Fat Transfer - Fat Grafting
- volume restoration for soft tissues
- fat is moved from areas such has abdomen, hips, and thighs to areas that need it
- your face has lost the soft fullness it had in earlier years
- your hands are showing years of wear and tear
How do I know if I am a good candidate? Back to Top
- physically healthy men and women
- be honest with Dr. Culbertson about medications, including over-the-counter, vitamins or supplements, drinking alcohol, and smoking cigarettes
- you have realistic expectations
- you expect to restore fullness to thinned out areas
- you do not expect it to change who you are, your life, or how people treat you
- you have areas from which fat can be taken
How do I prepare for Fat Transfer - Fat Grafting? Back to Top
- consult with Dr. Culbertson
- Dr. Culbertson will need your complete medical history, so have that ready
- you and Dr. Culbertson will discuss your expectations and desires very carefully to determine
- areas that would benefit from fat transfer
- from which area(s) the fat should be taken
- if any other procedures would be appropriate
- Dr. Culbertson will explain her technique, the type of anesthesia, the facility where the surgery is done, and the risks and benefits of surgery
- you will have instructions on eating, drinking, medications to avoid or that you must take
- arrange for someone to drive you home from surgery
- make sure you have someone with you for at least the first 24 hours after surgery and even longer if you need it
What do I expect from Fat Transfer - Fat Grafting? Back to Top
- facility: an office-based facility, outpatient surgery center, or a hospital
- anesthesia: local (numbing medicine) with sedation by mouth or intravenously, or general anesthesia (where you go to sleep)
- Dr. Culbertson will take fat from the designated areas and inject it into the areas where it is needed
What can I expect after Fat Transfer - Fat Grafting? Back to Top
- you will be very swollen and likely bruised for the first week or so
- in the second week the bruising resolves and you still have swelling
- by the third week you begin to look more like yourself
When will I feel like myself again? Back to Top
- at first you won’t look like yourself and may even get a little down
- once the swelling starts going away you will be able to appreciate the changes
- subtle swelling may persist for weeks
How will I look? Back to Top
- the areas to which the fat was transferred will appear softer and fuller
- you may even notice improvement in skin texture in those areas
- you will appear refreshed and rejuvenated