Fat Transfer in Houston, TX

Fat transfer surgery has become more common in recent years, especially with the popularity the Brazilian butt lift. It not only slims needed areas with liposuction, but it also enhances the areas of the face and body that need volume with the removed fat. Houston, TX board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Jay Shenaq, can contour the irregularities of your body with your own tissue with fat grafting. A fat transfer can be used for a number of areas that need to be filled, including the buttocks, breasts, cheeks, and lips. The medical team at Houston Plastic Surgery can answer any questions or concerns you may have about what a fat transfer can do for your body.

A fat transfer in Houston, TX at Plastic Surgery of Houston offers a more natural alternative to fillers and implants to help you achieve a reimagined and rejuvenated look. Dr. Shenaq will work with you to devise a customized fat transfer plan to meet your needs and goals with several great benefits, including:

• Provides a higher safety profile than synthetic implants
• Reduces unwanted fat in problem areas
• Smooths lines and wrinkles
• Slims and contours the figure
• Enhances the buttocks, breasts, lips, and more
• Replenishes areas of volume loss
• Creates a more youthful appearance
• It's less invasive than other surgical procedures
• Little to no scarring
• Minimal recovery time

Men and women who want more fullness in specific places on the face or body that appear flat may be the right candidates for a fat transfer. This treatment is even more advantageous because it provides a natural approach to create results by incorporating the patient's fat tissue. This way, there is little concern for rejection. Men and women at Plastic Surgery of Houston considering this procedure must be at a healthy weight and have enough fat to remove for the transfer.

During the initial consultation, the surgeon will evaluate your overall health, the area(s) of available fat, as well as your skin quality. The area(s) to have grafting will also be evaluated to judge suitability for receiving grafts. This evaluation will help us develop your individual plan. During the consultation, we encourage you to discuss any areas of your appearance that concern you, as well what you hope to accomplish with surgery. This will help us understand your goals and expectations and determine whether they can be realistically achieved. Swelling and bruising are expected in the areas where fat was removed and transplanted, although it will vary among patients. The swelling and bruising will start to subside within 1 – 2 weeks after surgery. A compression garment may be necessary if larger amounts of fat are removed. Most patients can resume modest activity in 7 – 10 days, if small amounts of fat are removed and in 6-8 weeks, if large amounts of fat grafts are removed. Complete recovery from fat grafting surgery usually takes 6 months.

Common areas for fat transfer include the face for facial rejuvenation. This includes fat grafting for under the eyes and within the cheeks and lips. Fat transfers are also common to fill laugh lines, as well as lines under the chin. A specialty fat transfer is gluteal reshaping, which involves a fat transfer to the buttocks, commonly known as a Brazilian butt lift. Fat grafting corrects contour irregularities that may result from over aggressive liposuction and is sometimes used during breast reconstruction. Rejuvenation of the hands, using fat from the patient’s own body, can create gorgeous results, hiding obvious veins and tendons that become more apparent with age.

After your fat transfer, your liposuction incisions will be stitched and cleaned before you're sent into recovery. Dr. Shenaq or someone on his staff will apply wound coverings and monitor you till you are able to be sent home with a family member or friend. Prior to your procedure, Dr. Shenaq will let you know what to expect during your recovery and ways you are able to heal faster. Follow-up appointments will need to be made at Plastic Surgery of Houston so Dr. Shenaq can assess your healing and results. Your recovery will vary depending on the amount of fat that is taken and grafted, but you need to plan to take a couple of weeks to rest and recover. Initially, you might feel uncomfortable with bruising and swelling in the liposuction site(s) and the grafted area(s). You may notice some improvements right away in your face, but it is going to take several weeks until you will be able to see your final outcomes. A small amount of fat may be reabsorbed by your body, but with proper maintenance, your results can last for several years.

How much does a fat transfer cost?
The cost for a fat transfer will vary depending on a number of factors. In fat transfers to the breasts or buttocks, a larger volume of fat is needed, so surgical liposuction is used, which means a lengthier process is incorporated to purify the fat and inject it accordingly. Smaller fat transfers, such as those to the face and hands, take less time and fat. The amount of volume required to achieve your goals will be explained during your initial consultation with Dr. Shenaq, along with pricing estimates and payment options for you to consider.

Where can I have fat transferred?
Fat can be transferred to most areas of your body or face that you want volume. Some of the most popular areas are the buttocks (typically called the Brazilian butt lift), hands, face, and breasts. Fat grafting might be combined with breast reconstruction or augmentation with implants to correct irregularities. Age-related volume loss in the hands and face can also be improved with fat grafting, particularly in the hollows under the eyes or to add shape to your lips. Talk to Dr. Shenaq in your consultation about where you would like to add volume so he can develop your personal fat transfer treatment plan.

How long will the results of a fat transfer last?
The results of a fat transfer look natural and can last for a long time with proper care. Dr. Shenaq uses the latest techniques to purify and graft fat that limits reabsorption. However, there is generally a certain amount of fat that does not graft to its new area — so Dr. Shenaq often adds slightly more fat than is needed. If you would like to touch up or enhance your results after a few years, another fat transfer can be discussed.

Are there any alternative treatments to a fat transfer?
Based on the area that needs volume, you may have an alternative to a fat graft. In your breasts and buttocks, augmentation surgery with an implant may be performed instead of a fat transfer. In your face and hands, Plastic Surgery of Houston offers several injectable fillers for long-lasting volume and skin rejuvenation. Dr. Shenaq will explain all of your options during your initial consultation so that you can see the results that match your concerns and goals.

What if I don't have enough fat for a transfer?
In your consultation with Dr. Shenaq, he will discuss how much fat is needed to meet your goals. In some cases, you might not have enough fat for the transfer, but this is typically only a problem if you have a very low body fat percentage or want a large volume of fat added to one area. Fat may be taken from several areas if needed or combined with donor fat. Dr. Shenaq will explain all of your choices in your appointment.

If you have an area of your body that has low volume due to weight loss, aging, or genetics, fat transfer surgery may be a good option for you. We invite you to schedule a consultation so that we can assess the areas for treatment and help you understand more about the procedure and if it is right for you. Fat transfers can create a smooth, fuller shape in areas as small as the lips, or as large as the buttocks.