Cosmetic Fat Transfer in Washington, D.C.
Have you ever wished you could take fat from one part of your body where you don’t want it and move it somewhere more useful? Well, you can! Fat transfer is the process of using your own fat to enhance or reconstruct your body contours.
Fat is your own personalized filler. It is 100% natural, safe, organic, biocompatible, and long-lasting. Fat Grafting can be used for facial rejuvenation, breast reconstruction/augmentation, buttocks augmentation, and body contouring.
The surgeons at West End Plastic Surgery offer fat grafting as a natural alternative to facial fillers or implants. Patients from Alexandria, Reston, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac, and other areas surrounding Washington, D.C. considering fat transfer can request a consultation online to meet with one of our surgeons to determine whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure. You can also call our office at (202) 785-4187 to schedule an appointment.
The best candidate for facial rejuvenation with fat grafting is a man or woman who has begun to notice a shallow appearance to the face. Many see deep nasolabial folds, marionette lines, deflation of the cheekbones, narrowing of the temples, or shadows and depressions under the eyes. These changes can start as early as the early 30s. Successful fat grafting requires skin that is not too loose. Most patients are in their late 30s to 50s, but facial rejuvenation with fat grafting can be successfully performed on people well into their 60s and 70s. If you are generally healthy, have a realistic view of the results that can be achieved with facial rejuvenation with fat grafting, and have any of the following conditions, you may be a good candidate for the procedure:
Loss of facial volume leads to a loss of structural support in the face and the sagging that ultimately follows. Restoration of volume is like blowing up a partially filled balloon, revealing the smooth, youthful contours once again. Facial rejuvenation with fat transfer uses one’s own fat and the stem cells that come along with them to restore volume and stimulate changes in the surrounding tissues to restore youthfulness.
As we all get older, we lose volume from our bones. This has many effects on aging such as developing eye bags, jowls, or smile lines.
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We’re as thrilled with our patients’ results as they are. Check out our before-and-after photo gallery and see for yourself the kind of work our talented surgeons do.
PureGraft is the Gold Standard in Fat Transfer. Puregraft is a state-of-the-art fat grafting system that transfers purified fat from one area of the body to another.
PureGraft removes more than 97% of contaminants. Their gentle filtration technology helps create a graft that increases viability and the fat is processed in a closed, sterile environment. PureGraft provides consistent, reliable, and natural-looking results. It can be used for facial rejuvenation, breast reconstruction/augmentation, and buttocks augmentation.
Your consultation with Dr. Ruff, Dr. Arsalan, and Dr. Wang or our team of surgeons and their staff is the time to describe your cosmetic goals.
Your plastic surgeon evaluates your facial and neck structure, your skin elasticity and facial volume, and your underlying muscle tone to determine whether facial rejuvenation with fat grafting is right for you. Adjunctive procedures will be recommended if needed to create a harmonious rejuvenation. Those might include a neck lift, eyelid surgery, or laser resurfacing. Your surgeon thoroughly explains each technique along with its risks, benefits, and recovery times.
You will be asked to describe in detail how you want your face and neck to look after your facial rejuvenation with fat grafting. Good-quality pictures of the face when you liked what it looked like are helpful in understanding your facial volume changes. Working together, you and your plastic surgeon will decide which technique will give you the results you desire.
Your plastic surgeon and his staff at West End Plastic Surgery will:
You will be asked to provide:
Your facial rejuvenation with fat grafting procedure will be performed in our state-of-the-art, AAAASF-certified surgical suite. The procedure will take from 1 to 2 hours to complete and can be performed either under local anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation/general anesthesia depending on what you and the doctor prefer. With general anesthesia, you will be completely asleep throughout the procedure. With local anesthesia, you will be awake and the areas to be treated will be numbed. The type of anesthesia used, our surgical facility, and other recommended procedures will be discussed with you at your initial consultation.
Your plastic surgeon will mark the areas of the face to be injected as well as the area or areas from which the fat grafts will be harvested. All of the areas will be numbed with local anesthesia for comfort during and after the procedure. Only small, inconspicuous puncture sites are required for harvest and re-injection of the fat grafts. Once the areas are numbed, grafts are harvested with low suction in order to enhance the proportion of living cells. Instead of using a centrifuge to purify the fat, our surgeons use the advanced Puregraft® system to optimize results. Puregraft uses a proprietary filtering system to isolate, purify, and concentrate the transferable cells. Any liquid, oil, and other undesirable components are discarded.
The concentrated fat grafts are transferred into 1 cc syringes that allow for smooth transfer. Small packets of cells are layered from deep to superficial in the desired areas to restore facial volume and shape. All areas are approached from at least 2 access points to optimize a uniform and smooth transfer. Very small, blunt cannulas specifically designed to enhance graft survival are used, which also minimize trauma to the surrounding tissues. Ensuring an even, layered transfer helps increase graft survival by placing them proximate to a new nutrition source that allows them to learn to live in their new environment.
