Depleted volume in the face, breasts, or buttocks is an aesthetic concern shared by countless patients at our Philadelphia-area practice. Unfortunately, age-related volume loss can lead to flatter contours in the face and/or body, which dermal fillers may only help improve on a temporary basis. However, unlike cosmetic injectables, fat transfer procedures can offer a highly effective and long-lasting way to restore fullness in areas that are lacking volume.
Fat transfer is an augmentation technique designed to enhance volume by repurposing excess fat cells from elsewhere on the body. Dr. David Bottger, our board-certified plastic surgeon, can perform fat transfer to better achieve your aesthetic goals in the face, breasts, and/or buttocks. Since this technique uses a patient’s own tissue to volumize the selected regions, the resulting enhancement can often last years.
What are the Benefits of Fat Transfer?
Alternatively referred to as “fat grafting” or “fat injections,” fat transfer is considered a safe and relatively simple procedure to rejuvenate facial features and/or body contours. In addition to providing an outcome that can look remarkably natural, fat transfer can:
- Be long-lasting and potentially permanent
- Restore volume using a patient’s own tissue
- Smooth contour irregularities
Since fat transfer uses a patient’s own fat cells, which are collected from another area of the body (usually the hips, abdomen, or thighs) via liposuction, the procedure also offers the added benefit of contouring the region where the fat was extracted. Dr. Bottger offers many different options for fat transfer, and the procedures listed below can help you gain insight into the best technique for your desired look.
Fat Transfer to the Face
Facial fat transfer can help correct visible signs of aging like wrinkles and creases, as well as add youthful volume to flat or sunken features. Patients who experience volume deficits in the face commonly use fat transfer to augment the cheeks, lips, under-eye hollows, marionette lines, or nasolabial folds. The results typically last longer than dermal fillers, and fat grafting to the face can also be performed in combination with a facelift if desired.
Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation
Fat transfer to the breasts can be performed in conjunction with breast augmentation to smooth the edges of an implant or to resolve asymmetries between the breasts. Fat transfer may also be used as an alternative to primary breast augmentation with saline or silicone gel implants for a select group of patients. Unlike implants, which produce a very predictable augmentation of the size desired, fat transfer procedures typically lead to more modest degrees of size increase and—for that reason—are not appropriate for every patient.
Fat Transfer to the Buttocks
When injected to improve the buttock contours, the fat transfer technique is usually referred to as a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL). This procedure is designed to enhance the volume, shape, and size of the buttocks using a patient’s natural fatty tissue rather than implants, avoiding the potential complications associated with buttock implants. If you’re seeking buttock augmentation, a Brazilian Butt Lift can be a permanent technique to firm and plump the buttocks while attaining a more sensual silhouette.
A personal consultation is the best way to obtain the most ideal fat transfer treatment plan for your unique needs. Please don’t hesitate to contact our office online or by calling (610) 227-6122 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bottger.