Fat Transfer
Discover the art of natural enhancement at Thrive Medical Spa with Fat transfer procedures. Using your body’s own fat, our double board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Vincent Zubowicz, will sculpt and rejuvenate, providing a safe and effective way to experience a more youthful appearance.
What is Fat Transfer?
Fat grafting, a century-old technique now refined with new technology over the past 30 years, involves transferring a patient’s own fat from a surplus area to one in need of aesthetic enhancement. Commonly used to restore facial and hand volume lost due to aging, Dr. Zubowicz selects the most suitable donor area, in line with patient preference.
For optimal results, fat grafting is recommended for areas with a robust blood supply. Scarred or irradiated tissue may not be suitable for this procedure.
Why Choose Fat Transfer at Thrive Medical Spa?
Dr. Zubowicz has honed the art of fat transfer over three decades of experience. We offer various fat processing methods, including the extraction of stem cells for direct skin injection.
Our Thrive team is extensively trained and licensed for the intricate process of fat grafting. To ensure the survival of fat cells during transfer, precise harvesting and processing are vital, demanding rigorous training and practice to master these techniques.
Worried about pain or anxiety? We’ve got you covered! Thrive offers Pro-Nox™, a pain and stress management solution available to all of our surgical suite patients.
Actual Patient
Actual Patient
The Fat Transfer Procedure
At Thrive, the fat grafting process is both convenient and minimally invasive. Patients simply arrive clean and ready for their procedure. Most fat grafting, especially as a standalone procedure, takes place in our office.
Once you arrive, the donor area is cleansed, and the entry point is injected with a local anesthetic. A small puncture is then made in the skin, and the fat is infused with anesthetic fluid. With utmost care, fat is harvested through aspiration and collected in a sterile container. After processing, it’s skillfully introduced into the target area.
The entry point for fat grafting receives local anesthesia, and a small puncture is created. Using a delicate cannula, the fat is meticulously distributed into the tissue, ensuring even placement and optimal fat cell survival.
The duration of the procedure depends on the extent of grafting required, but in most cases, it is completed within an hour.
Your Recovery and Results
After the procedure, patients can resume light activities immediately while taking care to protect the donor and recipient areas. Full athletic activities can typically resume after a week.
Post-procedure discomfort is often described as soreness rather than severe pain, though individual experiences may vary. Over-the-counter pain medications are usually sufficient, although some patients may occasionally require prescription pain relief.
The success rate of fat grafting varies and depends on both technique and the target area, making it less predictable than fillers. For precision-demanding areas, fillers may be a more suitable option. The fat that successfully integrates into the recipient area can last indefinitely.
In addition to volume enhancement, grafted fat is known to have positive effects on the surrounding skin. This includes stimulating increased collagen, elastin, and ground substance in the dermis, resulting in enhanced skin quality.
Safety is Our Priority
At Thrive, fat grafting is a remarkably safe procedure. Infection is exceedingly rare in either the donor and recipient areas, and we’ve had no instances of severe complications. While most patients achieve the expected aesthetic improvements, occasionally, there may be variances in outcomes due to the inherent unpredictability of fat survival.
Asymmetry, typically minor, can occasionally arise. In rare cases, the survival of the grafted fat may be insufficient to deliver the desired aesthetic benefits. While these possibilities exist, our expert team prioritizes patient safety and satisfaction throughout the process.