What is fat injection?

Fat tissue harvested from one area of our body can be transferred to other desired areas. Fat gives fullness to the injected areas and subtly smooths out deep wrinkles. It can also be used to correct and enhance facial and body contours.

With the popularity of liposuction techniques in recent years, the frequency of fat injections has also increased. If the person is already going to undergo liposuction, the fat filling can be applied easily in the same session. This way, some of the fat removed is not discarded and will be used.

Since fat tissue belongs to the individual, there is no additional cost and possibility of allergies. Furthermore, thanks to the stem cells it contains, this fat graft rejuvenates and refreshes the area where it is injected. It is superior to synthetic fillers in many ways.

What is fat injection used for?

Transferred fat, first of all, restores the subtle volume of the area in which it is injected. With aging, the face loses volume and sags. If the visual effects of aging are not too heavy, fat filling will regain the facial oval and improve a youthful appearance.

Spreading fat tissue by injecting under the face skin as a “nano fat graft” enhances the texture and quality of the skin.

Stem cells in fat tissue revitalize and rejuvenate the skin.

Fat tissue is a very large and easily obtainable filling material. While pre-filled tissues are in 1 cc injectors, it is possible to apply fat tissue to the face 20-30 cc at a time.

Fat tissue can also be processed to increase its effectiveness, such as purifying, refining, mixing with stem cells, or PRP.

It does not have side effects such as allergies because it is your own tissue.

From where the fat is removed for injection?

The fat used for fat injections is usually harvested from the abdomen using special liposuction injectors. The waist and buttocks are also the areas where fat removal is often performed for this purpose. In addition to these areas, the fat from the arms and legs of the persons whom liposuction is planned for and even the fat taken from the eye bags in eyelid aesthetics can also be used in the application of fat injection.

How is a fat transfer procedure performed?

The fat to be injected is harvested by the liposuction method. According to the amount of fat needed, local or general anesthesia can be applied. The fat is prepared for injection by filtration or centrifugation. It is filled into injectors and applied to the desired area, and desired depth with special cannulas.

Depending on the size of the area to be injected, a painless procedure is performed using nerve blocks or general anesthesia.

It can be combined with all the aesthetic procedure types such as facelift, liposuction, breast augmentation, abdominal lift, etc.

How long does the fat transfer procedure take?

The duration depends on the areas and amounts to be injected, but it takes from 30 to 60 minutes.

Are there any environmental requirements for the fat injection procedure?

Although it is an operation under local anesthesia, fat injections should be performed in the operating room.

The clinical environment not only helps to improve patient comfort with the use of sedatives, but a sterile environment is also extremely important for patient health, even though it is a remarkably simple procedure.

Are fat injection results permanent?

About 50-60% of the injected fat will be reabsorbed within 6 months. Depending on the person and the injected area, approximately 40-50% is permanent. The amount of fat remaining can be increased by recurrent applications.

Can the permanence of fat tissue be enhanced?

Recently, many studies have been carried out on this subject. It is possible to increase the permanence and effectiveness of fat tissue by PRP or adding stem cells. Yet, these practices will incur additional costs.

To what areas can fat injection be applied?

The face is the most common area where the fat injection is applied. It can be used to restore plump thin lips, smooth deep nasolabial folds and wrinkles, highlight eyebrow tails, add volume to cheekbones, and even treat jowl contour.

It is frequently performed to correct the shape of the hips and other deformations from previous liposuctions.

Sunken areas and scars from some accidents can also be successfully corrected with fat injection.

Besides, it is a common and necessary method to improve the face contour after excessive weight loss for post-bariatric patients.

Is fat injection applied only for cosmetic purposes?

We often use fat injections for reconstructive surgery. It is quite an applicable method for purposes like the filling of contour disorders and sags, breast reconstruction after cancer, or the correction of sequelae of burns and trauma and various scars.