Once the transfer is complete, sutures are used to close the harvest site incision to improve healing. The insertion sites rarely need a suture as they are very small. Patients are provided cool packs and encouraged to sit semi-upright which helps control swelling and bruising.
The cost of a Cosmetic Fat Transfer starts at around $4,000. The price will vary depending on the extent of treatment necessary to deliver your desired results.
During your consultation, our surgeons will assess your cosmetic goals and develop a treatment plan tailored to meet them. The starting price is provided for your convenience, and it is important to note that it does not encompass facility or anesthesia fees. The comprehensive cost, inclusive of all potential fees, will be confirmed during your visit.
We also offer financing options, including CareCredit® and Alphaeon®, to help you with the cost of your cosmetic surgery.
Fat transfer is becoming more and more popular for patients interested in enhancing the contours of their bodies as word of its effectiveness spreads.
Other than facial rejuvenation, the primary ways our surgeons use fat transfer are for breast and buttock augmentation procedures.
Our surgeons use VASERlipo™ to collect the fat used for breast and buttock augmentation procedure. Using ultrasonic energy, VASERlipo selectively targets fat cells without damaging surrounding tissue, allowing the fat to be extracted with less force than used in traditional liposuction procedures. This is important because the fat used in grafting procedures must be viable and healthy when it’s injected. Not all the fat used for grafting survives the process, but the percentage is generally much higher when we use VASERlipo compared with other liposuction techniques.
Activity | When |
|---|---|
| Drainage Tubes Removed | Not Required for Fat Grafting |
| Bandages Removed | 1 to 5 Days After Surgery |
| Shower & Shampoo Hair | The Day After Bandages are Removed |
| Stitches Removed | 5 to 7 Days After Surgery, Most Are Dissolving and Do Not Require Removal |
| Return to Work | 3 to 14 Days After Surgery |
| Driving | As Soon as You Feel Comfortable and Do Not Require Narcotic Pain Medication |
| Strenuous Activities | 2 to 2 Weeks After Surgery |
| Fading of Scars | Several Months to 1 Year |
In most cases, facial rejuvenation with fat grafting surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and you go home shortly after the surgery. You may be sleepy from the anesthesia and the surgical area will be sore so you will need to have someone drive you home unless only local anesthesia was used. There will be some bruising, swelling, and numbness. You will need to keep your head elevated and avoid any strenuous activity for a few days after surgery to help reduce the swelling and avoid complications. Pain medication will be prescribed to alleviate as much post-surgery pain as possible. Cool packs to the treated areas will help with comfort, swelling, and bruising for the first 2 to 3 days. Avoid ice or ice packs applied directly to the skin.
You may experience some numbness and temporary discomfort around the incisions and treated areas.
Most of the discomfort is likely to be felt at the harvest sites. Any pain or discomfort you experience can be controlled with prescribed medication if needed. You will also experience swelling and some bruising. You will need to keep your head elevated for the first few days after surgery to reduce the swelling of your face. Your discomfort level will improve rapidly after the first 2 days.
Your surgeon will remove your bandages at your first postoperative visit. There may be a small amount of bleeding around your incisions. This is normal and can usually be controlled by applying light pressure to the area. If the bleeding does not respond to light pressure or becomes heavy, call West End Plastic Surgery for further instructions.
You can usually wash your hair 24 hours after surgery. However, if you dry your hair, keep the dryer on the lowest setting because your scalp may be numb and there is a risk that you might burn yourself.
Although you will be up and around in the first few days after your surgery, please keep in mind that you should take it easy for the first week after surgery. Any non-dissolving stitches will be removed within 5 to 7 days after surgery. You can begin using makeup 2 days after your stitches are removed. Most patients are back to work within 2 weeks of surgery, frequently sooner.
You will notice that you will become increasingly more comfortable during the first few weeks after your surgery. You may also notice:
Everyone heals at different rates and you are the best judge of when you are ready for certain activities, but the following are general guidelines:
After undergoing facial rejuvenation with fat grafting in Washington, D.C., here are some common aftereffects and aftercare tips that you should be aware of:
All surgical procedures have some degree of risk, however, major complications from facial rejuvenation with fat grafting surgery are unusual. During your initial consultation with Dr. Ruff, Dr. Arsalan, Dr. Wang and the staff of West End Plastic Surgery, your individual risks will be assessed and discussed. As with any procedure, you can help reduce the risks by closely following the pre- and post-procedure instructions provided to you. Your surgeon and his staff will be with you every step of the way to ensure a safe and pleasing outcome.
