Facial Fat Injection

What is fat injection?

Fat injection (autologous fat grafting) is a procedure in which fat harvested from specific areas of the body via liposuction is processed and injected into areas of the body experiencing volume loss.

From which areas is fat most commonly harvested, and where is it injected?

Fat can be harvested from almost any desired area of the body. In clinical practice, it is most commonly taken from the abdominal region. Harvested under local or general anesthesia, the fat is prepared for injection according to the characteristics of the recipient site. It is then injected into the target area using very fine cannulas. The harvested fat is most frequently injected into the cheeks, forehead, jawline, under-eye hollows, eyelids, breasts, buttocks, and the backs of the hands.

Is local anesthesia or general anesthesia required for fat injection?

The target area and the volume of fat to be injected are the determining factors. Particularly for the face and the backs of the hands, high-volume injections are not required. Procedures involving small amounts of fat can be performed under local anesthesia. On the other hand, fat injections performed for buttock or breast contouring require higher volumes. For both the fat harvesting and fat transfer processes to be more comfortable and safe in such cases, I prefer performing them under general anesthesia.

How long do the effects of transferred fat last, and does the injected fat dissolve?

The techniques used for harvesting, processing, and injecting the fat are all factors that influence fat cell survival. A portion of the fat injected into the body will dissolve and be absorbed by your body during the post-procedural period. The remaining portion will continue to live permanently as part of your tissue. In other words, neither 100% survival nor complete resorption of the fat is the norm. Furthermore, the fat cells that become an integrated part of the body can gain or lose volume depending on the individual's weight fluctuations.