Fat Augmentation

Overview

Increasingly, fat is being used to augment soft tissues in the face. These include both the upper and lower lips, cheek prominences and to fill out depressions such as in the cheek fold area. There has been some controversy as to whether fat augmentation gives good long-term results, but current evidence suggests that at least 40% of the transplanted fat will survive in its new position.

How is it done?

Fat is simply harvested from an area of the body, such as the tummy or the buttock, where there is often a bit of excess fat. The fat is very gently collected and then spun down and decanted ready for injection. Using a very fine cannula, the fat is introduced into the areas to be augmented. The augmentation is usually overdone initially because complete survival of the transplanted fat is not guaranteed.

What are the risks?

There are few potential risks from the fat augmentation procedure. These include sometimes quite dramatic swelling in the initial week or two after the operation and sometimes some overlying skin inflammation. More long-term complications include some residual lumpiness on occasions. This nearly always settles with time. The important point about fat augmentation, is that it may need to be repeated if an inadequate number of fat cells survive the transplantation process.

Fat or artificial fillers?

The obvious advantage of autologous fat is that there is unlikely to be any tissue reaction as it comes from your own body tissues, and hence it is unlikely to be rejected, or become infected. If successful, it is also likely to give a more permanent result than injecting with artificial fillers. However, fat augmentation does require a procedure in hospital.

Artificial injectable fillers are increasingly in vogue. Only temporary semi-permanent films, such as hyaluronic acid or hydroxyapatite are used in the practise. The long-term safety of permanent fillers available on the market has not been validated. 

Fat Augmentation FAQ's

Generally it’s best to recuperate at home where things are familiar and you can access help.  Some people elect to go away for their recuperation and that’s fine as long as you have adequate access to wound care and help with daily chores.

Following your surgery you will be prescribed pain medication which may be an analgesic or an anti-inflammatory or sometimes a combination and this prescription is given to you by your anaesthetist . Should you have concerns about post-operative pain relief then you need to address these with your anaesthetist.

Plastic surgeons undergo extended rigorous training which involves at least 7 years post graduate study.  As part of that program they learn about cosmetic surgery.  Under current legislation anyone can call themselves a cosmetic surgeon provided they are a doctor.  However, unless you have a higher specialist qualification in plastic surgery you are not allowed to call yourself a Plastic Surgeon.  Dr Cooper is a qualified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon who performs cosmetic surgery.

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If you would like to book a consultation with Dr Timothy Cooper or Dr Robert Choa, get in touch with us or fill out the form below and one of our helpful staff will be in touch shortly

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