Adipose tissue transplantation, also known as fat transplantation or lipofilling, is a surgical procedure that involves transferring fat from one area of the body (the donor area) to another (the recipient area).
The purpose of fat transplantation is to increase the volume, improve the contour and shape of certain body parts, as well as restore or replace damaged or lost tissues.
Fat transplantation can be performed for the following purposes:
- Breast augmentation
- Buttock enlargement
- Changing the face shape
- Body contour correction after liposuction
- Volume recovery after injury or surgery
- Treatment of defects caused by skin diseases such as scars or burns
Fat transplantation is not recommended for people:
- With serious systemic diseases such as cancer or diabetes
- With blood clotting disorders
- With active infections
- With a very large transfer area
Fat transplantation is usually performed under general anesthesia. The steps of the procedure include:
- Fat Extraction: Fat is extracted from a donor area, usually the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks, using liposuction.
- Fat Treatment: The extracted fat is purified and processed to remove impurities.
- Fat transfer: Processed fat is injected into the recipient area using a syringe and cannula.
- Massage and shaping: The recipient area is massaged to distribute fat and give it the desired shape.
After fat transplantation, the following symptoms are usually observed:
- Swelling and bruising
- Pain or discomfort
- Limited mobility near the recipient area
Full recovery takes several weeks or months. During this time, it is recommended to avoid intense exercise, wearing tight clothing, and excessive sitting on the transplanted area.
Potential complications of fat transplantation include:
- Seroma (accumulation of fluid under the skin)
- Hematoma (accumulation of blood under the skin)
- Fat embolism (fat entering the bloodstream)
- Nerve damage
- Non-engraftment of the transplanted tissue
The effectiveness of fat transplantation depends on the following factors:
- The amount of transplanted fat
- Patient's health
- Surgical technique
- Wound Care
The survival rate of the transplanted fat is about 50-70%. This means that some of the transplanted fat may not take root and may subsequently be reabsorbed by the body.
Advantages
- Using the patient's own tissues
- Low risk of rejection
- The possibility of correcting minor defects
- Restoring volume and improving contours
Disadvantages
- Limited amount of transplanted fat
- Unpredictable survival rate
- The need for repeated procedures to achieve the desired results
- Risk of complications such as seroma or fat embolism
