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Fat Transfer
in Houston, TX
Fat transfer, sometimes referred to as a fat grafting, is a cutting-edge cosmetic surgery procedure, rapidly growing in popularity in Houston, Katy and Memorial. The technique involves removing excess fat via liposuction from one or more donor areas of the body. This fat is then cleaned and purified before being reinjected into another area of the body, providing volume for aesthetic enhancement and creating more natural-looking contours. The fat cells remain alive during this process and will continue to thrive in their new location. Therefore, the results from a fat transfer can be long-lasting. By using one’s own tissue, the results from fat grafting look soft and natural, with no need for implants or other foreign materials.
With a fat transfer Houston patients can address the following areas:
- Natural Breast Augmentation
- Buttocks (Brazilian Butt Lift)
- Facial Fat Transfer
- Calf Fat Transfer
- Hand Rejuvenation
Dr. Ravi Somayazula is a board certified Houston plastic surgeon, bringing the innovative fat transfer technique to his patients at Body by Ravi Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics. Dr. Ravi’s game-changing procedure is always performed in the safest of environments. Reshaping the face, body, and extremities through fat grafting, Dr. Ravi can create a desired appearance without the use of artificial implants. A smaller quantity of fat can be used to fill in smaller areas of contour irregularities or larger quantities of fat are utilized for overall volume expansion, as in the case of most Brazilian Butt Lifts.
"My primary goal during your entire plastic surgery journey is to make you feel comfortable and to assure utmost safety during your procedures. We are here to guide you to your very best outcome."
–Ravi Somayazula
THE FAT TRANSFER CONSULTATION
To determine if a fat transfer procedure is right for you, a confidential consultation will be arranged.
Potential patients should plan on spending an hour or more in the Body by Ravi Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics’ office, as our surgeon and staff gets to know your needs and desires. During your consultation for fat grafting Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Ravi, will perform a physical evaluation and gather all pertinent medical history. He will spend time having an honest conversation about your individual concerns and establishing realistic goals. As a patient-centered physician, Dr. Ravi utilizes this consultation appointment as a valuable tool in understanding his individual patient’s needs. Working together as a team, Dr. Ravi is thus able to provide the most satisfying aesthetic results.
During the initial appointment, Dr. Ravi will discuss the fat transfer process in detail and explain what donor sites are most desirable for fat removal. After looking through Before/After photographs of his recent fat grafting patients, it will be decided if the technique is right for you. If so, a customized treatment plan will be created, walking you through the fat transfer process, step-by-step. The ideal candidate for fat grafting will be in overall good health and a non-smoker. If needed, Dr. Ravi can provide information and advice on smoking cessation. Potential patients should be at a stable body weight with enough fat for successful transfer.
FAT TRANSFER PRE-OPERATIVE APPOINTMENT
All fat transfer patients are seen approximately two weeks prior to surgery for their pre-operative appointment. At this time, all surgical consents are reviewed and signed.
“Before” photos are taken, to be compared to the “After” pictures taken during and once the recovery is complete. Dr. Ravi will provide an informational packet with detailed instructions for before and after surgery. If there are any remaining questions, Dr. Ravi and his team will provide you with the needed answers, ensuring patients are ready to move forward with their upcoming fat transfer cosmetic surgery.
“Communication is key to developing a good relationship with any physician and I am always available to answer questions and explain things in detail.”
-Dr. Ravi Somayazula
THE FAT TRANSFER PROCEDURE
Dr. Ravi will perform his fat transfer procedure at an accredited surgery center. A fat transfer takes from one to five hours, depending on the amount of liposuction, target location and the extent of correction. Patients will be home the same day, resting and recuperating. To begin, Dr. Ravi will harvest the predetermined amount of fatty tissue from the donor area. This is most commonly the abdomen, thighs, arms, or lower back. A local or general anesthetic will be administered before a thin cannula is placed under the skin. Using a sterile liposuction technique, Dr. Ravi will extract the needed fat through a syringe. The tissue is then washed, purified, and separated using a special centrifuge and filtration process.
Once the fat cells are processed, they will be ready for placement. The target area will be carefully prepped. Dr. Ravi will then inject the fat using a uniquely designed needle, meticulously achieving the desired contour and volume. The needle will be passed in and out of the area multiple times, creating a line of fat cells deposited within the natural tissue planes, creating a grid of grafted fat. Once the desired correction has been achieved, Dr. Ravi will place a surgical dressing and compression garment for safe and proper healing.
BENEFITS OF THE FAT TRANSFER
Fat grafting makes an excellent option to replace volume that has been lost with age along the face, breasts, buttocks, hands, and calves. The technique can fill in skin depressions, such as those seen with scarring or after liposuction. A fat transfer can also dramatically plump the lips, correcting volume loss or genetic thinness. The living fat cells, once reinjected, will adhere to the existing tissue, thriving for years to come. The results from a fat transfer are natural-looking, without the risk of rejection or allergic reaction.
Buttocks – Better known as the ‘Brazilian Butt Lift’, a fat transfer to the buttocks provides shape and contour to the bottom. Often combined with liposuction of the surrounding areas, a Brazilian Butt Lift will sculpt the buttocks to create a more youthful, natural-looking figure with a perky, round derriere.
Breasts – Using the fat transfer method, a modest increase in breast size (roughly within one cup size) can be achieved without the use of implants. A fat transfer breast augmentation can successfully improve symmetry, breast shape, and genetic irregularities. The fat transfer process will restore the upper pole fullness that commonly decreases with age or after breast feeding.
