Dermal fillers are a popular way to get a quick enhancement, whether you are trying to shave away years or add definition to your facial profile. While these formulations have proven safe and effective, there is an even more natural way to get the aesthetic improvements you are looking for. At Dermacare Laser & Skin Care Clinics, we offer fat transfer treatments that allow you to sculpt one area of your body while augmenting another – using your own cells for the filler formulation.
What is Fat Transfer?
Fat transfer is a procedure that allows us to remove fat cells from one area of the body and inject them into another. The process offers the double benefit of addressing isolated areas of fat that have not responded to diet and exercise, while augmenting areas like the cheeks or jawline where aging or other factors can lead to hollowing and lack of definition. The two-step procedure can be performed in a single treatment session so the patient enjoys full results with minimal time commitment.
The Sculpting Process
Fat removal is performed via a special liposuction technique known as laser-assisted liposuction or LAL. This procedure uses laser energy to liquefy fat cells before they are removed from the body, which leads to less trauma to surrounding skin and tissue. The laser energy offers the dual benefit of skin tightening in the treatment area to create a smoother body contour and a better result overall.
The staff at Dermacare Laser & Skin Care Clinics uses SmartLipo, one of the best devices for LAL today. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia. Tiny incisions are used to insert a narrow tube called a cannula into the area of fat, which delivers the laser energy to liquefy the fat cells before removing them from the body. The incisions do not require suturing and do not leave visible scarring behind.
The Filler Process
Once the fat cells are removed, they are purified in a special device and prepared for injection. Injections of fat are performed in a similar fashion to other dermal fillers. However, the fat that is injected tends to give much longer-lasting and even permanent results. The fat is also completely natural, so the results look natural as well as beautiful.
Injections take just a few minutes to complete and do not usually involve any type of anesthetic. Patients will typically receive slightly more fat than they want, since a percentage of the fat injected is reabsorbed by the body in the weeks following treatment. The final results can be seen within a matter of weeks and will last for many years.
Is Fat Transfer Right for You?
If fat transfer sounds like a good option for you, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:
- You must have sufficient fat in one area for removal. These areas usually involve the midsection, back, hips and thighs.
- SmartLipo is a surgical procedure, although a minimally-invasive one. You will need to give yourself a few days of downtime to recover from the procedure.
- Fat removal is considered a permanent way to sculpt the body as long as a healthy weight is maintained after your procedure.
- SmartLipo is recommended for patients that have achieved a healthy weight and is not considered an appropriate treatment for weight loss.
If you are ready for a treatment involving the most natural filler available today, fat transfer might be the right choice for you. To learn more, contact Dermacare Laser & Skin Care Clinics at 858-943-2443 or 760-472-5088.