The body's own fat can be used to correct or alter the contours of the body. A localised dip or dent after trauma or previous liposuction, for example, can often be corrected using the patient's own subcutaneous fat. In the face, the patient's own fat tissue is frequently used to fill out hollow cheeks.
In principle it is also possible to increase the size of breasts and buttocks using the patient's own fat tissue.
The technique: first, fat tissue is "harvested". Fat is aspirated from an area where fat tissue is present. This is done more cautiously and with weaker suction than in liposculpture. That is because fat cells are very fragile and unlike liposculpture the intention here is for as many cells as possible to remain viable. The aspirated tissue is then centrifuged. This separates the excess fluid and the small amount of oil from broken cells from the layer of intact cells. This layer is then used for injection into the area being treated. Since the fat cells must receive adequate oxygen from the surrounding tissues to survive, they are inserted into tiny tunnels. A thin needle with a blunt end and a hole in the side is used to create a tunnel as the needle passes through the tissue. This tunnel is then filled with fat as the needle is withdrawn. The tissue therefore has to be pricked many tens or hundreds of times, depending on the volume being used.
The main advantage of lipofilling is that this is tissue from your own body which – as long as it survives – will remain in place for a long time. It only disappears if you lose weight in the area from where it was taken.
The disadvantage is that one cannot predict how much of the volume inserted will survive. This is usually around 60%.
The use of lipofilling for breast enlargement is controversial. A literature study carried out for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, concluded that there are not yet any reports of an increased risk of breast cancer, that manual breast examination may be impaired and that, on the basis of the limited published data, there is possibly no impairment in the assessment of mammography or CT scans.* Nevertheless it is a relatively new technique which involves piercing the breast tissue multiple times. This inevitably results in sebaceous cysts and scar tissue in the breast. The long-term effects are therefore unknown. At Artemedis we are therefore waiting for more data to become available in this area.
* source: ASPS Fat Graft Task Force Fat Grafting Manuscript Feb 2009
In recent years there has been a growing awareness that the gradual melting away of fatty tissue in the face is a significant factor in the loss of a youthful appearance.
This is mainly seen in the way the cheeks become hollowed.
To add volume to the cheeks it is possible to use fillers such as Restylane or fat tissue from your own body.
Using a local anaesthetic, a little fat is carefully removed by suction from a place where fat tissue is present. This may be the abdomen, hips, thighs or buttocks.
After centrifuging, packed intact fat cells are obtained, which can be reinserted.
Since the fat cells must receive enough oxygen from the surrounding tissues to survive, they are inserted into tiny tunnels. A thin needle with a blunt end and a hole in the side is used to create a tunnel as the needle passes through the tissue. This tunnel is then filled with fat as it is withdrawn.
The main advantage of lipofilling is that this is tissue from your own body which – as long as it survives – will remain in place for a long time. It only disappears if you lose weight in the area from where it was taken.
The disadvantage is that it is impossible to predict how much of the volume inserted will survive. This ranges between 50% and 90%.
It is therefore possible that the operation may need to be repeated, although this is rarely necessary in practice.