The fat in our body can be extremely tricky - it tends to settle in troublesome places like the chin, belly, thighs, etc. and refuses to redistribute to areas where the extra volume would be a welcome addition. The immobility of fat can be extremely frustrating to patients, as even the most rigorous diet and exercise regimens may not yield their desired results.

Minimally-invasive surgical fat transfer gives you the power to banish unwanted pockets of fat and repurpose its contents to restore or enhance the natural contours of your face and body. This in-office procedure harvests fat from the sites most bothersome to you and subjects it to a rigorous purification process. The extracted fat can then be used to rejuvenate areas of the face that, due to the natural aging process, have lost its fullness or tightness. Alternatively, the purified fat may be transferred to the breasts or buttocks to lift and shape these areas according to your individual aesthetic goals.

Fat transfer is typically used to rejuvenate or enhance the following areas:
Cheeks
Temples
Deep facial wrinkles
Breasts
Buttocks

Dr. Hooman Khorasani is a quadruple board-certified cosmetic surgeon who has spent over a decade helping patients achieve their ideal face and body through minimally-invasive relocation of stubborn fat pockets. This extensive experience combined with Dr. Khorasani’s commitment to surgical perfection directly benefits each individual patient, as your treatment plan is carefully customized to provide you with optimal cosmetic results.

To find out whether a fat transfer treatment can help facilitate your aesthetic goals, visit Dr. Khorasani at our New York City practice. To request a consultation, text message us securely, or contact our Manhattan office by phone at 212-230-3378.

What is a fat transfer?

Fat transfer or autologous fat grafting is the surgical redistribution of fat from areas like under the chin, belly, thighs, etc. to locations that would benefit from additional volumization. The fat harvesting sites are selected based on which regions will provide the maximum amount of body contouring while also producing enough fat for transplantation. Once the optimal donor sites are identified, localized liposuction is used to extract the fat cells. This fat is then extensively refined using a specialized system to remove any excess fluid, oils, and cellular debris. Once the fat has been sufficiently purified, it is carefully injected into the target area to provide volumization, shape, and lift.

Many of our patients opt for head-to-toe liposuction in combination with their fat transfer treatment to achieve their ideal face and body contour. Liposuction has been a staple of Dr. Khorasani’s decade-plus long career and he is proud to have helped thousands of patients look and feel their best through this minimally-invasive surgical procedure. Please visit our Liposuction page to determine if this highly effective surgical treatment can help you obtain your aesthetic goals.

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What areas of the face can be treated with a fat transfer?

Autologous fat grafting is a highly versatile treatment, as it uses the body’s own materials to naturally enhance and rejuvenate the target areas. Popular treatment sites on the face include the temples, cheeks, and deep wrinkles surrounding the eyes and mouth; however, Dr. Khorasani will tailor your facial fat transfer procedure to address your individual cosmetic concerns.

Facial fat pockets are important to maintain the shape and lift of your most prominent features, such as the temples and cheeks. Collections of fat are also important in preventing the formation of smile lines around the mouth and eyes. As we age, these beneficial fat reservoirs lose volume and shift downward to less desirable locations like under the chin and neck due to the constant pull of gravity. Overall, the loss and migration of these fat clusters can cause our face to develop deep wrinkles and become sunken or droopy in appearance.

A fat transfer facilitates the redistribution of fat from unwanted bulges on the body to specific facial zones like the temples, cheeks, or deep creases surrounding the mouth and eyes. Reinfusing fat into these target areas restores their natural lift and shape, resulting in a face that is smooth, tight, and more youthful.

Dr. Khorasani is committed to assisting each and every patient on their journey to achieving their aesthetic goals. Consequently, we offer a plethora of non-invasive restorative treatments for patients who may not be candidates for autologous fat grafting. Please visit our Face Contouring page to determine if these non-surgical therapies can help you look and feel your very best.

What areas of the body can be treated with a fat transfer?

As with facial fat transfers, Dr. Khorasani will customize your body contouring procedure according to your specific aesthetic objectives. Most patients, however, choose to enhance the shape, size, and lift of their breasts or buttocks with a minimally-invasive fat transfer procedure.

Historically, patients desiring breast augmentation or rejuvenation had no other option but to undergo highly invasive surgeries to insert implants or remove excess skin. Aside from the substantial cost of these in-patient procedures, complications from general anesthesia and the implants themselves are rampant. Breast fat transfer has revolutionized this area of cosmetic medicine, as patients are now able to achieve their desired breast shape and size with minimal surgical intervention.

