Question :
How exactly is fat removed from the donor site for fat transfer and is this a painful process?
Answer :
Harvesting of fat for fat transfer is actually a fairly non painful procedure. I prefer to harvest fat from the lower abdominal area. Not only is there usually a decent amount of fat available for harvest and fat transfer, but, the fat of the lower abdomen has recently been shown to contain more stem cells which may lead to increased survival of the transplanted fat and the production of fibroblasts which would lead to skin tightening. Fat harvesting from the abdomen takes about 30 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia. I use tumescent liposuction solution to anesthetize the area and provide hemostasis for reduced blood loss during fat harvest. I use extremely small liposuction cannulas placed through small incisions around the belly button in order to harvest the fat but large enough to prevent damage to the fat cells. Recovery from fat harvesting is quite rapid.
Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld
