14
Aug
2014
14
Aug
2014
Fat transfer is growing in popularity and is fast on its way to becoming a leading UK treatment. Last year saw a 14.5% rise in the number of fat transfers taking place, making it the 8th most commonly performed procedure in the UK, but how exactly does it work?
Unlike traditional volume-enhancing techniques, fat transfer increases fullness in the chosen area through the patient’s own fat which has been harvested from elsewhere on the body through liposuction.
Having worked with the vast majority of major liposuction forms for fat transfer, I believe the safest, most effective and least invasive to be Microcannula liposuction (otherwise known as MicroLipo).
The procedure is not readily available at every clinic as there are currently very few European doctors trained in it, but it is growing in popularity as more people hear about the results it can bring.
How does fat transfer through MicroLipo work?
The key to Micro Lipo is in its name; it uses very small tubes for the fat removal, with sizes ranging from just 0.9mm to 3mm.
To begin the procedure, local anaesthesia is injected into the area of fat the patient wishes to get rid of, causing it to become firm and swell. This enables us to separate the fat cells from surrounding tissues before the extraction, meaning minimal damage to other tissues and less risk of bruising.
The fat is then removed through the tiny cannulas before filtration technology is used to refine it and make it suitable for its purpose. After this, we simply insert the filtered fat into the chosen area using specialist techniques, before applying small waterproof dressings over the incisions once completed.
A typical procedure will take around three hours and the vast majority of patients return home afterwards, without the need for a hospital stay.
What results can I expect?
For me, the success of a treatment is when nobody can tell you’ve had work done. Stubborn areas of fat are shifted from areas of your choice, and volume is added where you want it. When done properly, however, it should not be obvious that you’ve achieved this look through a procedure, and that is the beauty of a fat transfer.
The incisions we make during MicroLipo are so small that there is no need for stitches and minimum risk of scarring or infection. Most patients can return to work within a couple of days with colleagues none the wiser. Results are visible straight after the procedure, but they show themselves best after a few months when the fat has had time to become part of your body.
It’s important to remember, however, that fat transfer isn’t going to produce as drastic results as breast implants. If you’re a thin person with little body fat looking to increase your bust by several sizes, I’d advise that the procedure isn’t suitable for you, and any good practitioner should give you realistic expectations about what is achievable.
Research your surgeon fully; if it’s not suitable for you and you go ahead, you’ll just be disappointed with your results and will have lost a lot of money doing so.
Micro Lipo is, in my opinion, one of the best methods for fat transfer; it is safe, and effective, and there is significantly less risk of scarring or infection than other procedures.
The treatment is a lot more than a surgical procedure; it is an art.
Regardless of what method you use, make sure your surgeon views it as that as, ultimately, the results you see will be entirely dependent on their skills.
If you want to read more, the experts at Consulting Room really know what they're talking about and have put together some Fat transfer, liposuction, fat and scarring FAQs just for you.
If you have more questions, you can use the Fat transfer, liposuction, fat and scarring questions feature to talk to our panel of trained medical experts.
If you're keen to get started with any of these treatments right away then you're in luck - those clever folks also have a list of trusted, accredited Fat transfer, liposuction, fat and scarring clinics in your area.
Many thanks to the author of this blog Dr Puneet Gupta who is a qualified GP with special interest in Aesthetic and Cosmetic Medicine, with expertise in non-invasive cosmetic treatments. Dr Gupta is a Microcannula (MicroLipo) and VASER Lipo Body Contouring specialist and is currently one of the very few physicians in the UK and Europe practising Microcannula Tumescent Liposuction.
Dr Gupta has performed over 3000 MicroLipo procedures to date, using his specialist skills and methodology for Breast Fat Transfer procedures and to treat patients suffering from
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