Most likely risks include the following:
Facial rejuvenation with fat grafting restores facial volume lost with the natural aging process to create a more youthful appearance. These results generally last between 5 to 10 years and longer in many cases. It is important to keep in mind that the effects of aging, gravity, and environmental factors will continue to affect the smoothness, sagging, and wrinkling of your face and neck. Meticulous skin care is critical to maximize the effectiveness and longevity of your surgical results.
A major advantage of fat transfer is its high level of customization to suit your unique aesthetic goals.
The process starts with a comprehensive consultation, during which you and your surgeon will discuss your desired results and assess your body type. Together, you'll choose the most suitable donor sites for fat harvesting, typically areas where you have excess fat, such as the abdomen, thighs, or flanks.
The amount of fat to be transferred is carefully determined based on your goals, whether you're seeking subtle enhancement or more dramatic results. Your surgeon will use specialized techniques to ensure the fat is evenly distributed in the target area, creating a natural and harmonious look. Fat transfer can sometimes be combined with other cosmetic procedures to achieve comprehensive results. For example, you might choose to undergo a facelift with facial fat transfer or a breast lift combined with breast fat transfer to enhance both volume and shape.
Customization doesn't stop with the surgical plan; it also extends to the recovery process. Your surgeon will provide personalized aftercare instructions to ensure optimal healing and the ideal outcome. This tailored approach ensures that your fat transfer procedure meets and exceeds your expectations, delivering results uniquely suited to your body and aesthetic goals.
Facial rejuvenation with fat grafting is often performed in conjunction with a face lift, neck lift, brow lift, eyelid surgery, or laser resurfacing to enhance the overall youthful appearance. BOTOX® Cosmetic injections are a non-surgical alternative that may temporarily reduce the amount of lines and wrinkles in your face and neck.
Facial rejuvenation with fat grafting is considered cosmetic surgery and, therefore, is not covered by insurance. You are responsible for the full payment of the procedure. Cost and payment information will be fully discussed with you during your initial consultation.
BOTOX Cosmetic injections and fillers are non-surgical alternatives to a facelift. These injections can reduce or eliminate lines and furrows that cause wrinkles. Meticulous skin care may also help improve the tone, texture, and occasionally the contour of your facial skin. Although frequently performed in conjunction with fat grafting, laser resurfacing and chemical peels may also provide a less invasive alternative.
Fat transfer and fat grafting are two terms that describe the same procedure. Both involve harvesting fat from one area of the body—such as the abdomen, thighs, or flanks—and re-injecting it into another area to enhance volume, shape, or contour.
The success rate of a fat graft can vary. The final outcome is highly influenced by factors such as the surgeon's technique, the specific area treated, and individual patient characteristics, including skin quality and overall health. Proper post-procedure care is also crucial in maximizing the survival rate of the grafted fat, ensuring lasting, natural-looking results.
Fat transfer does not migrate once the fat cells have been re-injected and a blood supply in the new area has been established. The transferred fat integrates with the surrounding tissues, becoming a permanent part of the treated area. Therefore, the enhanced area should maintain its shape and volume over time without the risk of the fat moving to other places.
Fat transfer is not easily reversible since it involves using your own living tissue, which integrates into the target area. However, if adjustments are needed, procedures such as liposuction can be performed to reduce or refine the volume of the transferred fat.
At West End Plastic Surgery, you're in the hands of an exceptional team led by Dr. Paul G. Ruff IV, M.D., F.A.C.S., a surgeon with over 25 years of experience and 18,000 procedures performed. Dr. Ruff's expertise and artistic eye have earned him consistent recognition as a Top Doctor in Washingtonian Magazine since 2005 and by Castle Connolly for the past decade, placing him among the top 7% of board-certified doctors nationwide.
Joining Dr. Ruff are Dr. Lexie Wang and Dr. Amir Arsalan, both highly trained and board-certified surgeons. Dr. Wang specializes in facial and neck procedures, having completed a prestigious fellowship with the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Beverly Hills under the world-renowned Dr. Paul Nassif. Dr. Arsalan focuses on cosmetic surgery of the breast and body, with advanced training at Loma Linda Medical Center, where he worked alongside top surgeons in Southern California. Their combined expertise ensures that when you choose West End Plastic Surgery for your cosmetic fat transfer, you're trusting a team dedicated to delivering personalized, exceptional results tailored to your unique aesthetic goals.
To schedule a Fat Grafting consultation or make an appointment with a specialist about Facial Rejuvenation, Breast Augmentation or Body Contouring.
please call us at (202) 785-4187 or fill out an online contact form and our office will be in touch with you. Thank you for choosing West End Plastic Surgery in Washington, DC!
