For many patients, fat grafting (fat transfer) is an effective body contouring solution. The procedure involves transferring fatty tissue from one area of the body to another to address volume loss and desired cosmetic enhancements. Commonly performed on the breasts, buttocks, and face, fat grafting is utilized via liposuction. While treatment plans may vary from patient to patient, the procedure usually starts with harvesting fat from a “donor area” that will then be used in a different body region. After the removed fat has been purified, it is then injected as a “natural filler” into the target area to enhance and restore volume. Not all the transferred fat will survive, but there are several things that patients can do to help maximize fat survival after the procedure.
At Premier Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics, board-certified plastic surgeon John M. Sarbak, MD and his team understand how fat grafting can boost a patient’s confidence and effectively contour their body. Dr. Sarbak takes great care in providing patients with top-quality service and desired results. With fat transfer, Dr. Sarbak suggests a variety of aftercare instructions that can help transferred fat survive in its new area.
- Wear loose clothing – Along with compression garments, you should wear looser-fitting clothing to support the recovery process. Tight and restrictive apparel can potentially lead to fat reabsorption and elimination of some of the extracted cells.
- Don’t sleep on the treated area – Fat reabsorption can happen when there is pressure on the area of the body that has received fat injections, so sleeping habits may need to change. For example, after breast augmentation with fat transfer, you should sleep on your back, and with buttock augmentation, sleeping facing down is typically the better approach.
- Avoid smoking – Newly injected fat needs oxygen and nutrients from the body’s bloodstream to survive. Smoking affects the body’s ability to facilitate that connection and can stifle the healing process. Along with secondhand smoke, cigarettes can also make it difficult for your body to build new, quality blood vessels.
- Maintain a healthy diet – By adhering to a healthier diet and consuming nutrient-dense calories, you can help maintain an effective bond between your body and the newly transferred fat with proper vitamins and minerals. Examples of appropriate foods include avocados, salmon, and coconut oil.
- Delay exercise – Strenuous physical activity in the couple of months following fat transfer could potentially burn off transferred fat. By waiting about eight weeks to fully work out, a proper blood supply should be established to the grafted fat. Still, be mindful to avoid exercises that apply pressure to the treated area even after the waiting period. With that in mind, a certain level of mobility is typically necessary after most surgical procedures, so it is important to follow the doctor’s recommendations regarding aftercare.
For more information about fat transfer, contact our office to schedule a consultation.