How much fat will survive after fat transfer?

Fat transfer Charlotte

For those who are looking to enhance the size or shape of a certain part of the body, there are a few options. In some cases (such as the face), dermal fillers might be useful. However, these can only be used to add a limited amount of volume, so while they can be used for certain parts of the face, they aren’t useful for larger areas like the breasts. In addition, fillers are not permanent, so the treatment will need to be repeated periodically in order to maintain the results.

Silicone implants are another option. They’re available for many different areas, from the breasts to the buttocks to the cheeks. However, even though silicone has been shown to be safe, some people prefer to avoid it, and would like a more natural option.

Fat transfer offers a method of augmentation that uses only the patient’s own tissue. It can be used in a variety of different areas, making it a versatile choice. Although this can be a good option for some people, there are still tradeoffs involved with this choice. The amount of fat tissue that survives the transfer process will have a significant effect on the results of the procedure.

What happens to transferred fat tissue?

In order to complete a fat transfer procedure, fat tissue must first be harvested from a different part of the body (known as the “donor site”) using liposuction. Once the fat tissue has been removed from the donor site, then it’s carefully processed. Excess oil, blood, and other fluids are removed, so that only fat cells remain. These cells are then carefully injected into the recipient site. 

As with many other types of grafting procedures, the transferred fat cells are removed from their blood supply in order to be moved. The cells will need to establish a new blood supply in order to survive. This begins to happen within a few days of the transfer, and the growth of blood vessels into the transferred tissue continues for several weeks or even months afterward. 

Cells that are able to establish a blood supply will receive the nutrients and oxygen that they need, allowing them to survive for the long term in the new location. For cells that don’t manage to establish their blood supply in time, they’ll gradually die off, and the body will naturally reabsorb them. 

Of course, only those cells that are able to survive in their new location will provide the desired long-term augmentation. This is why the survival rate of the transferred fat is crucial to determining your results.

Survival rates of transferred fat vary widely

Knowing that the survival of the transferred fat tissue is so important in determining the final results, the next logical question is, “How much fat tissue survives the transfer process?” Quite a bit of research has looked into this question, but it’s honestly a little difficult to answer precisely. Some studies have shown that 80 to 90% of transferred fat survives, while other studies have shown that it’s more like 25 to 50%.

Most experts believe that these differences at least partially reflect differences in surgical technique. The process of transfer can be traumatic for fat cells. If the tissue is not handled gently, then many of the cells will be damaged during the transfer process, and these cells are likely to be lost later. Treating the tissue as gently as possible after it’s removed from the body, and placing it carefully in its new location using a relatively large cannula (to minimize damage to the cells as they pass through), helps to increase the survival of the cells.

In addition, transferring a large volume of fat all together in one area will likely result in more loss of tissue. New blood vessels grow into the transferred fat tissue from the outside in. If there’s too large an area of transferred fat, then the blood vessels may not be able to grow into the center of this area in time, and the cells there will die. Transferring the fat tissue in small amounts throughout the area helps to ensure that the cells have a chance to get the blood supply that they need.

Can you help your transferred fat cells survive?

There are individual differences in how much fat will survive in a person’s body. Some people’s cells will simply be better able to tolerate the transfer process and establish a new blood supply than others. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to predict ahead of time exactly how much of your transferred fat tissue will survive. This creates some degree of uncertainty as to the results that you’ll end up with. Those who want to be more certain about their final results may want to choose silicone implants instead, because these are very predictable.

However, you do have some control over your healing process. Your choices during this period will have a significant effect on the survival of your transferred fat tissue. It’s important to avoid putting pressure on the area for a while after the procedure, to avoid damaging the transferred fat tissue. You’ll want to avoid strenuous exercise during the early period as well, although light to moderate exercise stimulates blood flow throughout the body and can be beneficial. In addition, it’s important to ensure that you’re eating a healthy diet, including enough calories as well as healthy fats (like avocados, fish, olive oil, and nuts). This helps to support your transferred fat cells with the nutrition that they need.

You’ll receive detailed instructions after you have your procedure. Those who are very careful to follow their postsurgical instructions are likely to experience better survival of their transferred fat cells, while those who aren’t as careful may lose more.

Fat transfer Charlotte

Fat transfer can potentially be a good alternative to other methods of adding volume to various parts of the body, such as dermal fillers or silicone implants. It uses only the patient’s own tissue, making it a very natural augmentation option. However, because the rate of survival of the transferred tissue is not entirely predictable, there’s a bit of uncertainty about the results. Each person will have to decide for themselves whether the tradeoffs are worth it.

If you’re considering your options for augmentation, your next step is a consultation with a qualified professional in the field of cosmetic medicine and surgery. As a double board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Miles is extremely well-qualified to advise you on all of your options. During a consultation, he’ll offer you his honest opinion about each of your options, as well as what results you could likely expect from each. Patient satisfaction is very important to him, so he’s committed to transparency, and will always tell you the truth rather than trying to talk you into any procedure. To schedule your appointment, please contact our front desk.