Face – Most people will lose fat deposits along the cheeks and under the eyes as they age. This change leads to sagging and a deflated look. Fat cells can be used to fill in deep facial creases, laugh lines, and wrinkles, as well as restore volume to sunken, ‘hollow’ areas under the eyes and along the cheeks. A facial fat transfer can even plump the lips, lift the corners of the mouth, and augment chin shape. When combined with injectable fillers, a fat transfer can create significant facial rejuvenation.
Hands – With age, fat stores in the back of the hands can diminish, subtly adding years onto the appearance. Fat grafting adds volume to the crinkled areas of the hands, smoothing the skin and concealing visible blood vessels and tendons that give away age. By plumping wrinkled areas along the backs of the hands, the quality of this skin can improve significantly.
Calves – Calf augmentation with fat grafting can achieve more defined, proportionate legs, restoring confidence in shorts, skirts, and swimwear. Whether correcting genetic distortions, or the results of leg trauma, a calf fat transfer can create a more symmetrically sized and shaped lower legs, custom-tailored to the individual’s body type. As the required incision is extremely small, scarring is well-concealed.
Fat Transfer Recovery
The recovery time after a fat transfer will vary from person to person, depending on the target location, as well as the extent of liposuction and grafting. In general, you can expect swelling and bruising that may last up to three weeks.
The donor area is commonly tender for several days. Limitations to physical activity will depend largely on the extent of the grafting. Our Houston fat transfer patients can expect to spend one to two days resting before resuming daily activities. Most people are comfortable returning to work in two to five days. While your normal routine can be resumed in just a few days, more strenuous activities should be avoided for at least three weeks, or until approval by Dr. Ravi. Fat grafting procedures that require harvesting a large volume of fat will require a surgical compression garment be worn for several weeks as well as a more extensive recovery period.
COMBINING FAT GRAFTING WITH OTHER PROCEDURES
Fat grafting can be extremely successful when performed on its own. However, the technique can be combined with complimentary procedures to achieve optimal results. Techniques such as a tummy tuck or breast augmentation benefit when combined with fat grafting.
Fat transfer to the buttocks (also known as the Brazilian Butt Lift, or per Dr. Ravi, “The Houston Butt Lift” with the use of his special techniques) can be performed at the same time as a tummy tuck with liposuction in the appropriate patient. Fat transfer can be added to a breast augmentation with implants to improve the fullness of the upper pole or to add more cleavage. Microneedling and chemical peels are also excellent in office procedures to pair with a facial fat transfer. During your consultation at Body by Ravi Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics, a personalized fat transfer treatment plan will be created, including any additional techniques recommended to achieve the desired results.
CONTACT BODY BY RAVI PLASTIC SURGERY AND AESTHETICS FOR YOUR FAT TRANSFER CONSULTATION
The best way to determine if a fat transfer is right for you will be through a private consultation with Dr. Ravi. Contact the Body by Ravi Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics office at 281.242.1061 for more information on the fat grafting technique, or for assistance in scheduling a one-on-one consultation. In-person appointments are available at our centrally located office, at 9230 Katy Freeway, close to Memorial, the Heights and Katy. Online consultations are also available for those outside of the Houston area. Speak with a patient coordinator for details.
FAT TRANSFER
Frequently Asked Questions
Fat transfer, also known as fat grafting, refers to the process of taking living fat cells from one area of the body, then reinjecting that fat into another location to improve the shape and contour of that area. The fat transfer procedure can restore volume and sculpt areas such as the lips and the cheeks, as well as the breasts, buttocks, calves, or hands. The living fat cells will continue to thrive in the new location, meaning long-lasting results.
If you have a desire to add volume to the breasts, buttocks, face, hands, calves, or other areas of the body, and are in overall good health, the fat transfer may be right for you. The ideal candidate will understand the fat harvesting and transfer process, as well as hold realistic expectations for their final results.
The average length of time for a fat transfer is from one to four hours, although this varies according to the amount of fat cells harvested and the treatment area. Fat transfers to the face take less time than a fat transfer to the breast or buttocks. No matter the target area, patients are back home to recover the same day.
The living fat cells transferred during the grafting procedure will continue to thrive in their new home, so the benefits of treatment can be enjoyed over the long-term. Depending on the exact treatment area and your individual body, the results will last for years to come. However, as aging and gravity continue to affect the body, you can expect the results will change slightly over time.
Downtime following a fat transfer will depend on the treatment area. While a fat transfer to the lips or hands may require only a few days off work, a Brazilian Butt Lift may need a week or two of recovery time. At your consultation appointment with Dr. Ravi, a clear recovery plan will be created, outlining when you will be able to return to work or school.
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Body By Ravi Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics
Dr. Ravi Somayazula and Dr. Swapna Gopathi, are Board-Certified Physicians, while using a patient-centered approach and spend as much time as needed to make each patient feel special and respected—not just another person walking through the door. As a team, a one-of-a-kind treatment plan is created to address concerns from head to toe with the latest surgical and non-surgical techniques, including: Breast Augmentation (Implants), Tummy Tucks, Liposuction, Mommy Makeovers, miraDry®, Botox®, Dermal Fillers, and AVÉLI ® Cellulite treatment. Working side-by-side, Dr. Ravi and Dr. Gopathi strive to create a long-lasting relationship with each patient, meeting any new aesthetic needs as they arise. Together, the staff at Body by Ravi Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics take each patient step-by-step through their cosmetic journey to achieve the desired aesthetic results.
