your body at the sites where additional volume is needed. This process may need to be repeated multiple times for the best results, but many patients need only one surgery.
First, the surgeon injects an anesthetic into the preselected donor site. He then makes a small incision in a discreet area and inserts a cannula (hollow tube) to carefully suction out the fat cells.
Once the donor fat has been extracted, Dr. Salloum will purify and clean it using a centrifuge or filtration process. He then transfers it to syringes, which will be used to inject the fat cells into the recipient area.
The area where the fat graft will be placed is then prepped. Dr. Salloum will carefully insert the needle filled with fat into the skin tissue and repeat the process until the ideal result is achieved.
The surgeon may massage the area to improve the body contour and will cover the grafted area with a dressing. He may slightly overfill the treatment areas to account for some expected fat resorption.
Dr. Salloum and his team of skilled medical professionals at the Miami Center for Plastic Surgery take pride in helping patients achieve beautiful results while making sure they are comfortable throughout the entire process.
What to Expect on the Day of Your Surgery
Fat grafting with Dr. Salloum is performed as an outpatient procedure at the Miami Center for Plastic Surgery in Miami Beach, FL. On the day of your surgery, it is important to get a ride to and from the surgical facility with a friend or family member. Medication will be taken as instructed and anesthesia will be administered. The type of anesthesia to be used will be discussed during the consultation.
During surgery, your vital signs will be closely monitored for your safety. Dr. Salloum will follow the surgical plan as discussed prior to surgery. He may decide to combine certain techniques or change the technique during surgery to achieve the best result.
Following surgery, a compression garment will be placed over the donor site and a drain may be placed. Soreness is normal, but medication will be administered to keep pain to a minimum. After observation, patients are able to go home to recover.
Good Candidates for Fat Transfer
Fat grafting is a good option for patients who are looking to rejuvenate and fill in areas of the body where more volume is desired. Ideal candidates for fat transfer in Miami Beach are patients looking to add natural volume in areas like buttocks or breasts, and who have sufficient fat deposits in another area.
A good candidate for fat grafting will be a healthy non-smoker with a good skin tone and realistic expectations. Patients who smoke will need to quit well before surgery and for several months after the procedure to allow for proper healing and recovery.
Investment in Yourself: The Cost Aspect
Making a decision to undergo any surgical procedure is both an emotional and financial commitment. The truth is that you can’t find an exact price on the internet. The price of Body Fat Transfer varies based on the amounts of fat you intend to transfer, the complexity of the procedure, and the specific areas targeted for fat removal. Financial options and payment plans are available to assist in making this investment in your youthful appearance.
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- Audrey C.
Risks Involved in Body Fat Transfer
While Body Fat Transfer at the Miami Center for Plastic Surgery offers a natural and minimally invasive path to aesthetic body shaping, as with any surgical procedure, there are risks. Patients may experience adverse effects such as infection, fat tissue necrosis, or irregularities in body contour. During your initial consultation, these risks will be discussed in detail so you can make an informed decision.
Body Fat Grafting Aftercare and Recovery
Following fat transfer surgery, patients will receive detailed aftercare instructions. These instructions should be followed closely and will include information about how to care for surgical drains if applicable and when you can go back to work and return to normal activities. Most patients are able to return to work after one to two weeks, but this varies from patient to patient.
Swelling and bruising are normal during the first week after surgery. At week two, bruising should subside greatly, but the areas near the surgical sites will still be swollen. Dr. Salloum will go over which symptoms are normal and which are signs of complications. If complications should occur, patients should contact our office immediately.
Side Effects of Body Fat Transfer
Body fat transfer is less invasive than other forms of aesthetic body shaping, yet it’s not entirely without side effects. The most common side effects are bruising and swelling at both the donor and recipient sites. You may also experience some intense discomfort or numbness, which generally dissipates as you progress through the recovery period. After fat removal, it’s crucial to give your body ample time to heal before resuming daily activities.
Common Body Fat Transfer Procedures
Breast procedures
Women seeking breast augmentation with fat injections may want to consider fat grafting as a standalone procedure or combined with implants for added volume. Patients who want a moderate increase in their breast size and have good skin tone may be good candidates for fat transfer augmentation.
