Fat injection or lipofilling is the process of injecting fat in order to provide fullness to any area. The forehead, cheeks, chin tip, lips, cheek-lip line, legs and hip areas are the places where this application is most commonly used.
It is applied to restore, enlarge, and rejuvenate the area or heal scars.
Where is Fat Taken From for Fat Injection?
Fat removal before the fat injection is taken from the body through the liposuction method. Liposuction is primarily performed on the abdomen, and fat is also removed from the thighs, hips, waist, arms, and legs to be used for fat injection.
Which Areas Is Fat Injection Applied To?
- It is generally preferred in the face area.
- It can also be done for increasing the volume of the lips.
- It can be applied to fill and eliminate deep wrinkles on the rim of the mouth.
- It is also applied for purposes such as enlarging the lower jaw, correcting the chin contour, and giving a fuller appearance to the cheekbones.
- Fat injection can be done to reduce the vaginal lips, plump the vulva area, make the external genital area look bright and full, and tighten the vagina.
- It is also a solution to problems such as crooked legs, sagging hips, and thick waistline.
- If the result is found to be satisfactory after fat injection, implant application can be applied for more permanent fullness. Since some of the fat melts over time, it cannot provide a 100% guaranteed solution with a single application.
- Fat injection can also be applied in order to shape the forehead and balance the chin-nose-forehead disproportions.
- Fat injection liposuction repair deformities, hand rejuvenation, eyebrow or eyelid lift, lip and breast augmentation, hip shape correction, etc. It is a technique used in transactions.
Fat Injection Advantages
- In this application, since the substance taken from the person’s body is used instead of synthetic filling materials, there is no possibility of an allergic reaction.
- It is possible to correct the area where the fat will be collected with the liposuction method in the same operation.
- CC limitation is applied in filling applications. But it is not needed in fat injection. Large amounts of fat can be injected.
- On the other hand, the permanence of fat injection is long-term. Fat injection rejuvenates the skin in the area where it is applied and gives shine. It reduces deformities. Heals scars.
How is Fat Injection Performed?
The operation is performed under general or local anesthesia. If the fat injection method is to be used to plump the cheeks during a facelift, it is applied under general anesthesia.
Obtained fats are subjected to special processes such as washing-centrifuge. It is transferred to a suitable injector and transferred to the place to be transferred. At this time, the incision is not opened, so there is no scar.
Is Fat Injection Permanent?
The more the transferred fat cells survive, the longer the effect of the fat injection persists. Some modern devices developed in recent years prevent the contact of fat with air and allow it to be transferred directly to the relevant area. This minimizes tissue loss and the permanence of the fats is longer.
The success of fat injection varies according to the procedures used, the method of transferring and transferring the fat, and the surgical materials used.
However, in some patients, it may be necessary to perform the fat injection again. Because some of the fats cannot maintain their vitality. The permanence rate in the area where the fat filler is injected is usually around 40%. It is recommended to repeat the process 3 times to reach 100%. It is possible to reduce or increase the number in line with the patient’s needs.
While young patients have long-term permanence with few sessions, it is necessary to increase the number of sessions in people with advanced loss of elasticity. Thus, a permanence of at least 5 years can be achieved. Session intervals are determined according to the needs of the person. While some patients need an application every 6 months, this period may take up to 2 years for others.
Fat injection surgery performed in immobile areas gives more successful results. The cheek area is an example of this. However, its success in active areas may be lower. Legs and similar areas are among them.
How Many Hours Does Fat Injection Take?
It takes an average of half an hour or 1 hour. Although it may seem like a simple method, it consists of many stages. It is very important that it is done in a sterile environment. While it is applied under local anesthesia, the comfort of the patient can be increased with the help of sedative drugs.
Considerations Before Fat Injection
It is necessary to stop aspirin or similar blood thinners 10 days before the operation. If the patient has significant ailments or if he/she is taking medication continuously, he/she should share these with his/her doctor.
What Should Be Considered After Fat Injection?
- Although this procedure is performed under general anesthesia, it does not require hospitalization. Therefore, the patient can return home a few hours after the operation.
- After the procedure is finished, a cold compress is applied to the application area. This is done with gels or bags with ice inside, it will reduce swelling. The bag or gel is circulated in that area for 15 minutes. This process is repeated every hour.
- It is possible to see a lot of swelling in the first 2 days after the procedure. This swelling will subside over time. The swelling that occurs after the fat injection in the lip area heals later.
- The day after the operation, you can wash the area and apply a moisturizing cream.
- After 4-5 days, you can help the swelling to disperse by gently massaging that part.
- You should avoid steam and extreme heat. These increase swelling.
- Complaints of bruising and edema are also expected side effects. However, it should not be forgotten that these are temporary, they should be rested abundantly.
- Pressure should not be applied to the area where the procedure is performed.
- Care should be taken to drink plenty of water.
- Tapes are placed at the entry points during the operation. These are removed after a few hours or the next day.
- Antibiotics can be used for 5 days against the risk of infection with the recommendation of the physician.
It is possible to store the excess fat in a suitable cooling environment by placing it in sterile tubes and to use it in the next fat injections of the patient. However, it is better to use fresh fat. Otherwise, the process may not be efficient enough or infection may develop.
Fat Injection Risks
As with every surgical intervention, fat injection has some side effects despite all precautions:
- Signs of infection such as intense pain, tenderness and redness in the procedure area, and increased body temperature may be observed. Antibiotics are used to treat any infection.
- Some of the fat will melt over time and inevitably loss of fullness will occur. In this case, the process is reapplied. Fats are distributed homogeneously throughout the body and melting takes place homogeneously in this direction. However, in rare cases, asymmetry may occur in some patients.
- Sometimes, tenderness and numbness may occur in the area where the application is made. This is also a rare occurrence. The massage method can be used for the rapid recovery of the sense.
- Color change may occur when fat injection is performed superficially. Unfortunately, this problem is difficult to fix. Avoid injecting too close to the surface.
- When excessive fat is given to a certain point, when the fat injection cannot be done correctly, the fat can turn into masses in the hands of the person. The risk of developing this condition is higher, especially in places where the skin is very thin (for example, on the eyelids). For treatment, drugs that are good for tissue edema are used and massage is applied.
