Chemical Peels

Fat Transfer Surgery

Autologous Fat Grafting with Liposuction – Port Saint Lucie, FL

Dr. Vinyard can transfer fat from one part of your body to reshape it and move it into an area that needs volume like the face, breasts, and buttocks.

What is Fat Transfer Surgery?

Port Saint Lucie, FL board-certified cosmetic plastic surgeon Dr. William Vinyard can assist you in regaining lost volume in your face and body through an innovative cosmetic surgery called a fat transfer. When men or women have drastic weight fluctuations or as they increase in age, certain body parts or facial areas may lose that smooth, plump look where volume once occupied in their youth. A tremendous way to regain fullness in your features is through extracting fat from one place on the body and moving it into another. A fat transfer can be performed on large areas (that would benefit from the additional tissue) such as the breasts or buttocks to the delicate, smaller features such as the laugh lines, lips, cheeks, or under the eyelid. Fat transfers are often chosen when a patient hopes to have a natural enhancement rather than using a synthetic material such as a saline or silicone implant or a dermal filler. Dr. Vinyard is highly trained and skilled in implementing liposuction and fat grafting techniques for performing the fat harvest to the transfer. This cosmetic enhancement surgery at Vinyard Institute of Plastic Surgery (VIPS) creates natural-looking, appealing outcomes. If you would like to learn more about fat transfers, please call our friendly VIPS staff members to schedule your first appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is a candidate?

Candidates for fat transfer need to have a little extra fat on their body in order to safely have it transferred to the face, lips, hands, breasts, or buttocks. This procedure is ideal for patients who wish to have an additional smoothness and volume in specific places on the face or body that appear hollow, thin, or deflated. As fat transfers offer a more natural approach to augmenting an area of your body with your own fat, this specialized surgery is even more advantageous to patients allergic to fillers. Autologous fat grafting provides little worry about your body rejecting it. Both women and men at VIPS considering this treatment need to be at a healthy weight and have enough adipose tissue to remove for the transfer.

What's the technique?

When undergoing a fat transfer, you will be placed under a local or general anesthesia. The exact type of anesthesia or numbing method will be based on how much fat is being taken out, including the location where it will be reinstated. Liposuction is completed via a special cannula to precisely remove the fat, where it will then be harvested and separated through a centrifuge (which prepares the highest quality fat for transplantation). After preparing the injection site, the extracted fat will be added to the area chosen for the transfer. The process of injecting the purified fat is performed in layers until even smoothness has been attained. For some areas, multiple injections will be necessary. Your incisions will be closed and you will be taken to our recovery room to recuperate.

What can I expect?

After the transfer process has been completed, you will begin a healing period. Keep in mind there are at least two sites on the body that need to be carefully treated: the area involving the liposuction and the injection sites. The overall recovery may be longer if a larger place on the body was addressed. For example, a fat transfer for lip enlargement will generally only warrant a 1 – 2-day recovery whereas a transfer to a more vast body part, such as the breast or buttocks, can take many more days. The sites will appear swollen with some possible bruising, but the results can be seen pretty quickly. Another perk is the area where liposuction was used will appear slimmer. Fat grafting yields beautiful and lasting results, but there will be some resorption back to the body. For some, another transfer may be needed down the road. There is minimal scarring associated with this procedure.

How much does this cost?

The cost for a fat transfer will vary greatly depending on a number of determinants. For transfers to the breast or buttock, a higher volume of fat is needed, thus liposuction is used and a longer process is incorporated to purify the fat and inject it accordingly. Smaller treatments, such as adding facial volume, not only take less fat but there is also less risk and time involved. The volume amount needed to reach your goals will be discussed during the consultation, along with pricing and cost factors for you to consider.

We do not directly finance any procedure. You may also want to research options through your bank of choice. We also accept all major credit cards including VISA, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.

Does it look natural?

Yes, a fat transfer looks natural if performed by a skilled, experienced cosmetic plastic surgeon. Fat grafting techniques have advanced greatly in the last decade, allowing for an easier process, faster recovery, and beautiful aesthetic outcome. Whether you are desiring to enhance your breasts, buttock, the top side of your hands, or an area on your face, a fat transfer is an autologous approach that many patients prefer over synthetics.

How long will the results last?

While a fat transfer is a procedure that may not endure as long as implants, it can offer beautiful, effective results that can last for years. There is ongoing research on how to decrease fat reabsorption, which is often a concern of our patients and something we will discuss during the consultation. The use of platelet-rich plasma

Alternative treatments or considerations?

Just like with any cosmetic treatment, there are a number of options for patients who simply desire to increase volume on the body where an area looks deflated or hollow. For example, while a fat transfer offers natural, subtle volume increases for the breasts, implants are a popular alternative. In addition, for loss of facial volume, there are nonsurgical skin rejuvenation treatments that create excellent outcomes such as dermal fillers. We will discuss all of the various options for injectables during your consultation so that you can get the result that will match both your goals.

What if I don't have enough fat?

This is, unfortunately, the case with some patients. Men and women alike who are relatively too thin to extract fat may not be candidates for fat transfers. We will discuss the best areas to extract the fat and analyze if there is enough cells to take to achieve the results you are trying to attain. For patients who simply do not have the body fat needed to complete this procedure, fillers, implants, or donor fat can be considered

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Meet Dr Vinyard

I realized that there was multiple ways to become a plastic surgeon. I purposely chose the longest and hardest route.

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291 NW Peacock Blvd Ste 104 Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

772-212-8472

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