“I wish I could transfer some of the fats from my thighs to my boobs!”
Does this sound like something you say in jest from time to time? No need to feel guilty because it’s something most of us have dreamt of.
But guess what, there’s actually a safe, well-known procedure that does exactly that: fat grafting. But before you make that important decision to go for the procedure, we’re here to tell you all you need to know about it.
What is fat grafting, anyway?
Fat grafting (sometimes called fat transfer) involves using liposuction to take excess fat from areas such as the thighs or buttocks, and using it to fill in areas lacking in volume, like the hands, breasts, cheeks or buttocks in a process called lipofilling.
The procedure is often praised for its natural-looking results, accounting for its growing popularity over the years.
Common fat grafting procedures include taking fat from the abdomen or inner thigh to fill in sunken cheeks, deep grooves that run from the nose to the corners of the mouth, breasts, and even lines between the lower eyelids and cheek that create the appearance of dark circles.
Besides these, fat grafting can also be used to smooth out any irregularities on skin that could have been caused by surgeries or injuries.
What’s the fat grafting procedure like?
Steps taken during the fat grafting procedure.
It’s an outpatient treatment, so you wouldn’t be confined in the hospital. First, the doctors will use a small needle to inject an anaesthetic before removing the fat through liposuction through one or more 3 to 5mm incisions.
Then, the fat is processed by centrifuging, filtering or rinsing accordingly in order to prepare it for re-injection.
The doctors then carefully inject the pure fatty tissue to the new site, sometimes massaging or using placement techniques in order to get the contour right.
Of course, there are limits to how much fat you can inject, and often a size change often requires multiple injections, making it more costly.
However, since fat grafting isn’t considered a ‘major surgery’, many people think of it as a rather safe option.
Should I go for fat grafting?
That being said, fat grafting definitely isn’t for everyone.
Usually, those who go for the procedure have areas that are especially lacking in volume.
These areas are usually the face (usually lips and cheeks), scars, breasts and buttocks. You also have to have donor sites that have excess fats to use.
For the recovery process, it’s also important that you don’t have any circulation issues, whether developed or inherited.
There are also different specificities for different kinds of fat grafting, such as facial, breasts, etc.
For example, if you’re looking for breast augmentation, you’d need a nice shape and good skin to start with.
Not to worry, though, your doctor’s consultation will help in advising you which process is right and safe for you.
Overall, what you need is good health, positivity and going in with the right frame of mind, since any procedure is subject to human error.
Does fat grafting carry any side effects?
Like in any procedure, there are definitely some side effects in fat grafting.
There’s likely to be bruising and swelling, some numbness and scarring (mostly from the liposuction) which fades but may not totally disappear.
While this is a relatively low-risk procedure, there are still some risks of something going wrong, such as heavy scarring and heavy blood loss.
The downtime for fat grafting is a couple of weeks for the bruises to heal and the swelling to go down, but otherwise, you can generally go back to your day-to-day activities.
Also, it’s important to note that sometimes the injected fat can be reabsorbed by the body, requiring multiple injections and making this more expensive and time-consuming.
How long do fat grafting results last?
It’s natural for the fat to be reabsorbed by the body, especially during the first six weeks after going through fat grafting.
That being said, the fat still exists and precautions are usually taken such as the doctor injecting more fat than needed.
Some fat is also absorbed over the next six months or so, but it’s in a relatively small dose that isn’t very noticeable.
So, where can I get this procedure?
Amaris B. Clinic
Started by founder and medical director, Dr. Ivan Puah, an adept MOH-accredited liposuction doctor who has received extensive advanced body sculpting training overseas, Amaris B. Clinic offers various face and body enhancements alongside body contouring procedures on its menu.
To counter age-induced volume loss, you can consider Fat Grafting by Dr. Ivan Puah, who is also the chairman of the Lipo Peer Review Committee in Singapore.
Here, Fat Grafting is a tailored two-in-one surgery that can effectively restore volume in your face, breasts, hands, and buttocks while helping you eliminate excess fat from other areas of your body.
As it involves transplanting fat tissues from an identified donor site on your body to the treated area, this procedure will give a natural-looking plumpness that lasts longer.
Unlike dermal fillers which rely on synthetic ingredients to produce results, this surgery uses your own body fat tissues, making the procedure a much safer option with minimal risk of rejection.
If you need to plump up flat or sunken areas of the face such as the temples, under the eyes, forehead, and cheeks, facial fat grafting is likely the ideal protocol for you.
There’s also body fat grafting, which is suitable for women who have lost breast volume due to ageing or after breastfeeding. If you would like to have more balance in your asymmetrical bosom, increase your breast size without artificial implants or even make your buttocks perkier, you can consider fat grafting as well.
At Amaris B. Clinic, your safety, health, and results are always a priority so you can be sure that your clinical condition, needs, and optimal goal will be looked into by Dr. Ivan Puah and his team to achieve optimal results.
Leave it to this team of medical professionals to safely rejuvenate your mien and curves with their fully personalised approach to your treatment.
Contact Amaris B. Clinic for more information.
Address: 140 Arab Street, Singapore 199827
Contact: 6536 4211 or email [email protected]
Opening hours: 9.30am – 7pm (Mon to Fri) | 9am – 5pm (Sat) | Closed on Sundays and public holidays
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Allure Plastic Surgery
The fat grafting procedure here is performed by Dr. Samuel Ho, who has had a lot of experience in this field.
He’s very involved and is willing to address any doubts you might have about fat grafting, as well as discuss how to proceed with the changes you want exactly.
And to top it all off, he’s also trained in Korea, which we know is an aesthetic medicine hub.
Contact Allure Plastic Surgery for more information.
Address: 435 Orchard Road, Wisma Atria, #22-04, Singapore 238877
Contact: 6734 9988 or email [email protected]
Opening hours: 10am – 6pm (Mon to Thu) | 10am – 8pm (Fri) | 10am – 3pm (Sat) | Closed on Sundays and public holidays
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WC Ong Plastic Reconstructive Surgery
Dr. Ong has 20 years of surgical experience in the field.
She also continues to share her experiences and teach, serving as a consultant to several hospitals.
This makes her incredibly knowledgeable, and her experienced hand is definitely something you want for your fat grafting procedure.
Contact WC Ong Plastic Reconstructive Surgery for more information.
Address: 6 Napier Road, Gleneagles Medical Centre, #06-07, Singapore 258499
Contact: 6265 8168 or email [email protected]
Opening hours: 8.30am – 5.30pm (Mon to Fri) | 8.30am – 12.30pm (Sat) | Closed on Sundays and public holidays
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