Cosmetic Plastic Surgery In New York City:
Micro-Fat Grafting
Few people are blessed with genes that give them the perfect shape, curvature and proportion throughout their body. The rest of us need a little help – as no amount of dieting or exercising will correct some imperfections. There is a way however, to transfer volume from one area of your body that may have a little too much, to another that can really use it.
If you’ve been searching for a safe, permanent way to reshape and revitalize your appearance, Micro-Fat Grafting is the answer.
Micro-Fat Grafting
A highly specialized procedure that takes years to perfect and master, Dr. Born has been using Micro-Fat Grafting to rejuvenate and contour his patients since he learned the original technique from Dr. Sydney Coleman in NYC in 1998. Dr. Born has modified and created his own technique to provide long lasting, pleasing aesthetic results, and adapted the technique to contour the Breasts, Buttocks and general body contour as well.
Fat is harvested using a small syringe, then prepared and placed in other small syringes for the injection. The area for contouring is frozen while the patient sleeps or is under sedation. The fat is placed in tiny amounts, mostly on the deep layer, next to the bone if possible so that visibility or palpability is not an issue. This deep layer of placement also improves the percentage of fat survival. A small cannula is used so that small packets of fat are placed and they easily take on a new blood supply and survive.
Why Facial Micro-Fat Grafting? There are many reasons to use a patient’s own fat for contouring and shaping the face.
To restore volume lost with aging
To enhance the cheek bones or augment the cheeks
To enhance the chin
To add shape and frame the bone around the eyes which softens their appearance
To raise the eyebrow
To straighten the jaw line or hide the Jowl
To shape the nose
To add volume to the earlobes
To fill the Naso-labial fold
To augment the lips
To repair scars
To rejuvenate the skin
Where is the fat harvested from (fat donor sites)? Fat is harvested from areas with excess fat – typically the tummy, flanks, lateral or medial thigh – depending on the area the patient prefers, the volume of fat required, and the quality of the fat. The key is to avoid creating a defect in the donor area. A compression garment may be worn after harvesting but this is not always necessary.
Preparation
As with all surgeries performed by Dr. Born, patients are prescribed supplements to take before and after the surgery, to help prepare and recover faster and without complications.
Recovery You are encouraged to resume normal activities; this decreases the amount of pain and increases the speed of your recovery. The areas of the face where fat was placed should be left alone unless you are instructed by Dr. Born to massage the area. Massaging of the areas where the fat was harvested, particularly over the flanks, will speed the healing process. A Compression Garment may be needed for one to two weeks after surgery, depending on the degree of swelling. You may wear Spanx or tight Lycra instead of the surgical garment if you prefer. No Sutures or drains are used.
My staff will instruct you on how to massage of the donor sites on the third day following surgery. Bruising may be present for up to 3 weeks in the donor sites. Changes in size will occur for the first month as the swelling resolves, and your weight will normalize six weeks after surgery. Facial bruising can last up to three weeks. There may be some degree of persistent swelling for two months, after which more fat may be added if additional contouring is required.
Risks of Liposuction Liposuction is a very safe procedure and the risks of are minimal. Generally, fat removal is limited to five litres – this is considered a large volume.
Specific Risks of hand harvesting of the fat and Liposuction
Pain
Bruising lasting longer than three weeks
Firmness along the incision- this is normal for the first few months
Asymmetry (this is normal and expected) in most persons there is pre-existing asymmetry
Scarring – reduced greatly if the tape is worn for three months following the surgery
Infection
Mammogram/ultrasound interference due to scarring in the tissue
Fluid collection or seroma
Not enough correction
Too much fat removed requiring fat grafting to fill the area
Risks of Facial Micro Fat Grafting
Pain
Bruising lasting longer than three weeks
Firmness along the incision- this is normal for the first few months
Asymmetry (this is normal and expected) in most persons there is pre-existing asymmetry
Infection
Fluid collection or seroma
Not enough correction/too much correction
Fat necrosis (leading to drainage from the wound)
Granulomatous wound healing
Injury to a nerve providing sensation
Injury to a nerve to the facial muscles, causing asymmetry of the smile or movement problems
Cyst
Fat blocking an artery causing skin loss/scarring, blindness, stroke
There are some general risks intrinsic to all surgical procedures; please take a moment to review them.
Procedure length The length of this procedure varies according to the unique needs of the patient and the areas treated. Micro-Fat Grafting may be performed under a general or local anaesthetic with sedation.
The Result Micro-Fat Grafting is a safe solution that provides permanent results, and may require only some minor touch-ups after surgery.
It is important to note that each surgery is tailored to meet the unique needs and features of individual patients.
What other patients want Many patients combine Micro-Fat Grafting with Thermage (a non-surgical tightening of the skin) to achieve an overall enhancement of their appearance.
If you’ve been searching for a safe, permanent way to reshape your face and body, book your consultation with Dr. Born today.
