Fat injections

Fat injection costs

The costs for fat injection can range significantly depending on the volume of fat being injected, as well as whether the fat is already being removed during liposuction or a similar procedure.

Am I a candidate for fat injections?

Ideal candidates for fat injections are in good overall health and are not pregnant or breastfeeding. Fat injections may be right for you if you are between the ages of 30 and 65 and want to reverse the visible signs of aging without taking time off work or undergoing invasive surgery. Most patients who choose fat injections do so to:

• Fill in deep facial creases and wrinkles
• Restore the volume of sunken areas of the face
• Add fullness to the cheeks or lips
• Create an overall younger facial appearance.

What are fat injections?

The fat injected during this procedure is obtained from a donor site on the patient’s body. Before being re-injected, it is purified and centrifuged to separate the fat from other tissues. Because the fat has been taken from the patient’s own body, there is no risk of an allergic reaction, unlike with other cosmetic filler products.

Fat injection steps

The entire fat injection procedure is nearly painless because it is performed under local anesthesia. During the fat injection appointment, first the fat is drawn out of certain pre-selected donor areas using a needle or other techniques used during liposuction and related procedures. Common donor sites include the hip, thighs, abdomen, or lower back.

Then, the fat is purified before being injected through a tiny needle into the target area(s). While often performed on the face, fat injections may also be made to increase the volume in the hands, buttocks, or other areas of the body. The process for injecting fat into the body is considered more involved than the process when using other dermal fillers because the fat must first be harvested from the body. However, fat injections can be used in larger volumes, enabling the filling of larger creases and lines.

Fat Injection Recovery and Healing Steps

Patients who undergo fat injections are able to return home as soon as the procedure is complete. A bandage may be required on either the donor site or the injection site, depending on the amount of fat being transferred. Most patients return to their daily activities immediately. In the first 24 hours, patients should avoid sun exposure and wearing makeup over the treated area.

Eventually, the body will re-absorb the deposited fat cells, returning the treated area to its previous appearance. The pace of re-absorption can vary widely, from six months to seven years or longer.

Fat Injection Side Effects and Procedure Risks

Common side effects of fat injection include some bruising, tenderness, swelling, or redness in both the donor and injection sites. These side effects typically subside in about a week.