Fat Grafting

How is it done?
Fat Transfer involves giving local anaesthesia to both the donor site (area from which fat is taken) and the recipient site (area to be treated). A blunt needle (cannula) attached to a syringe is inserted onto the donor site in a location which has a thick layer of fat such as the lower stomach, thigh or buttocks. Fat cells are drawn into the syringe and then purified. These fat cells are living cells. They are then carefully re-injected into the receiving area to build up a 3 D arrangement of fat cells. The process is repeated till the defect has been corrected. Since some amount of fat is always resorbed a repeat session or two may be needed to achieve stable correction.

Why do some doctors say fat does not stay?
This often heard statement is born out of ignorance or out of seeing results of bad technique. Fat must be harvested, handled and transplanted very gently and using precise technique and precautions. It must be grafted as micro grafts or droplets such that each droplet is surrounded by living vascular tissue to nourish the fat. Done properly, fat stays well and lasts long.

What’s New: Fat with PRP?
PRP is Platelet Rich Plasma. This is an extract of blood that can be prepared from the patient’s own blood. This is rich in platelets which in turn contain growth factors. We mix PRP with fat grafts to enhance their survival and to encourage greater rejuvenations. PRP can also be injected without the fat and has also been used to heal difficult wounds.

Breast Enlargement by Fat grafting: This is a new concept in Breast enlargement and shaping. Fat grafts are taken from any fat-rich areas and are transplanted to breast by injection. There are no cuts except tiny punctures for the cannulae. Fat cells are grafted to two areas: under the skin of the breast region and behind the true gland of the breast (same area where breasts implant is placed).
Fat can also be placed inside or deep to the chest muscle. In this way one does not enter the breast gland itself. Women choosing this method of breast enlargement must remember that the gain in size can only be modest and not as dramatic as in breast implant. More enhancements can be produced in a second session 6 months later.

Special concerns: Physicians have been somewhat hesitant to use fat grafts to augment the breasts. There was doubt whether it will work and also concerns if it will interfere with future mammographic evaluations for breast cancer. However, there is no concern that fat grafts will induce cancer. Now there is increasing consensus that it works and that it is safe. By taking a mammogram before the procedure and a year later, any calcification produced by fat grafting will become obvious and thus confusion can be avoided.
Fat grafting of breast is available with Dr. Mohan. The method is used only if patients fulfil certain criteria.

Buttock Augmentation by fat graft: Rounded and firm buttocks are a sign of feminine beauty in most cultures. A full butt is once again becoming popular and is recognized as desirable. The buttock – waist ratio of 1.5 to 1.6 also fulfils the golden proportion of beauty (Leonardo da Vinci). Some may have an ample bottom, but it may not be shapely enough. By using a combination of liposulpturing and fat grafting, the curves in this area can be improved vastly.
For women with deficiency in this area and ample fat elsewhere, fat grafting is an ideal method and is preferred over silicone implants. While both methods are available in my department, I prefer fat grafting wherever possible.
Fat is usually harvested from hips, mid and lower back and abdomen. These areas are also benefited by the reduction – this is a free bonus. The area around the buttock is sclupted well to give a more dramatic result. Normally, 300-800 ml of fat can be grafted to each butt cheek in one session, some women need two sessions.