Fat injection or using fat as filling is widely used in cosmetic surgery. Aforementioned operation is increasing its popularity day by day.
In this method which is called fat injection or “micro lipoinjection”, fad is derived from tummy, thighs, buttock and other fatty tissues of patients using a syringe. This fat is injected under the face skin after it undergoes a special treatment. This method is generally used to fill flat cheeks and smile lines around mouth and nose, to repair depressions and unevenness of skin, to remove forehead lines, to plump lips and to reshape contour disturbances of body.
After both donor and acceptor regions are prepared, under local or general anesthesia depending on operation size, fat is withdrawn from donor tissue with an injector. Then fat is let for self-settlement. By this way adipose cells are separated from serum. Later on fat in settlement injector is transferred to application injector than injected to acceptor region. For injection ease and to prevent adipose cell damage, attention should be paid to needle sizes. There is no need for incisions or sutures.
By taking the fact that half of the injected fat will diminished in 6 months into account more fat than required is injected. Another important issue during fat transfer is, in order to facilitate adaptation of fat to acceptor site; it should be injected into different layers like endodermis, fat tissue and muscle tissue. Besides facial wrinkles, if this method is used for other purposes like filling flat cheeks, repairing depressed forehead or filling chin tip, it is normal to have transient swallowing and local puffiness on face after fat injection. Patients who had fat injection on large regions are advised to rest for a while. However, most of the patients continue their daily life just after operation. It is an expected to have certain amount of swallowing and bruising both donor and acceptor regions, also. Degree of these complaints depends on the region and size of treatment. It is required to avoid direct sun light until rashes and bruises disappear.
Results
Duration of results after fat injection differs person to person. For some patients this period may be one year or longer. However, in majority of patients, half of the augmentation observed in first week disappears in first 6 months. Because, this augmentation is due to swallowing. Generally after 3 months it will be evident how much tissue remains and engrafted in target region. Injections can be repeated in 3,6 and 12 months periods to improve effect. Operation needs to be repeated 2-3 times in firs year, but for later years once a year will be sufficient. Supporting wrinkles in small cures before they get deeper is the best approach.
The advantage of this method is it is applied just by needle. If fat tissue is applied properly, at least half of it will be engrafted in target region.
What to expect after fat injection?
- Small amount of edema is observed after operation. Especially lips appear bigger than normal. There should not be any panic in such case. In a few days after operation, edema will disappear and lips will get their original appearance.
- Patients are discharged same day. If swallowing is not disturbing you can go to work next day. You should start exercise only after one week.
- Fat loss becomes evident generally in first month. Under such situation, operation can be repeated in second month.
- If excess fat is injected on target, regular massage on this region will reduce fat amount.
Features
- Local anesthesia and sedation is applied.
- Preferably conducted in a surgery room of a hospital.
- Lasts 1 hour in average.
- Patients are discharged in a few hours after operation.
- There may be mild pain after pain, which are relieved non-complex oral pain killers.
- Mediate swallowing or bruising occurs for 3-6 days.
- There is no need for dressing or suture.
- Generally injected fat gets in shape in two weeks.