Fat Transfer For Contouring / Lipomodelling / Fat Injections

During an initial consultation, your expert clinician should be able to assess your skin and listen to your concerns and cosmetic goals. They will then be able to suggest appropriate procedure(s) and a treatment plan. Lipomodelling can be helpful in a number of aesthetic issues, including:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Deeper lines and wrinkles
• Volume loss under the skin following trauma
• Enlargement of bodily areas like the breast
• Atrophic or depressed scars

The idea of fat transfer is that it can increase the volume underneath the skin in target areas. It can also improve the long term quality of scarring and surrounding skin by promoting the production of collagen. This helps the skin to become ‘plumper’ and have a smoother contour, making it appear more even and youthful.

There are a number of different types of fat injections, based on how big the injected fat particles are.  Most common varieties include:

• Macro fat.  This refers to large particles being injected mostly used when large quantities of fat injection are needed for example in breast enlargement.
• Micro fat.  This type represents intermediate sized fat parcels; these are typically injected under scarred areas over the body e.g. in cases of traumatic loss of volume.
• Nano fat.  This is the smallest in size fat particle.  It is the most frequently subtype of lipomodelling for concerns affecting the facial region including lines and wrinkles.
  Your clinician will be able to select the most appropriate fat transfer subtype based on your specific cosmetic goals and personal preferences.

Lipomodelling injections can be performed as part of a daycase appointment. The skin around the target for lipomodelling as well as the fat harvest area is first cleaned using an antiseptic solution. The fields are then injected with a local anaesthetic solution, which results in numbness within a few minutes. You may feel some pushing and pulling during the procedure but not discomfort or pain. After the fat has been harvested and processed, a specialised, blunt needle is then used under the scar and fat is injected in a fan-like pattern.  Multiple access incisions are frequently used to treat larger and more complex areas.

Following fat transfer, you may experience mild discomfort, bruising and swelling for about a week Regular pain killers can be helpful; nevertheless most patients find the recovery to be brief.

It is important to seek out an experienced clinician to ensure that appropriately sourced fat harvesting and processing kits are used. Choice of a skilled clinician will also improve the standard of your final results and reduce the risk of any nerve or blood vessel damage, especially if having treatments on the face.