Lipografting is a plastic surgery technique that uses the body’s own fat to fill, define or add volume to certain parts of the body, such as breasts, butt, around the eyes, lips, chin or thighs, for example.
To perform this technique it is necessary to remove fat from other areas of the body where it is found in excess, such as the belly, back or thighs, for example. To achieve this, liposuction is performed to remove localized fat from unwanted locations and also help to sculpt, refine and define the region where it is performed.
In addition to fat grafting, which helps to add volume to certain areas of the body, a similar and highly sought after procedure is liposculpture, which uses localized fat to redistribute it along the contour of the body, creating a more harmonious and aesthetically proportional silhouette. Find out more about what liposculpture is and how it is done.
Using your own fat graft is a strategy carried out by plastic surgeons in hospitals, and its price varies greatly depending on the type of surgery, the place where it is performed and the medical team that will perform the procedure.
What is it for
This technique is recommended for people who are dissatisfied with their appearance or with some area of their body. Some of the main indications are:
1. On the breasts
Grafting the breast’s own fat can be done to increase the volume or soften the appearance of the silicone prosthesis, giving it a more natural appearance, or to correct small defects and asymmetries.
Find out more about another plastic surgery that combats sagging breasts.
2. Our glutes
This technique is also recommended to increase the size of the glutes, correct asymmetries, differences in size or defects in the buttocks. It can also extend to the thighs to give greater definition and volume.
Also learn about the gluteoplasty technique to increase your butt.
3. On the face
Used to reduce wrinkles or expression lines on the face, as is the case with the “Chinese mustache”, or to restore facial or cheek volume.
Check out other types of treatments that can also help fight wrinkles.
Furthermore, fat grafting can be done in any region of the body, and can even be used to increase or define the labia majora.
How to apply your own fat to the body
The use of your own body fat must be done by a plastic surgeon who will start by selecting and aspirating fat from certain donor body parts, such as thighs or belly, for example, by performing liposuction.
After that, the collected fat is treated and purified to remove blood and other cellular debris. When the fat is treated and ready, it will then be grafted into the desired region using fine needles, through microinjections.
The entire procedure is carried out under local anesthesia, with or without sedation, and therefore does not cause pain or discomfort. Generally, only a few hours of hospitalization is required, up to a maximum of 2 or 3 days.
What is recovery and healing like?
Recovery from fat grafting is quite quick, and symptoms such as mild pain, minor discomfort, swelling or bruising are common. These symptoms generally disappear after 3 or 4 weeks, and it is recommended to rest and avoid exertion in the first month of recovery.
The first 3 days of recovery can be the most painful, and in these cases the doctor may recommend taking analgesics to alleviate the pain and discomfort felt.
