The transition from the cheeks towards the lips (the nasolabial), the junction of the lower eyelid- cheek junction (the "tear trough"), and the progression of the jowl to the chin (the Marionette line), all tend to become accentuated. Cheeks may lose their youthful fullness, and lips may seem to thin and wrinkle. Fat grafting helps to restore the dissipated volume on the face. It is useful in smoothing the transition zones and refilling areas where fullness has been lost. It is a natural solution that uses ones own fat tissue to minimize the effects of age, and restores youth and beauty. There are a variety of "fillers" that can be used to replenish lost facial volume: injectable fillers that mainly consist of hyaluronic acid, and your own tissue filler, fat.

In autologous fat transplantation, fat transfer, autologous fat grafts, or micro/ nano fat grafting, fat cells are gently removed from the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks by small holed liposuction cannulas to be prepared as fat grafts. They are then transferred to problem areas of the face or elsewhere on other areas of the body.

Fat transfer or autologous fat grafts can be used to rejuvenate the face by softly filling folds and wrinkles such as under eye circles, nasolabial fold, and temporal or upper eyelid hollowness. It is possible to restore volume to your lips, to highlight cheek areas, that have become less pronounced, and to fill areas in need virtually anywhere on the body. Fat grafts can be used to refresh aged hands, and can also be used to replenish or add volume to buttocks and breast. As fat grafts are fat cells from your own body, it is the most natural filler choice. Fat grafting is often performed in conjunction with other procedures, such as liposuction, facelift, blepharoplasty (eyelid lift), and other facial and body plastic surgery procedures.

Ideal Fat Transfer Candidate

• Volume loss on the face with limited loss of skin elasticity
• Facelift, blepharoplasty and neck lift surgery can be performed in conjunction with fat grafting

Which Areas Of The Face Are Rejuvenated By Autologous Fat Transfer?

• Nasolabial Folds,
• Glabellar Lines
• Lips, Eyelids
• Tear Troughs
• Cheeks
• Temporal hollowness

Fat Grafting to hands, buttocks and breast is also possible for augmentation or rejuvenation purposes.

Where from the body is fat taken for transfer?

Belly, inner thighs and waist; mainly where there is excess body fat, are the most common areas where the fat is taken from.

How is the fat grafting (fat transfer) performed?

The fat cells are removed using a very small cannula, and are then prepared as fat grafts. The fat grafts are then transferred into an area of wrinkling or hollowness using a small cannula or needle.
Because these fat graft cells are your own, they will not be rejected. Although there is some resorption of the transferred fat, fat grafts last considerably longer than most fillers containing hyaluronic acid. As the fat grafts are your own tissue, they become incorporated as soft, natural tissue that is indistinguishable from the native soft tissue in the area.

Fat grafts in Istanbul are performed in accredited hospitals in Istanbul. Depending upon your needs, the fat graft procedure takes between 30 minutes for very mild corrections to 3 hours for more substantial volume restorations (for the breast or buttock).

When performed as an isolated procedure, fat grafting can be performed under local anesthesia. When the fat transfer or autologous fat graft process is combined with another cosmetic surgery procedure, and is performed under general anesthesia when indicated.

Recovery after Fat Transfer Surgery

Following fat grafting procedures, it is possible go home on the same day with a friend or family member. If the fat grafts are performed as an isolated procedure, Dr. Unal suggests taking two or three days before returning to work.

When the fat graft procedure is used in conjunction with other facial or body contouring procedures, the return to work may range from seven to fourteen days. Swelling is very common after fat transfer or autologous fat grafts, and often it takes two weeks to resolve. Sometimes it may take up to 12 weeks for the final results of the fat graft procedure to be evident. Light aerobic activity may be resumed as early as four to five days following fat grafts, and more strenuous activity is begun at two to three weeks.