Losing volume in your face, breasts, or body can change the way you look and feel. Whether it’s from aging, weight fluctuations, or past procedures, these changes can leave certain areas looking deflated. Fat grafting uses your fat to restore natural shape without implants or synthetic fillers.
Dr. York Yates, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Layton, Utah, specializes in fat transfer for the breast and body.
What Is Fat Grafting?
Fat grafting, or fat transfer, uses your own fat to add volume to your face, breasts, or body. This process involves using liposuction to remove unwanted fat, purifying it, and injecting it where you want more volume. Because the fat comes from your body, it integrates naturally and has a lower risk of rejection or allergic reaction compared to synthetic fillers or implants.
Fat grafting is commonly used for breast augmentation, facial rejuvenation, and body contouring. It can also correct irregularities from previous procedures, such as over-aggressive liposuction. Since the transferred fat establishes a blood supply in its new location, the results can be long-lasting, making it a preferred option for patients seeking natural volume without implants.
What areas are treated with Fat Grafting?
Fat grafting to the breasts – Also known as breast fat transfer or natural breast augmentation. This is really a win-win. Fat is taken from undesired areas and grafted to the breasts. The results are naturally beautiful larger breasts without an implant. This is possible for patients who have never had implants or even patients who currently have implants who would like them removed.
Breast fat transfer produces outcomes that are different than an implant breast augmentation. There is a limit to how much the breast size would be expected to increase with fat grafting. Most patients will achieve around one to two cup size increase with fat grafting. The volume of augmentation achieved is dependent on the starting breast size and shape and the volume of excess fat the patient has. The breasts after fat grafting are more naturally shaped than breast augmentation with implants. Implants generally give the breasts a rounder, larger, higher look than fat grafting. The procedure is ideal for patients who want a natural shape and conservative size or for patients who are worried about breast implants.
Fat injection to the buttocks/ buttock augmentation – Also known as the “BrazilianButt Lift”, fat grafting to the buttocks is gaining in popularity. Large volumes of fat are injected into the fat and subcutaneous tissue of the buttocks. Buttock augmentation typically involves sculpting and reducing the excess fat surrounding the buttocks in addition to filling the gluteal region.
Fat injections to the face – With aging, there is a loss of volume in the face. Fat injections can be used to soften the lines of the face, fill hollows, and lift empty skin of the cheeks and eyelids. When used for global facial rejuvenation, this is called a “liquid facelift”.
Fat injection to the lips – Used to give shape and fullness to thin lips. Used as an alternative to lip injections with temporary fillers or permanent lip implants.
Fat grafting for liposuction deformity – Overaggressive liposuction can result in hollowing. Fat injections can be used to correct the area of over-treatment.
Where does the fat that is grafted come from?
Fat is easy to harvest with modern liposuction techniques. Most patients have a few areas where they wouldn’t mind losing a little fat. Stubborn fat and fat the patient would like to lose is generally used.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Fat Grafting?
Fat grafting works best for patients who meet the following criteria:
- Good overall health: No serious medical conditions that could affect healing.
- Sufficient fat for transfer: Enough fat in donor areas for the procedure.
- Stable weight: Significant weight fluctuations can impact long-term results.
- Non-smoker or willing to stop: Smoking affects circulation and fat survival.
- Healthy skin elasticity: Supports smooth, natural-looking results.
- No major circulation or healing issues: Conditions like uncontrolled diabetes may interfere with recovery.
- No recent surgeries in the grafting area: Previous procedures can affect how well the fat integrates.
- Natural shape and size goals: Fat grafting of the breast provides a distinctly different outcome than that achieved with implants. Fat grafting generally can not create as much size or shape increase as with implants. Fat transfer can be ideal for a patient who wants subtle increases in shape and size.
Dr. Yates evaluates each patient’s medical history, fat distribution, and skin quality to determine if fat grafting is a suitable option.
Recovery From Fat Grafting
Healing after fat grafting depends on the treatment area and how much fat is transferred. Patients typically experience swelling, bruising, and soreness in both the donor site and the grafted area. While discomfort is usually mild, it can last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. We may recommend wearing a compression garment in areas where the fat was removed to control swelling.
Smaller procedures, like facial fat grafting, have little downtime (only a few days). Larger procedures, such as fat transfer to the breasts or buttocks, require more time for healing, with activity restrictions for several weeks. Dr. Yates provides clear post-procedure guidelines to help you recover smoothly.
Why Choose Dr. York Yates?
Dr. York Yates is a board-certified plastic surgeon with years of experience in cosmetic surgery of the breast and body. After completing his residency in Missouri, he returned to Utah to build a practice known for its quality patient care. By narrowing his focus to procedures like fat transfer, liposuction, and breast surgery, he has developed advanced techniques that set him apart.
His practice stands out for its experienced team, streamlined patient communication, and innovative recovery methods. With no-intubation anesthesia and a HIPAA-compliant app for 24/7 access, Dr. Yates ensures you receive expert care at every stage of your procedure.
Fat Grafting vs. Fillers: What’s the Difference?
Both fat grafting and fillers add volume, but they work differently. Fat grafting uses your own fat, which is what makes it a more natural and permanent option. Dermal fillers, like Juvederm and Restylane, are made from synthetic substances that provide temporary results, usually lasting several months to a couple of years.
Fillers are appropriate for small, temporary volume enhancement but are not generally sufficient or appropriate for breast or body volume enhancement.
Are There Any Age Restrictions for Fat Grafting?
There is no strict age limit for fat grafting. Younger patients may have better fat retention due to higher collagen levels, while older patients may need a more careful assessment to determine how well their fat will integrate.
Will All Areas Respond to Fat Grafting Equally?
Different areas of the body absorb grafted fat at different rates. The face generally retains a high percentage of transferred fat. The breasts and buttocks can also respond well, but due to movement and pressure, some of the fat may not survive as well as in more static areas.
You may need multiple sessions to get the volume you want, and maintaining a stable weight helps preserve results.
How long do Fat Grafts last?
As opposed to most soft tissue fillers such as Sculptra, Restylane, and Juvederm, fat grafts can last forever. The goal of every fat grafting procedure is for the injected fat to “live” in its new location. With proper techniques, one can expect from 50 – 80% of the grafted fat to survive. For this reason, it is often necessary to have more than one fat grafting session to achieve full correction.
The Cost of Fat Injections
Generally, the cost of fat injections is more than an alternative procedure. For example, soft tissue fillers for facial rejuvenation are less expensive than fat injections. However, fat injections can result in permanent improvement.
The costs associated with fat injection include 1) surgeon’s fees, 2) anesthesia fees, and 3) facility fees. As Dr. Yates has an in-office operating suite, the facility fee is minimal. This is a cost savings directly to the patient. For a list of the costs of common procedures performed by Dr. Yates click here.
Patient Testimonial
“Such a trusting physician!!! Aside from his outstanding professionalism, respect, knowledge, and wisdom, this surgeon knows exactly how to achieve your desired looks without being pushy for something you may not really want. He makes sure you have all of the information you need to make the best educated decision yourself. My surgery was over a year ago and I have not had any concerns or complications. He, including his staff, are all wonderful to communicate with and you never feel like you have to wait days for a response. All of the staff were amazing to work with and I would recommend this practice to anyone wanting to enhance their looks according to your personal vision.”
How do I schedule a consultation or schedule surgery?
Contact Dr. Yates office or feel free to email him any additional questions you may have.
Office-Based Surgery Safety Information
Call 801.525.8741 and Dr. York Yates office in Layton, UT will be happy to answer any questions you have concerning fat transfer and fat grafting.