“Fat is the future of Plastic Surgery” by Dr. V. Marin
by Plastic Surgeon Vincent Marin
As plastic surgeons continue to evolve, we have become more acutely aware of the ability of our own tissues to enhance our appearance. This can be done in many ways, but no more significant than the transfer of fat from an area of the body where it is unwanted to where it can add shape, form and volume.
Liposuction has been around since the 1960s with continued improvement coming every year. Today we use thin “micro” cannulas that leave almost invisible scars as we contour and reshape the body. The fat, once removed, was never to be seen again.
Recently, our perspective has changed as the fat is discarded no more but saved as a valuable resource. Numerous new scientific studies have shown that the fat that is removed from the body can help not only contour the area where it was removed, but then be transferred to volumize and enhance areas where a patient may be deficient. This procedure is most commonly seen in the buttock, hips, breasts and face, but can be done virtually anywhere in the body.
It’s hard to miss the Kardashian’s ever expanding posteriors and this is likely the result of fat transfer commonly known as a Brazilian Butt Lift. Women who want a modest increase in their breast size are undergoing fat transfer as an alternative to traditional silicone implants. And, surgeons for years have been adding fat to complement the facial reshaping of a traditional facelift surgery.
In addition to the added volume and improved shape, fat has also been shown to rejuvenate and enhance the overlying skin as well. The stem cells that are present in fatty tissue are able to help renew and restore tissues that have been damaged by time, age or even something as severe as radiation treatments to eradicate cancer.
Fortunately fat is our own tissue and the body will not see it as foreign. That means that your body will have a tendency to grow new blood vessels into this fat to keep it as a permanent solution moving forward. In addition, the liposuctioned areas will maintain their new, enhanced shape as long as a patient maintains their weight.
So, the future of plastic surgery could very well be fat. Both the removal and transfer as well as the rejuvenating effects of the stem cells contained within it. Next time you visit your plastic surgeon discuss the options of fat transfer into areas that you would like to have volumized while simultaneously getting improvements in areas that you would like to have reduced.
Fat isn’t bad, it’s only bad if it’s in the wrong place!
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