Fat grafting is a great option for women who want to fill in irregularities or wish to achieve a smoother breast shape after getting augmentation with implants. Plastic surgeons sometimes use fat grafting following mastectomy as part of breast reconstruction. Sometimes, several treatments are required for sufficient volume.
Brazilian butt lift
Dr. Salloum frequently uses fat transfer to perform one of Miami Beach’s most popular procedures, a brazilian butt lift, or BBL. After liposuction and fat grafting, Dr. Salloum’s patients are able to achieve a full and naturally curvaceous bottom without the use of an implant.
Other Fat Grafting Procedures
Hand treatments
Another common application is hand rejuvenation. Plastic surgeons use harvested, unwanted fat to plump the skin on the hands and conceal the blood vessels and bones that often show through as people age.
Laugh lines, under-eye area, lips, and cheeks
Facial fat grafting is a popular procedure that Dr. Salloum performs. With age, people tend to experience loss of volume in their cheeks and lips, and hollows often form under the eyes. Nasolabial lines, deep static wrinkles, and areas of facial volume loss can all be treated with this type of surgery. Your plastic surgeon may also be able to improve acne scars and other skin indentations.
The Consultation for Fat Grafting
It’s important to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Salloum in Miami Beach in order to determine your candidacy for the grafting treatment. During this meeting, you’ll be encouraged to discuss your goals and motivations for surgery. You will also have the valuable opportunity to ask Dr. Salloum any questions you may have. Be prepared to share your medical history, including any current medications or recent surgeries.
Dr. Salloum will assess your skin, evaluate any risk factors, and consider your goals for surgery. Once he understands exactly what you want to achieve and has a clear idea of what is possible, he will suggest a treatment plan. This may include any alternative or supplemental procedures. The doctor will explain the likely outcomes, as well as the risks involved. He will go over your options for anesthesia—either general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation—and create a treatment plan, determining the donor sites and recipient sites well in advance of the surgery.
FAQs about Body Fat Transfer
Your plastic surgeon will provide detailed preoperative instructions which will outline what you need to do (and what you should stop doing) prior to surgery.
For example, you must stop taking certain medications like aspirin and NSAIDs before surgery since these meds can increase bleeding. Stop smoking well in advance of the surgery if you’re a smoker, and avoid alcohol consumption.
Stay hydrated and follow all post- and pre-operative care instructions in order to ensure fast healing and minimize any scarring. Prior to surgery, you’ll want to plan for someone to take you to and from your appointment. They should stay with you for at least the first night and longer if possible.
It’s important to note that you won’t find a precise cost online. The price for a body fat transfer fluctuates depending on the volume of fat you wish to relocate, the intricacy of the procedure, and the specific areas where fat removal is planned.
It is rare for patients to experience complications when the grafting procedure is performed by a reputable, board-certified plastic surgeon. During your consultation, Dr. Salloum will assess any risk factors and go over potential complications with you.
It’s important to follow the surgeon’s pre- and post-operative care instructions to minimize any risks. Possible complications include hematoma, infection, scarring, poor reaction to anesthesia, and less than satisfactory results.
Choosing the right surgeon is crucial to ensuring the most natural-looking results and for keeping risks to a minimum. Make sure that the doctor you choose is a board-certified plastic surgeon with plenty of experience in performing fat grafting.
Do your research. Take a look at each potential surgeon’s background, licensing, and board certifications. Then, check online reviews. Looking at photos of their work can give you a good idea of whether or not a surgeon will be able to achieve your desired results.
If you live near Miami Beach, FL, Miami Center For Plastic Surgery offers fat grafting among its services, and is conveniently located at 4308 Alton Road #720 Miami Beach, FL 33140.
Dr. Gabriel Salloum, M.D., F.A.C.S., is a double-board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in reconstructive plastic surgery, as well as body and facial restructuring. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Salloum in Miami Beach, call the Miami Center for Plastic Surgery at 305-405-6910.
