Name of the Procedure:

Grafting of autologous fat harvested by liposuction technique to trunk, breasts, scalp, arms, and/or legs

• Common Name: Fat Grafting, Fat Transfer
• Technical Term: Autologous Fat Grafting

Summary

Fat grafting involves removing fat from one part of the body using liposuction and injecting it into another area to enhance volume, shape, or contour. This process is often used in various body parts, including the trunk, breasts, scalp, arms, and legs. This description covers each additional 50 cc of fat grafted beyond the primary volume.

Purpose

• Medical Condition/Problem: Volume loss due to aging, trauma, surgery, or congenital conditions.
• Goals/Expected Outcomes: To restore or enhance volume, improve symmetry, and contour different body regions for aesthetic or reconstructive purposes.

Indications

• Specific Symptoms/Conditions: Volume loss in the breasts, trunk, scalp, arms, or legs.
• Patient Criteria: Patients seeking augmentation or correction of volume deficits, those needing reconstructive surgery post-trauma or mastectomy, or individuals addressing congenital or acquired deformities.

Preparation

• Pre-procedure Instructions: Patients may need to fast for a specified period, avoid certain medications (e.g., blood thinners), and cease smoking before the procedure.
• Diagnostic Tests/Assessments: Physical examination, blood tests, medical imaging (e.g., ultrasound or MRI for the recipient site).

Procedure Description

1. Liposuction: Fat is harvested from donor sites such as the abdomen or thighs using a liposuction technique.
2. Processing: The harvested fat is purified and processed to remove excess fluids and oils.
3. Injection: The purified fat is injected into the target areas of the trunk, breasts, scalp, arms, or legs.
4. Equipment Used: Liposuction cannula, centrifuge for fat purification, syringes for injection.
5. Anesthesia/Sedation: Typically performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the extent of the procedure.

Duration

• The procedure can take approximately 1 to 4 hours, depending on the amount of fat harvested and grafted.

Setting

• Usually performed in a surgical center, outpatient clinic, or hospital.

Personnel

• Healthcare Professionals: Plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, surgical nurses, and possibly an anesthesia technician.

Risks and Complications

• Common Risks: Bruising, swelling, pain, temporary numbness.
• Rare Risks: Infection, fat necrosis, unsatisfactory aesthetic results, asymmetry, fat embolism. Management includes antibiotics for infection, revision surgeries for aesthetic issues, and careful monitoring.

Benefits

• Expected Benefits: Enhanced volume and contour of the target areas; improved symmetry and aesthetics.
• Timeline: Benefits may be noticeable immediately but will improve as swelling subsides over a few weeks to months.

Recovery

• Post-procedure Care: Rest, use of compression garments, avoiding strenuous activity.
• Expected Recovery Time: Generally 1-2 weeks for initial recovery, with full recovery in a few months. Follow-up appointments to monitor progress and outcomes.

Alternatives

• Other Treatment Options: Synthetic fillers, silicone implants, other surgical contouring techniques.
• Pros and Cons: Synthetic fillers offer immediate results but may require repeat treatments. Implants provide permanent volume but carry risks such as capsular contracture.

Patient Experience

• During the Procedure: Minimal discomfort due to anesthesia. Some patients might feel pressure or mild pulling.
• After the Procedure: Mild to moderate pain managed with medications; swelling, bruising, and temporary loss of sensation are common. Patients might need to rest and follow specific care instructions to ensure optimal healing and results.