Common Fat Transfer Procedures
More and more procedures are now being
performed using fat transfer. Tulip BioMed has
developed a list of the more common ones for
your information.
 Brachioplasty (Vocal Chord Therapy)
Known also as “voice lifts,” the procedure helps
remove squeaks, tremors and low pitches from the
voice that occur with age, injury or overuse.
Doctors insert implants through an incision in
the neck or inject fat, collagen or a
bone-making substance through the mouth. After
resting for a couple of weeks, the patient can
speak with less effort and in a firmer tone.
Breast Augmentation
Unlike common breast augmentation procedures
that uplift or increase the size of the breasts
through silicone implants, the fat-transfer
method is designed for women seeking modest
enhancement or contouring with their own tissue.
The fat is extracted from the thighs or abdomen
using a cannula. It is then mixed with the
patient’s own platelets and injected behind the
breasts. Because the injection hole is concealed
in the underbreast fold, it is hardly noticeable
once it heals.
Breast Reconstruction
There are a number of methods to accomplish this
transfer, all of which are generally referred to
as “flaps.” This revolutionary reconstruction
process involves the single or combined use of
skin, muscle and transferred fat to achieve
breast restoration after mastectomies or other
trauma to the chest. The tissues are collected
typically from the abdomen (TRAM flap) or from
the upper buttocks and hip regions (GAP flap) if
there is inadequate abdominal tissue in women
who are thin. They are then shaped to form a new
breast mound, resulting in restoration comprised
exclusively of living tissue.
Malarplasty (Fat Transfer to Cheeks)
This outpatient procedure uses a very small
cannula to transfer less than a teaspoon of fat
harvested from the abdomen, hips or thighs and
apply it to the cheeks. Malarplasty is used to
improve fullness lost because of age or hollows
(atrophy) caused by AIDS medications and other
drug therapies.
Mentoplasty (Chin Augmentation)
Depending on the severity of the receded chin
line, fat extracted from the lower torso or
outer hips is used solely or in conjunction with
traditional implants to align the chin closer to
the outer point existing just below the lower
lip.
Nasal Labial Folds (Vertical Smile Lines
Between the Nose and Upper Lip)
Small amounts of fat from the abdomen or hips
are transferred by cannulas to plump out and
smooth over these deep facial crevices, known
also as “cheek folds.” Employing the body’s
natural fat to fill in the folds is becoming
increasingly more popular over other materials
such as collagen, restylane and cymetra. The
results from fat transfers last between 3 to 12
months.
Perioral (Mouth and Lips)
Perioral rejuvenation encompasses procedures
used to improve the look and appearance of the
mouth and/or lips, including lip augmentation
and the smoothing out of “laugh lines” through
fat or collagen injections, dermabrasion, and
upper lip lifts.
Periorbital Assists (Eyelids and Eyebrows)
Periorbital procedures are geared specifically
for correcting the sagging areas around the
eyes, from the brow to regions below the lower
eyelids. The two most common surgeries are
blepharoplasty, which improves the appearance of
the eyes by eliminating fat and puffiness from
the eyelids. The other is endoscopy, the leading
procedure for lifting the eyebrows, leaving
small scars that are visible only within the
hairline.
Ramapo Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery
Oral procedures that use fat transfer also often
include dental implants as well as bone grafts
needed to sometimes secure the implants. The
term “maxillo-facial” is used for corrective jaw
surgeries that improve alignment due to injury
or birth defects, plus cleft palate and general
reconstruction to facial areas disfigured by
trauma or birth defects.
Scar Revision Surgery
The revision surgeries are performed after
patients’ wounds have had time to heal, which is
usually a minimum of one year after the initial
trauma. The effort to minimize the appearance of
scarred tissue involves either a surgical
procedure or injections of steroid medications,
fat or collagen directly into the scars.
Urinary Incontinence
Fat or collagen injections are used to build up
the urethra and correct sphincter deficiencies,
which ultimately prevent the “falling” bladder
from leaking urine. The condition affects about
30 percent more women than men.
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