How long will fat transfer results last? Face & Body

Are fat transfer results permanent?

Cosmetic Surgery

Fat Transfer

Fat transfer, also referred to as fat grafting and lipofilling, has become widely accepted as the optimal means of soft-tissue…

Yes, fat transfer results are permanent but not all fat will survive. It's important for the plastic surgeon undergoing your treatment to be well versed in the surgery and have a good understanding of how to ensure the fat survives. Harvesting is important to fat transfer, therefore it's important for a proper evaluation to be made by an expert who understands the process.

Between 50 - 70% of the transferred fat is retained long term, and wil last just like normal fat. It will even grow with weight gain. With time, however, it will begin to wane alongside your other fat deposits. This should not happen before many years, however.

Some factors will impact the longevity of your results:

The skill of your surgeon - How the fat was harvested and purified, and how and where it was injected all impact longevity. The more skilled the surgeon and the better his/her understanding of the technique, the longer-lasting the results.
The technique employed - A process called micro fat grafting, although labour-intensive, is the best way to ensure that the highest percentage of grafted fat will take.
How well your body adapts to the transferred fat - The injected fat must establish a new blood supply from your body and receives the nourishment it needs for survival. When this happens, results can and often are permanen; however, there may be a percentage of fat that does not take, which is why touchup procedures are sometimes necessary. Lifestyle factors such as smoking can impact this.

Generally, fat survives best when put into areas with its own abundant blood supply. The face, which is so well vascularised, picks up a new supply quickly and the majority of the fat survives. Results are often at their best I the facial region, as a result.

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Founded in 2004 by world renowned plastic surgeon Mr Bryan Mayou, we now work with over 100 leading consultants and successfully treat over 20,000 patients each year. We have been winning industry awards since inception.

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All of our treatments take place at our beautiful boutique premises in Chelsea. We have six consulting rooms and five operating rooms, as well as a dedicated pre and post-operative suite, and a full team of specialist nursing staff.

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We were founded in 2004 by world renown plastic surgeon Mr Bryan Mayou, best known for his pioneering work in the area of liposuction, lasers and microvascular surgery. We continue to collaborate with pioneers in our field.

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How long does fat transfer to the hands last?

Fat transfer to the hands is permanent and will last many years after the fat has integrated into the tissue at the back of the hands. This is different to a filler treatment which will need repeating every 6-9 months. There is no downtime with this procedure, requiring only local anaesthetic with no scarring.

What are the side effects of fat transfer?

Cosmetic Surgery

Fat Transfer

Fat transfer, also referred to as fat grafting and lipofilling, has become widely accepted as the optimal means of soft-tissue…

There are a few side effects to watch out for when undergoing a fat transfer, although the procedure is generally safe there will always be a few underlying risks. These fat transfer side effects include, but are not limited to:

Minor bruising and swelling
Small scars which usually fade through time or with over the counter products
Temporary numbness
Loss of some fat from the injected area