Fat Injections (Coleman Fat Transfer)
Fat transfer is a procedure which was perfected by Dr. Coleman in the U.S.
The Procedure
The fat is harvested using a small cannula attached to a syringe. The fat is then either left to settle or put in a centrifuge to spin off the oil layer. The purified fat is then reinjected.
The reinjected fat remains permanently. It is a useful technique for filling depressed areas, e.g. cleft lip deformities, Romberg’s disease, deformities after excessive liposuction, or deep skin wrinkles.
Increased fullness to certain areas of the face can produce a lifting and rejuvenating effect. It is a useful adjunct to procedures such as facelift, blepharoplasty and brow lift.
There is emerging scientific evidence that the Coleman Fat Transfer produces multiple tissue mediators and may also enhance skin rejuvenation as well as bringing in fresh stem cells to the area in which the fat is placed.
Coleman fat transfer is a permanent procedure and the fat that is left will last forever. However, the percentage of graft take is unpredictable.
Fat injections are frequently employed in facial rejuvenation surgery, body contour surgery and to improve contour irregularities after all forms of breast reconstruction.
In Australia, the use of fat injections into native breast tissue has recently been investigated and is considered a safe procedure to perform.
This procedure to native breast tissue is routinely performed in many countries around the world.
It is particularly useful to correct minor irregularities and to boost cleavage lines when combined with a breast augmentation (hybrid breast augmentation).
Complications and Risks
All Procedures have potential complications and risks. These can be divided into general complications and those specific to each procedure. The latter are listed in the FAQs below.
General complications include:
- Wound complications - bleeding, bruising, collections under the skin of blood (haematoma), pus (abscess), serous fluid (seroma), infection, wound breakdown, suture extrusion, sensory loss;
- Aesthetic complications - poor scars, stretched scars, raised scars (keloid or hypertrophic), contour irregularities, need for revisional procedure;
- Anaesthetic complications
FAQs
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What are the costs involved?
Please contact Dr Belt’s staff on 07-3852 6800 and a personalised quote and further information will be provided.
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What are the potential risks involved?
The specific risks are those of over or under correction, migration of the transferred fat, infection and loss of the transferred fat. The placement and harvesting incisions are small and strategically placed so as to be largely concealed in natural skin crease lines.
Occasionally some patients may experience bruising and swelling but this will only take a week or two to subside and can be reduced by using ice packs.
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What happens after the procedure?
The effects of fat transfer are immediate. There is a degree of swelling which takes some weeks to settle down. Any bruising can be helped with cold packs for a period of up to 48 hours.
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What happens before the procedure?
A useful technique is to use an injectable filler as a temporary filler first. This will give the patient a realistic idea of the degree of correction that can be obtained. This product lasts for 3 - 12 months. Most patients find that the effect is good for an average of nine months.
It is also possible to inject sterile physiological saline (salt water) to see an immediate effect which will last approximately 12 hours. This can be a useful guide to see if the desired effect can be achieved.
The areas of depression are carefully marked pre-operatively. The amount of fat and its precise redistribution is carefully calculated.
