In the skilled hands of cosmetic dermasurgeon and renowned artist, Dr. Eric Finzi, your own fat is used to sculpt and re-contour your face and body. Gaining in popularity as an alternative to a surgical face lift, a fat transfer is less invasive, allowing you to return to your normal routine quickly. In what many are touting as the dream surgery, a fat transfer takes unwanted fat from one area of the body and injects it where needed to restore natural fullness. As we age, our facial fat and collagen break down causing the skin to develop lines and wrinkles, cheeks to become sullen, and deep circles to develop under the eyes. A more youthful appearance can be easily restored by the minimally invasive and safe in-office procedure. Also known as micro-lipoinjection or fat grafting, a fat transfer is most appealing to patients who want to take a more natural approach to cosmetic surgery. Other body areas that can be enhanced include the hands, neck, and breasts. A fat transfer to the breasts is a safe and effective way to augment the breasts up to one cup size. Your fat can also be used to correct scarring and body abnormalities.

About the Procedure

Dr. Finzi extracts fat using a tiny cannula from a donor site, most commonly the abdomen, thighs or buttocks. The fat is then purified and injected under the surface skin to the desired body areas. Prior to surgery, a local anesthetic is administered to both areas so that you will not feel any discomfort. If needed, an oral medication may be given to further relax you. For optimal results, a series of two to three treatments, two months apart, are required since half of the fat grafted with each procedure will dissipate. Dr. Finzi will harvest additional fat during your first visit that will be frozen and stored for up to six months for future treatments.

View Additional Fat Transfer Results

What body areas are treatable by a fat transfer?
The face is the most common area treated, specifically the cheeks, under eye area, nasolabial folds, lips, chin and temples. Breast augmentation by a fat transfer is an option for women who want to enhance up to one cup size. Other areas treated by fat transfer include the hands, neck, facial and body scars, and it can be used to correct body asymmetry.

Is the fat transfer procedure painful?
The procedure is relatively painless using the tumescent technique combined with local anesthesia to numb the treated areas. The local anesthesia will last up to 12 hours helping with post operative discomfort.

How long does a fat transfer last?
Depending on the site(s) treated, a fat transfer will last for years. In most cases, the body will reabsorb about half of the transferred fat, making it necessary for up to 3 treatments to obtain optimal results. To compensate for the re-absorption rate, Dr. Finzi adds extra fat to the desired treatment areas, and will freeze and store additional fat for later use if desired.

How long does the procedure take?
Performed in our office surgical suite, the procedure takes 2-3 hours for the face and up to 5 hours for other body parts. Done under local anesthesia, you can be driven home immediately after surgery.

How quickly will I see results?
Initial swelling may persist for at least a week and gradually subside within 2 to 3 weeks. Once all the swelling has dissipated, you will see the newly sculpted you!

What can I expect after the procedure?
The treated areas will be swollen, bruised, senisitive to the touch and may feel hard for up to a few weeks.

Are there any scars?
Since the entire procedure is performed through tiny incisions, the wounds heal by themselves without the need for sutures and will virtually disappear over time.

When can I resume my normal activities?
You can be up and about that evening, and can return to work within a few days. You must keep your head elevated and sleep atop 2 pillows for several days. You are advised to avoid strenuous activities and sports, heavy lifting (20 pounds), aerobic exercise, and swimming, until your incisions have completely healed.

Can I smoke after a fat transfer?
Smoking is prohibited for 3-4 weeks following the procedure because it will inhibit the fat graft from taking. Smoking depletes the body of oxygen and will cause the transferred fat cells to be rejected.

How effective is a fat transfer to the breasts?
A fat transfer is ideal for women who want a safe way to restore fullness after breast feeding, correct a size or shape variance, or increase up to one cup size. This is not for women who want a substantial increase. In order to harvest enough fat for the augmentation, a combination of liposuction and a fat transfer is necessary. The procedure, performed under local anesthesia, takes up to 5 hours.