Fat Transfer
You’ve heard of breast implants, body sculpting and liposuction, but did you know there are other ways to enhance the contours of your body? Double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Franziska Huettner can help you achieve your ideal shape with a fat transfer. A highly versatile procedure, fat transfers have evolved greatly over the years to address both cosmetic and reconstructive needs but require skill and precision to achieve safe, natural-looking results.
Dr. Huettner is a highly experienced plastic surgeon with a reputation as one of New York and Florida’s premier aesthetic artists, able to create soft curves, smooth lines and sculpted contours that complement your natural figure. By combining her expertise with a passion for high-quality, personalized care, Dr. Huettner is raising the bar to ensure a truly remarkable plastic surgery experience and exceptional results to match.
What is Body Fat Transfer?
Also known as fat injections or fat grafting, fat transfers use your own fat to sculpt and reshape your body naturally. By utilizing liposuction to extract unwanted fat and relocating it an area in need of contouring, this procedure simultaneously trims common problem areas while adding volume where you need it most. Fat transfers can be performed on the face, breast and body and are often used to:
Address contour irregularities and asymmetry
Correct the results of previous procedures
Soften the appearance of scars and injuries
Address the signs of aging
Improve the appearance of cellulite
Augment the breast and buttocks
If you think a body fat transfer is right for you, Dr. Huettner can help you determine if this procedure will address your needs during an in-person consultation. She will thoroughly examine your areas of concern and ask about your goals, expectations and medical history to provide an accurate assessment and ensure seamless results.
Am I a good candidate?
Fat transfers are a minimally-invasive procedure that can address numerous concerns and reshape the body for subtle, natural-looking results, making it ideal for a wide range of patients. Since it uses your body’s natural fat, it may also be a good option for those with allergies or sensitivities looking to improve their contours without implants or synthetic materials. A body fat transfer may be right for you if:
You have a sufficient amount of donor fat available for harvesting
You desire natural-looking results that last
You have reasonable expectations
You understand that the procedure isn’t a substitute for diet or exercise
You are at a stable, healthy weight
If you’re planning on losing or gaining a significant amount of weight after your procedure, it may be best to achieve your fitness goals first. Once the harvested fat is transferred, it will behave the same way as all other fat on your body. This means that it will be affected by weight fluctuations, which can negatively impact your final results. Maintaining a stable weight will help preserve the tone and definition of treated areas for results that last long after your procedure.
What kind of results can I expect?
our body fat transfer procedure will be customized just for you and a number of factors will impact your final results, including your specific goals, unique anatomy and retention of transferred fat.
Since fat grafting uses your own living fat cells, up to approximately 40 percent may be naturally absorbed by the body when they are moved to a new location. To ensure your aesthetic goals are met, Dr. Huettner compensates for this anticipated fat loss while her skill and expertise help to increase overall survivability. Over the next three to six months, your final results will begin to develop and reveal contour improvements, a more flattering silhouette and a permanent volume boost in treated areas.
Although you may need more than one treatment to achieve your desired outcome, your results will be permanent once the transferred fat has settled and integrated into the surrounding tissues.
No maintenance treatments will be required, but it will be important to maintain a stable weight to preserve your results, as transferred fat is susceptible to weight gain and loss.
What can I expect?
Your body fat transfer procedure will consist of multiple stages, beginning with the harvesting of donor fat using liposuction. Where fat is removed will depend on how much is available and which areas you’d like to see trimmed, but common donor sites include the thighs, hips and abdomen. Dr. Huettner will begin the extraction by making small incisions through which a thin, hollow tube called a cannula will be inserted to dislodge and siphon out the fat. Once a sufficient amount has been collected, Dr. Huettner will purify and process the harvested fat so that healthy cells are transferred into treatment areas.
The next step of the process is injecting the purified fat cells into targeted areas to restore volume, create more pleasing contours, improve symmetry and enhance your overall appearance. Dr. Huettner will develop a customized treatment plan that addresses your specific concerns and each injection will be strategically administered to help you achieve your ideal body shape. By combining an individualized approach with a high degree of precision and control, Dr. Huettner is able to sculpt curves that complement your natural figure for long-lasting results that are all your own.
Recovery & Results
The recovery associated with a body fat transfer will largely depend on the liposuction stage of the procedure and how much donor fat was extracted. Although Dr. Huettner makes very small incisions and uses a specialized approach to minimize side effects, you may experience some bruising, swelling and inflammation. This is completely normal and will subside in the weeks following your surgery, although you may be asked to wear compression garments as your body heals. You may also experience mild discomfort, but many patients find that this can be managed with over-the-counter medications and are able to return to work, school and other activities within a few days.
To ensure a smooth recovery process, Dr. Huettner will send you home with detailed aftercare instructions and a direct line of communication should you have any questions or concerns during this time. Dr. Huettner is deeply committed to providing each patient with the one-on-one attention they deserve, you’ll receive a high level of warm, professional care throughout your entire experience, from the moment you walk through the doors to recovery and beyond.
We are here to help
If you’re tired of the pain and discomfort caused by your breasts and want a change, Dr. Franziska Huettner can help you achieve the shapely, feminine and pain-free breasts you deserve. As a double board-certified surgeon with the credentials and experience to match, her exclusive patients receive highly personalized care and beautiful, artistic results that can only be achieved with skill and finesse.
Get in touch with one of her offices today:
