In my day job, I am lucky enough to work with some of the top plastic surgeons in the country. Having recently returned from a weekend in Dallas with Plastic Surgery Channel, I thought I’d share what I learned. One of the trends that has these doctors super excited is the many benefits of fat grafting.
Fat grafting is a procedure in which fat is removed from one area of the body where you don’t want it (think stomach and outer thighs) and placed in another area where you need it. I know — need fat? Have you lost your mind?. Like so many other women, I have spent an inordinate amount of time hating my stomach. However, it turns out that fat is our friend when it comes to looking younger.
Fat = Volume & Volume = Youth
So, the sagging jowls, deflated boobs and pancake butt that send many of us running for the nearest beauty counter or lingerie store are really due to volume loss. Ok, the natural decline in our skin elasticity or “bounce back” doesn’t help. But fixing that requires surgery while restoring lost volume can often be done on your lunch hour with very natural looking results.
Benefits of Fat Grafting to the Face
Most of you are probably familiar with synthetic fillers like Juvéderm or Restylane. They are a great way to subtly remove a few years from your face without having to go under the knife. The downside of fillers is that the results are not permanent. So, depending on how your body reacts to that specific filler, you may need to repeat the process every 6 months. This can be a drag not to mention expensive. However, one of the many benefits of fat grafting is that the results are permanent. Now, only a certain percentage of the injected fat will “take” so you may need a few appointments to get your ideal results. This can also make fat less predictable than synthetic fillers. But another one of the huge benefits of fat grafting to the face is stem cells. Fat has stem cells. And these puppies are seriously the fountain of youth, able to rejuvenate skin tone, texture and restore overall vibrancy.
My Idea of Recycling
So, let’s recap: I can take fat away from my stomach. Inject it back into the wrinkles in my face. And pump up my lost volume while also reaping the benefits of new stem cells? Now, that is my idea of recycling! Seriously, I can see why these guys are so excited. But fat grafting isn’t for everyone. It is a slightly more invasive procedure than getting an HA filler. It’s more expensive initially (though probably not when you amortize the cost over time). And it is really important that you see a plastic surgeon with a lot of experience doing micro-fat grafting to the face. This is a procedure where an artistic eye and technical expertise are both imperative.
Benefits of Fat Grafting to the Butt & Breasts
Besides the face, the benefits of fat grafting extend to the butt and breasts as well. When it comes to the derriere, age is not always kind. That transition between the dimples in our lower back and the top of the butt flattens out. This can throw off the entire proportion of your torso. In fact, it’s not uncommon for patients to see a plastic surgeon about a tummy tuck or liposuction in the flanks and/or mid-section when the real problem turns out to be a lack of volume in the butt. Restoring fullness to the fanny does not have to result in Kim Kardashian. Instead, it can be a pretty easy way to rejuvenate your entire body contour.
When it comes to the breasts, the latest aesthetic trend is towards a more natural look. So, if you are someone who only wants a little more fullness in your chest (think a cup size), you may be able to get a breast augmentation with fat alone. How cool is that? No artificial device. And no risk of rupture. Even if what you desire can’t be achieved with only fat, most breast surgeons use fat grafting to smooth out the edges and provide coverage so the implant isn’t visible. This is one of the huge benefits of fat grafting, especially for patients who are very thin.
Ok, so there you have it. Fat is your friend. It’s time to stop looking in the mirror and berating your stomach rolls. Because really, just think of all the wrinkles they could fill…..