Autologous Fat Graph
This procedure will remove a patient’s own fat to re-implant it where needed. It is typically extracted from body parts like the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks, and injected into another area that requires plumping, such as a patient’s facial features. Fat transfer, also known as fat grafting or autologous fat transfer, is the process of using the patient’s own fat to increase the volume of fat in another area of their body.
The fat is harvested or extracted with a liposuction cannula. They are prepared for reintroduction into the body and injected into the new part of the body where the additional bulk is used for medical or cosmetic purposes. The most common donor areas, where fat is taken from, are the stomach, thighs, and waist. When used as a facial filler, fat grafting can improve the creased and sunken areas of the face, and add fullness to the lips and cheeks.
The procedure is minimally invasive making it very appealing. Another advantage of fat transfer is that the body does not reject it because it is the patient’s own fat. However, there is a rate of absorption, a percentage of the transferred fat, that does not survive. Therefore, it is extremely important to select a surgeon that uses a proven technique with the highest fat survival rate.
Sources: http://www.plasticsurgery.com/fat-grafting/info.aspx; http://www.miamibreastcenter.com/stem-cells-fat-transfer