What is fat transfer?

Fat transfer (fat grafting, liposculpture, or lipofilling) is a cosmetic procedure where fat is taken from some area of your body and injected into another, most commonly the breasts or face. This helps improve your contours by restoring volume to areas of your body that've lost fat due to aging, weight loss, scarring, or cancer treatment.

What to expect when getting a fat transfer

During your procedure

• Using liposuction, fat will be removed from certain areas of your body
• Your fat will be cleaned and prepared for reinjection
• The fat will be injected into the desired areas of your body
• The procedure can take one to four hours

After your procedure

• This is generally an outpatient procedure without any hospital stay
• You'll need to wear a compression garment for at least a few weeks to help with swelling
• You should allow several days to recover before resuming regular activities
• Your surgeon will give you specific recovery instructions, including any necessary sleeping positions.
• You'll have follow-up appointments to check your progress and remove any stitches

Benefits of fat transfer

• Improved body contours. Fat transfer is a win-win in the sense that it removes unwanted body fat from one area and adds it to an area of need.
• Natural alternative. Fat transfer is a more natural approach because it uses your body's fat instead of commercially available soft tissue fillers.
• Self-confidence. Feeling good about yourself shouldn't be understated. While fat transfer is a physical procedure, it can give you an emotional boost, too.