Fat Grafting | Dr. Rachel
Fat grafting is a surgical procedure that uses fat harvested from one area of the body to enhance the size and shape of another area of the body. This surgical body contouring procedure can be used to add a subtle amount of volume to the face or to add large amounts of volume to the buttocks to enhance the overall appearance of a person’s figure. At MetropolitanMD, we offer fat grafting in Chicago.
What Is Fat Grafting?
Fat grafting is a very popular, minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that harvests fat from one part of your body to be used as filler material in another part of the body. You can use your own fat to enhance and refine face and body contours and add fullness or curves.
For the face, fat works similarly to dermal fillers (such as Juvederm, Restylane, etc.) to plump lips and cheeks, smooth wrinkles, and fill hollows and folds. The results may be much longer lasting than some fillers. Fat grafting is an excellent way to decrease unwanted fat in one area of the body and enhance volume and shape in another during the same operation. The procedure is performed without major incisions and leaves minimal postoperative scars.
Other procedures that are commonly combined with Fat Grafting:
Fat Grafting compared with dermal fillers:
- Fat is a natural, living filler
- Fat grafting will not cause an allergic reaction
- Fat grafting is safe and cost-effective
- Fat can be more permanent than manufactured fillers
- Most patients have abundant stores of fat available
- Grafted fat can become permanent living tissue
Fat Grafting is an effective method for adding volume in these areas:
- Eyes: to correct hollows under the eye and fill the “tear trough”
- Face: Temple, cheek, forehead wrinkles, around the mouth, lips, laugh lines, jowls, jawline, and chin
- Scars: to fill depression from acne, trauma, or surgery
- Hands: to fill wrinkles and depression on the backs of hands due to aging
- Buttocks: to give a more pronounced, and rounded appearance
- Liposuction: to fill defects from overly aggressive liposuction procedures
How is a fat transfer procedure performed?
Fat is harvested from one part of your body, washed and purified, and then carefully reinjected with specially designed instruments into the areas that need augmentation. It may be necessary to repeat the fat grafting procedure several times to achieve the desired result. Fat grafting can be explained as a three-stage process: (1) harvesting (2) purification and transfer and (3) placement.
Harvesting: The area selected for fat removal will be injected with a local anesthetic. Dr. Rachel will then create a small incision in the area for fat removal and, using a sterile technique, insert a cannula connected to a syringe to carefully extract fat (liposuction).
Purification and transfer: Once enough fat is obtained from the donor area, the fat will be processed to prepare the fat cells for transfer to small syringes that will be used for fat injection.
Placement: The area designated to receive the graft will then be prepared. The fat is then transferred to the site with the use of specialized instruments to an appropriate degree of augmentation. This process is repeated until the desired correction has been achieved.
Your fat grafting in Chicago will be performed in Dr. John D. Rachel’s surgery center located on North Shore.
What is the Cost of Fat Grafting?
The cost of your fat grafting in Chicago can be discussed during your consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. John Rachel. The price of your fat grafting will be based on the amount of fat that needs to be harvested and the amount of work required to attain your desired results. Our team can also go over the financing options available to you.
I’ve been a patient of Dr. Rachel for ten years. I must say that Dr. Rachel has been the best in my experience. He takes his time during exams and provides a detailed explanation on his findings and recommendations concerning a cosmetic procedure. He is very thorough. Dr. Rachel is a very patient individual and he listens to my ideas and concerns. He is not like most doctors who tend to rush your visits. I also value Dr, Rachels opinion.. I would recommend Dr. Rachel to anyone seeking some sort of cosmetic procedure.
Fat Grafting FAQs
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Am I a good candidate for Fat Grafting Surgery?
Fat Grafting Surgery is an ideal procedure for those who want to improve facial aging and restore volume to the face or add volume to areas of the body. It is important that patients are in good general health, do not have circulation problems, and are realistic in their expectations.
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What type of anesthesia is used during Fat Grafting surgery?
Fat Grafting Surgery can be performed under local or IV anesthesia.
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How long does the fat last?
Some of the fat will be naturally absorbed by the body during the first 1-2 months after it is injected, but the fat that survives generally continues to exist just like other living tissue in the body. A small amount of fat may continue to resorb over the next six months, but this is not generally noticeable. Repeat injections with stored fat is commonly performed 2-3 times within the first year.
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How long will my Fat Grafting results last?
Although the natural aging process cannot be put on hold, Fat Grafting Surgery is known to provide patients with long-term results. Patients who practice a healthy diet and skin care regimen and refrain from habits such as smoking can benefit the most with a long-lasting outcome.
How Much Does Fat Grafting Cost?
The cost of Fat Grafting will depend on several factors. The price can be affected by body type, type of technique performed, surgical complications, and even allergies. Find out more by scheduling a consultation in Chicago.
Schedule a Consultation Today
If you are interested in fat grafting and would like to know if you are a good candidate for the procedure, constant MetropolitanMD today to schedule your cosmetic surgery consultation with Dr. John D. Rachel, a Quadruple Board-certified cosmetic surgeon. Dr. Rachel will go over the details of the procedure and answer any questions you may have about fat grafting in Chicago.
Your Fat Grafing | Dr. Rachel will be performed in Dr. John D. Rachel’s surgery center located in North Shore.
