Lipofilling
Get a natural body modelling using your own fat cells
What is lipofilling?
Lipofilling (lipotransfer) is transplantation of patient’s own fat cells, a procedure consisting in taking the adipose tissue, most frequently from the area with its surplus, and injecting it in the area which needs to be remodeled or revitalized. Fat transplantation is widely used, due to a large number of areas of the body where it can be applied and the stem cells present in the adipose tissue that cause regeneration and revitalization of the place subjected to the treatment.
Why fat transplantation?
An important advantage of this procedure is its combination with liposuction. Many of us have in certain places more fat than we would like to, therefore the treatment is described as "two in one". We take away from the unwanted place in order to add to another one to fill it up. In contrast to silicone or hyaluronic acid, fat is our own tissue, and as such it is a completely natural filler. It is not processed in laboratory, it is not artificial nor allergenic. Additionally, it contains millions of stem cells, which, when administered along with fat, affect the improvement and vitality of the skin, accelerate the regeneration of skin damaged by aging, radiation, burns or excessive sunlight.
Where is fat transplantation applied?
The most common areas of fat injections are the face, breasts, buttocks, calves, hands. However, fat can be transplanted virtually to any area of the body to shape or correct its imperfections.
Breast
Transplanting fat to the breasts is an alternative for breast implants. This procedure is suitable for patients who wish to enlarge their breasts or to improve their shape but do not want to have inserts. The advantage of this method is undoubtedly its combination with liposuction, it allows breast enlargement while shaping the figure. After implantation of the patient’s own fat tissue, the breasts are completely natural, the procedure leaves no visible scars, and additionally the volume of breasts can undergo proportional changes when the patient loses or gains weight. With this method we can enlarge breasts roughly by one size, but it depends on the individual predispositions of the patient, and the volume of fat in the donor place. The procedure can be repeated, or in advance it can be scheduled for several stages. It is assumed, that approximately 20-40% of the administered fat is absorbed, depending on individual predispositions. The decision what method should be chosen is always taken jointly with an aesthetic surgery specialist, who will advise you which method will work best for you in order to obtain a satisfactory result. In some cases, the doctor may propose implants with an additional injection of fat in order to obtain more naturally-looking breasts. The operation is performed under general anesthesia.
Buttocks
Over the years, in our culture there have been a lot of changes in the perception of beauty of the female body. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the shape and size of the buttocks. So far, cosmetic surgery has had the possibility of toning this part of the body by suction of excess fat or using implants for highlighting the buttocks. As can be easily seen, these two methods are completely opposite. Advancement of fat transplantation techniques has brought in completely new possibilities in toning this area. With adipose tissue grafting, not only can we add volume, but also improve the shape and contour of the buttocks, simultaneously modelling the area from which we draw the fat graft. As with other areas of the body, after surgery there are virtually no scars. The operation is performed under general anesthesia.
Face
The young look is not only lack of wrinkles. If we compare a photograph of a 50-year-old woman with the same picture with wrinkles removed in a computer programme, what we will probably get is a "good-looking" 50-year-old. So what other changes, apart from wrinkles, decide whether a person looks older or younger? Skin flaccidity and sagging? Certainly yes, but tight skin does not necessarily look young. The skin stretched around the cheekbones without a proper thick layer of fat beneath looks like a poorly-performed facelift. The main factor responsible for aging of the face is the loss of fat tissue accompanied by reduced flexibility of the skin. These findings served as a basis for developing aesthetic medicine that comes to the aid in reducing wrinkles through the paralysis of facial muscles with Botox, removal of deep wrinkles with a filler or application of hyaluronic acid to fill deficiencies in the adipose tissue around the eyes or to add fullness to sunken cheeks. These treatments are very popular and effective and for many patients use of fillers, such as hyaluronic acid, is advisable. However, as we have already mentioned, a key issue that occurs with aging is the loss of volume, and none of the "artificial" fillers will replace it as effectively as the patient’s own fat grafting. In the facial treatment, fat serves as means of sculpting and toning, restoring a youthful appearance, and also thanks to stem cells, it also improves the condition of skin. The volume of adipose tissue, which can be used to model the face, may exceed 60 cm3, compared to traditional fillers which are applied in the amount of up to 1cm³. This is 60 times more. With such large volumes, we can actually talk about sculpting the face. The cheekbones, the shape of the jaw, and architecture of the entire face can be changed so as to get a better, younger look. Most frequently used, however, are smaller injections, depending on individual needs of the patient. Fat transplantation is also the most effective method for treating the under-eye circles. Typical recommendations for facial fat injections are: elimination of circles under the eyes, face oval modelling, filling in lines and wrinkles, deficiency of adipose tissue, sunken cheeks, asymmetries, acne scars, lip enlargement. These treatments are usually carried out under local anesthesia.
Calves
Too thin, or too skinny calves can cause complexes. Some patients suffer with muscle atrophy or calf asymmetry, which is particularly noticeable. Others may consider the calves disproportionate to the figure and disrupting its harmony. Shaping calves with the patient’s own fat is a much more effective and safer method compared to the use of silicone implants. This treatment is performed under general or local anesthesia The decision about the type of anesthesia depends on the amount of fat needed for modelling and the donor place.
What is the course of treatment?
Depending on the volume of the transplanted fat and the area of fat injection, the procedure is performed under local or general anesthesia. In the case of facial modelling it is local anesthesia, and the amount of fat uptake is small. Exceptions are facelift operations with a combination of fat cell transplantation which are performed under general anesthesia. If the treatment is aimed at enlarging or modelling breasts or buttocks and the donor area is much larger, we perform it under general anesthesia. The most common donor areas are the abdomen, thighs, hips and buttocks. In any case, via a cannula, the surgeon performs liposuction of the area, taking the fat into special syringes. The taken tissues are centrifuged to obtain clear fat cells ready for transplantation. Then, through small punctures made with very thin cannulas, the surgeon injects the fat to their destination.