Fat Necrosis Following a Graft Gone Wrong: When To Get Revision Surgery

Fat transfers, also known as lipofilling, are procedures during which the patient's fat is removed and then reinjected back into the body to sculpt and reshape different parts of the body.

One of the most iconic fat graft procedures is the Brazilian butt lift, known for being an alternative to butt implants for patients with excess fat that they're willing to lose.

What Does A Fat Transfer Involve?

A fat transfer procedure is when one area of the patient's body is used to harvest fat that will be injected back into another body part to contour and alter its appearance. 

Areas used to harvest fat are usually the abdomen and inner thighs, and regions most commonly receiving the fat tend to be the buttocks, breasts, hips, lips, hands, and face.

The three stages of all fat transfers essentially boil down to:

• The fat is extracted with a cannula.
• The fat is then purified and filtered.
• The fat is dispersed into the desired area to expertly contour to give the patient their new, desired shape.

Most traditional fat transfers like those to the breasts and buttocks are performed under general anesthesia. Nevertheless, procedures where less surface area is altered, such as the lips or face, can be done with local anesthesia. Advanced fat transfers like AirSculpt also only require local anesthesia.

With traditional fat transfers, patients should expect up to six months to see and enjoy the full-fledged results!

Fat Transfer Risks

There are a series of traditional fat transfer side effects and risks that you should be aware of. In terms of side effects, expect to experience bruising, swelling, slight numbness, and minimal scarring.

More severe issues and risks that one could undergo are the following:

• Fat necrosis
• Blood vessel blockage
• Large scars
• Asymmetrical results

What's considered the worst-case scenario is when fat is injected into the wrong site, resulting in fat necrosis. Fat necrosis is when an area of the body doesn't receive sufficient blood, causing it to die off and to turn black.

Other effects of fat necrosis are the formation of lumps under the skin and an uneven appearance. 

What To Do In The Case Of Fat Necrosis

If you want to fix a botched fat transfer, the optimal choice for you is the AirSculpt® Fat Transfer Correction to smooth away lumps, bumps, and asymmetric results.

The minimally invasive process doesn't use a scalpel, needle, or general anesthesia and can be a great option once patients have fully recuperated. Using patented AirSculpt® technology, an Elite Body Sculpture surgeon seamlessly sculpts away any after-effects of fat necrosis. This process may also include a fat graft if needed.

If you want to look your best, then work with the best. Get started with your first consultation at Elite Body Sculpture Denver.