A lipo injection for fat transfer is a specialized procedure used to restore volume and improve contour in various areas of the body. This technique is formally known as autologous fat transfer or fat grafting, meaning the patient’s own fat is moved from one site to another. Using natural, biocompatible tissue minimizes the risk of allergic reaction or rejection that can occur with synthetic fillers. The primary goal is to harvest fat from an abundant area, such as the abdomen or thighs, and then carefully reintroduce it to an area requiring augmentation or rejuvenation. This process allows for simultaneous contouring of the donor area while enhancing the appearance of the recipient area.
The Stages of Fat Grafting
Fat grafting is a multi-stage process designed to ensure the viability of the transferred fat cells. The first stage is harvesting the adipose tissue, typically extracted from the flanks, abdomen, or inner thighs. This is accomplished using a gentle form of liposuction, often the tumescent technique, which involves infiltrating the donor site with a wetting solution to minimize trauma and bleeding.
Specialized, thin cannulas are used with low-impact suction to manually extract the fat, keeping the delicate fat cells intact and viable. Techniques like laser or ultrasonic liposuction are avoided for harvesting donor fat because the heat and energy they generate can damage the fat cells. The harvested material, known as lipoaspirate, is a mixture of fat cells, blood, local anesthetic fluid, and oil.
The second stage involves purification, where the harvested fat is prepared for injection. This processing step is performed immediately to separate the healthy adipose cells from the non-viable components. Purification methods often include centrifugation, which rapidly spins the material to separate the intact fat cells from lighter fluids and debris, or rinsing the fat with a sterile saline solution. Removing the unusable components is important because they can interfere with the survival of the healthy fat cells.
The final stage is the placement of the purified fat into the recipient area. The surgeon uses micro-cannulas, which are fine, blunt-tipped instruments, to inject the fat. Rather than placing a single large mass of fat, the surgeon deposits the material in tiny, linear threads across multiple tissue layers, creating a lattice or grid pattern. This technique of injecting small droplets ensures that each transferred fat cell is surrounded by the host tissue and has sufficient access to the local blood supply, which is necessary for long-term survival.
Common Application Sites
Fat transfer is employed across both the face and body to correct volume deficits and enhance contours. For facial rejuvenation, fat is used to address signs of aging resulting from the loss of underlying volume. Common injection sites include the cheeks and temples, where restoring fullness can create a more youthful contour and lift.
The technique is also used to smooth depressions like under-eye hollows (tear troughs) and to soften deep folds such as the nasolabial lines. Fat can also be used to augment the lips or redefine the jawline and chin, providing a soft, natural alternative to synthetic dermal fillers. The smaller particle size of microfat grafting is preferred for these delicate facial areas.
In body contouring, fat transfer is used for larger-volume augmentation procedures. A popular application is buttocks enhancement, often marketed as the Brazilian Butt Lift, where fat increases volume and creates a rounder, more defined shape. Fat grafting is also a common technique for breast augmentation, particularly for women seeking a modest size increase or correcting minor asymmetry. Beyond aesthetics, the procedure is used for reconstructive purposes, such as smoothing irregularities caused by scars or restoring volume to the dorsum of the hands.
Recovery and Long-Term Fat Survival
The recovery period involves managing expected swelling and bruising at both the donor and recipient sites. Since the procedure involves liposuction, the donor area will experience soreness and swelling similar to a minor liposuction procedure, requiring a brief period of downtime. The recipient area will also be swollen and may look over-filled immediately following the injection, due to the surgeon anticipating that not all of the transferred fat will survive.
Not all fat cells survive the transfer process and the subsequent period of vascularization (establishment of a new blood supply). On average, only about 50% to 70% of the injected fat cells are retained permanently, with the body naturally reabsorbing the remaining portion within the first few months. This survival rate depends heavily on the surgeon’s technique during harvesting and placement, as well as the blood supply richness of the area receiving the graft.
The fat that successfully integrates and establishes a blood supply is considered permanent and will behave like normal body fat, meaning it can gain or lose volume with weight fluctuations. Final results are assessed after several months, typically three to six months, once initial swelling has resolved and the retained fat has stabilized. Post-operative care, such as avoiding external pressure and refraining from smoking, is important for optimizing fat cell survival.