Fat Transfer Procedure
If you’re bothered by hip defects, fat transfer is an excellent option. This minimally invasive form of hip augmentation removes fat from one area of the body and uses it to add volume where it’s needed most.
WHAT IS A FAT TRANSFER?
Fat transfer can effectively help if you’re unhappy with the contour of your hips. While hip implants and dermal fillers are also used to correct these issues, fat transfer provides a very natural-looking and feeling option. Extra fat in areas of the body such as the stomach, buttocks, or thighs can be removed and transferred to the hips to fill in the spots where needed, improving the overall look of your legs and shape.
BENEFITS OF A FAT TRANSFER
Fat transfer is actually a two-in-one procedure because it gets rid of fat in one area and corrects defects in another. This gives it an advantage over implants or fillers. Another advantage is that there’s no risk of an allergic reaction (which some people have with fillers) and nothing foreign is introduced to the body (as with implants).
Correction of hip dips is becoming a procedure that is more and more requested. Many patients are bothered by these inward depressions along their hips, which can take away from the classic hourglass appearance and make a person look “lumpy”. Fat transfer is the most common and effective option for addressing this issue.
WHO IS A CANDIDATE FOR A FAT TRANSFER?
Those who make the best candidates for fat transfer are those who:
Are unhappy with the appearance of their hips
Have enough fat to use from another area of their body
Are non-smokers in general good health
Understand that they may require more than one procedure
Have realistic expectations for what the procedure can accomplish
FAT TRANSFER PROCEDURE DETAILS
The fat transfer procedure is performed with the patient under either local or general anesthesia.
Liposuction is the first part of the process. Dr. Stephens will create small incisions near the area where fat will be removed. Using this incision, he will insert a cannula (a long, thin tube) to break up and remove the unwanted fat.
Once enough fat has been taken, it will be purified and then placed into a syringe so that it can be injected into areas of the hips where volume is needed.
AFTER YOUR FAT TRANSFER PROCEDURE
Approximately one week of recovery is typical for hip correction with fat transfer, with all activities being able to be continued at one month. Swelling and bruising during recovery is to be expected.
Early results can be seen as the swelling goes down, but final results will reveal themselves over the following months as the fat “settles”, usually about 6-12 weeks.
Sometimes the transferred fat doesn’t survive, so you may need to undergo the procedure more than once. About 30% of the transferred fat is usually lost.