Procedures to enhance the buttocks were also previously limited to invasive surgeries and insertions of implants. With implants, there is the risk of the implant moving or the area getting infected. With autologous fat grafting, patients can volumize, shape, and lift their buttocks naturally. No implants or general anesthesia required!

Patients with limited fat reservoirs may benefit from a buttocks augmentation with Sculptra®, a poly-L-lactic acid filler. This safe, effective, and long-lasting injectable filler modifies the shape, size, and lift of the buttocks to compliment your body’s natural contours. Please visit our Buttocks Enhancement page to see if this non-invasive treatment can help you achieve your cosmetic goals.

What are the benefits of a fat transfer treatment for my face or body?

This two-in-one treatment allows you to eliminate stubborn fat collections from the areas most bothersome to you while simultaneously enhancing locations you wish to volumize. The redistribution of fat in this comprehensive procedure results in maximal face and body sculpting that aligns with your aesthetic goals.

The cosmetic outcome of autologous fat grafting also looks and feels as natural as possible, since this procedure utilizes your body’s own organic materials. Additionally, transplantation of purified fat to the target area does not require a surgical incision. This prevents the formation of scars in these aesthetically prominent locations, which further enhances the natural appearance of your face or body sculpting results. Scars from breast augmentation with implants or buttocks implants are often very troublesome to patients and a frequent complaint in Dr. Khorasani’s scar clinic.

Other benefits of fat transfer treatment include the avoidance of facial or body implants, which require replacement every ten years and are associated with serious adverse effects such as contracture, infections and rare reported malignancies associated with some textured implants.

Furthermore, autologous fat grafting procedures in our office are traditionally performed in an outpatient setting using local injections of a numbing solution coupled with oral medications. This is in stark contrast to traditional body or face contouring procedures that are performed in an operating room, exposing you to additional financial costs and the risks of general anesthesia. However, for larger volume cases general anesthesia may need to be utilized in order to optimize your comfort and safety. Fat transfer procedures have a proven track-record of efficacy and safety, allowing patients to achieve their ideal cosmetic outcomes while avoiding unwanted complications.

FAQ's about Fat Transfer

Am I a good candidate for a facial fat transfer?
Am I a good candidate for a breast or buttocks fat transfer?
What does a fat transfer procedure entail?
How long is each fat transfer procedure and what can I expect during treatment?
What can I expect during the recovery from a fat transfer procedure?
How long can I expect to be swollen after my fat transfer procedure?
Do I need to stay at a care facility after my fat transfer procedure?

Why choose Dr. Hooman Khorasani for your fat transfer procedure?

Dr. Hooman Khorasani has developed a unique protocol in order to maximize the survival of fat grafts. Not all fat cells can withstand transplantation and on average only around 65% of these fat cells will survive the transfer. Dr. Khorasani’s protocol includes suctioning at a much lower pressure than traditional liposuction in order to minimize trauma to the cell membranes. Additionally, he optimizes survival by using a much smaller suction cannula than most other surgeons performing this procedure. A smaller cannula translates to a larger graft to surface area ratio and therefore, better blood supply to your tissue. This means there is a better chance of the fat surviving the transfer. Using smaller cannulas under low pressure significantly increases the procedure time, but it is absolutely worth the extra effort and time, as it provides an optimal environment for fat cell survival.

Dr. Khorasani is quadruple board-certified in Dermatology, Cosmetic Surgery, Facial Cosmetic Surgery and Mohs micrographic surgery. Additionally he led the Division of Dermatologic and Cosmetic Surgery at Mount Sinai for 10+ years. He has helped numerous patients achieve their aesthetic goals through minimally-invasive liposuction in combination with autologous fat grafting. Always in pursuit of perfection, Dr. Khorasani is constantly investigating, implementing, and mastering innovative surgical techniques to provide you with optimal face and body contouring.

Capitalizing on his internationally recognized surgical proficiency, Dr. Khorasani carefully crafts a therapy plan for each patient that adheres to the highest standards of medical care and is optimized to produce the greatest results possible. Personalization is infused into every aspect of our practice, from the treatment itself to our highly-skilled office personnel that are available 24/7 to answer any questions or concerns. Together as a team, we can help transform your aesthetic goals into reality.

Request A Consultation

Dr. Khorasani and his highly-specialized team look forward to working with you to transform your medical or aesthetic goals into reality. To expedite a request for a consultation, message us securely, or contact Dr. Khorasani’s Manhattan office by phone at 212-230-3378. For more information about how to get in touch:

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