Lipofilling
Lipofilling, or fat transfer, is a plastic surgery procedure in which the patient’s own fat is removed from one area of the body, specially processed and injected into another area where volume needs to be restored, contours improved, wrinkles filled or depressed scars corrected.
Lipofilling — fat transfer for facial and body correction
“Dermatoloģijas klīnika” is expanding its range of plastic surgery procedures with lipofilling — the use of the patient’s own fat to restore volume and improve contours.
This method is suitable for areas with insufficient fatty tissue, for example to correct the facial oval in cases of subcutaneous fat atrophy or when facial fullness has been lost.
Lipofilling can be used to fill wrinkles, improve the facial oval, correct depressed scars and restore volume in selected areas of the body. It may be an alternative to dermal fillers because the procedure uses the patient’s own fatty tissue.
What is lipofilling?
Lipofilling is a fat-transfer procedure in which fat is taken from an area where there is a sufficient amount, such as the abdomen, hips or thighs, and after processing is injected into an area where additional volume or contour correction is required.
The procedure can be used on both the face and the body.
In the facial area, lipofilling may help improve the facial oval, fill wrinkles and correct depressed scars.
For the body, lipofilling may be used to correct the buttocks, breasts or scars.
Microfat grafting and macrofat grafting
The filling of small areas is known as microfat grafting. It is used in the facial area to correct wrinkles, scars or the facial oval when precise and subtle volume restoration is required.
Macrofat grafting is used to fill larger areas. It may be used, for example, to enlarge or reshape the buttocks, increase breast volume or improve breast shape.
The possibilities of macrofat grafting depend on whether the patient has a sufficient amount of fatty tissue in the donor areas.
How is lipofilling performed?
The lipofilling procedure begins with fat removal, or liposuction, from areas where there is a sufficient amount of fatty tissue.
The fat is removed gently to preserve the quality of the fat cells as much as possible.
The harvested fat is then specially processed. It is purified several times to separate it from excess cells and fluid.
The prepared fat is then placed into small syringes and injected into the selected area.
Processing the fat before injection
Post-processing of the fat takes approximately 30 minutes.
During this stage, the fatty tissue is prepared for injection so that the procedure can be performed precisely and the fat cells have a better chance of surviving in the new area.
Fat intended for transfer is removed manually. Automatic devices are not used to avoid unnecessary trauma or damage to the fat cells.
Facial applications of lipofilling
Facial lipofilling is suitable when facial fullness has been lost, subcutaneous facial fat has decreased or correction of the facial oval is required.
Lipofilling may be used to fill wrinkles, improve facial contours and correct depressed scars.
As a general guide, facial contour correction may require approximately 100 ml of fat on each side of the face. However, the exact volume required is determined individually during the consultation.
Lipofilling as an alternative to fillers
Lipofilling may be an alternative to dermal fillers because it uses the patient’s own fatty tissue.
It may be suitable for patients who want a natural method of restoring volume and a longer-term solution for improving facial contours.
It should be noted that some of the transferred fat cells may be reabsorbed by the body after the procedure, so the final result develops gradually.
Body applications of lipofilling
For the body, lipofilling may be used to reshape the buttocks, correct the breasts, fill scars and restore volume in selected areas.
Macrofat grafting procedures may require a larger amount of fat. As a general guide, approximately one litre of fat may be required for correction of the breasts or buttocks.
Lipofilling may also be combined with breast augmentation using implants.
In such cases, fat may be injected into the area between the implant and the skin to improve the visual result, particularly when implant contours are visible beneath thin skin.
Lipofilling for scar correction
Lipofilling may also be used to correct depressed scars.
Injecting fatty tissue may help fill the scarred area, restore tissue volume and create a more even skin surface.
The result of scar correction varies and depends on the type and depth of the scar, tissue quality and the number of procedures required.
Anaesthesia and observation after the procedure
Liposuction may be performed under local or intravenous anaesthesia, depending on the area being treated and the extent of the procedure.
After the fat has been processed, the need for anaesthesia in the area where the fat will be injected is assessed.
Macrofat grafting procedures are performed under general or spinal anaesthesia, depending on the area being corrected.
Patients generally do not need to remain in hospital overnight after the procedure.
They remain under medical observation for several hours and may return home after being examined by the doctor.
What should be expected in the liposuction areas?
Bruising, swelling and discomfort may occur in the areas where liposuction was performed.
Discomfort may be present during the first three to five days and generally decreases gradually.
The postoperative routine depends on the extent of the procedure, the donor area, the treated area and the body’s individual healing response.
Results and fat reabsorption
It is important to understand that a certain proportion of fat cells will be reabsorbed, or broken down, by the body after the procedure.
For this reason, the result visible two to three weeks after the operation should not yet be considered final.
A slightly larger amount of fat than is required for the final result is generally injected because some fat cells are absorbed over time.
Fat survival and reabsorption are also influenced by genetic factors, lifestyle, tissue quality and the body’s individual response.
When may lipofilling not be possible?
If a patient is very slim and does not have a sufficient amount of body fat, a macrofat grafting procedure may not be possible.
In such cases, the doctor assesses alternative methods or another correction plan during the consultation.
Suitability for lipofilling is always determined individually by a plastic surgeon after assessing both the donor areas and the area requiring correction.
Recommendations after the procedure
After a microfat grafting procedure, patients are advised to remain at home for approximately one week.
It is very important not to massage or touch the treated areas, as the transferred fat cells need time to establish themselves.
After lipofilling of the buttocks, the patient should avoid sitting for approximately two weeks.
The exact restrictions are determined by the doctor according to the extent of the procedure and the individual healing process.
What should be known about breast lipofilling?
After lipofilling of the breasts, calcifications or other post-procedural changes may develop and may be mistaken for lesions during diagnostic imaging.
For this reason, the doctor or radiologist should always be informed about any previous breast lipofilling before breast examinations.
This information helps ensure that examination results are interpreted correctly and reduces the risk of unnecessary concern or additional diagnostic procedures.
Common myths about lipofilling
Myth: The full result of lipofilling is visible immediately.
The initial volume may appear greater after the procedure because some of the transferred fat cells are reabsorbed over time. The final result develops gradually, so the appearance two to three weeks after the operation is not yet final.
Myth: Lipofilling can be performed on every patient.
Lipofilling requires a sufficient amount of fatty tissue in the donor areas. If the patient is very slim, macrofat grafting in particular may not be possible.
Myth: Lipofilling is the same as dermal fillers.
Lipofilling and dermal fillers are not the same procedure. Fillers are injectable products, whereas lipofilling uses the patient’s own fatty tissue, which is removed, processed and injected into the selected area.
