Fat injection, also known as lipofilling, is a procedure that involves taking fat tissue from one part of the body and injecting it into the face, body, or other areas for aesthetic and reconstructive purposes. This method is ideal for creating a youthful and natural appearance in areas of the face or body that have lost their natural fullness due to aging or thinning. The main advantage of this procedure is that it uses the patient’s own tissue, ensuring the most natural results.
What is Fat Injection (Lipofilling)?
Lipofilling, or fat injection, involves injecting the patient’s own fat tissue into another part of the body where fullness is desired. This procedure is used in both aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, primarily to provide fullness in the face and body, eliminate fine lines, and improve overall appearance. Since the patient’s own fat tissue is used, the risk of incompatibility is very low.
History and Development of Fat Injection
The history of fat injection dates back a long time, but it became a safer and more effective procedure with the advancement of technology in the late 20th century. Lipofilling began to spread more widely in the 1980s, leading to significant changes in aesthetic surgery. Today, fat injection is performed using special technologies, resulting in longer-lasting and more natural outcomes.
Applications of Fat Injection
Fat injection can be applied to the face, body, hands, breasts, lips, cheeks, and other areas according to the patient’s needs. This procedure is ideal for both eliminating fine wrinkles and providing fullness to the body.
- Face: Fat injection to the face is widely used to restore lost fullness due to aging. This procedure is applied to the forehead, cheeks, chin, and around the eyes, ensuring a youthful and radiant appearance. Facial fat injection is popular as a natural and minimally invasive method.
- Lips: Lipofilling is specifically applied for fuller and more natural-looking lips. The patient’s own fat tissue is injected to enhance the lips, providing a longer-lasting and more natural appearance compared to synthetic fillers.
- Cheeks: Fat injection to the cheeks, also known as cheek lipofilling, is one of the most ideal methods for creating fullness and contouring the face. As cheeks may thin with aging, lipofilling enhances the cheeks, creating symmetry and strengthening the facial contour.
- Body: Fat injection to the body is applied to areas such as the abdomen, breasts, thighs, or other regions to provide fullness. These areas are given fullness through lipofilling, giving the body a sculpted appearance.
Advantages of Fat Injection
Fat injection has many advantages, the most important being the use of the patient’s own fat tissue, ensuring a natural appearance. Since the procedure is minimally invasive, it provides fullness and aesthetic appearance to the desired area without creating additional risk for the patient.
- Natural Appearance: The use of the patient’s own tissue during lipofilling results in a natural appearance.
- Long-lasting Effect: A portion of the injected fat remains in the body, creating a long-lasting result.
- Low Allergy Risk: Since the patient’s own tissue is used, the risk of incompatibility and allergic reaction is very low.
- Short Recovery Process: The recovery process after lipofilling is usually short, and the patient can quickly return to daily activities.
Risks and Side Effects of Fat Injection
Although fat injection is generally safe, like any surgical procedure, it carries certain risks. These risks are minimized when performed by an experienced surgeon, but every patient should be informed about these effects before the procedure.
- Infection Risk: There is a slight risk of infection after the procedure. Following the surgeon’s instructions on hygiene can minimize this risk.
- Fat Absorption: A portion of the injected fat tissue may be absorbed by the body, reducing the results.
- Swelling and Redness: Swelling and redness may be observed in the treated area after the procedure. These usually decrease within a few days.
- Unevenness: Uneven results may occur if the fat is not evenly distributed. Fat injection performed by an experienced plastic surgeon minimizes this risk.
Stages of the Fat Injection Procedure
The fat injection procedure consists of several main stages. First, the surgeon extracts fat tissue from the patient’s body (such as the abdomen, thighs, or waist). The extracted fat is then processed and purified. This purified fat is then injected into the desired area. Each stage of the lipofilling procedure is carefully performed to ensure the patient achieves the most natural and aesthetic results.
Who Can Undergo Fat Injection?
Fat injection is an ideal choice for individuals who want to provide fullness and symmetry to the face or body for aesthetic purposes.
Fat injection can be performed on individuals who meet the following criteria:
- Generally healthy individuals
- Those with sufficient fat tissue in their body
- Individuals sensitive to synthetic fillers and seeking natural fullness
- Those who can handle the recovery process after surgery
Lipofilling, or fat injection, can be applied to individuals over the age of 18, regardless of age and gender.
Post-Fat Injection – Recovery Process
After fat injection, there may be swelling, redness, and discomfort in the treated area for a certain period. These symptoms usually decrease within a few days, and the patient returns to normal life. The full recovery process can take several weeks, depending on the individual. Following the surgeon’s recommendations during the recovery period helps in faster healing.
Durability of Fat Injection Results
Fat injection is a procedure with long-lasting effects. A portion of the injected fat tissue remains in the body, allowing the results to last for years. However, some of the injected fat may be naturally absorbed, so repeated procedures may be applied in some cases to maintain the results.
Conclusion
Fat injection, also known as lipofilling, is a widely used procedure in aesthetic surgery that is natural, long-lasting, and minimally invasive. Using the patient’s own fat tissue makes lipofilling a safer method with a lower risk of incompatibility. With a procedure performed by an experienced surgeon, it is possible to achieve a natural and full appearance. Fat injection procedures used on both the face and body help patients achieve a younger and more natural look.