Fat Injection (Lipofilling)

In fat injection the surgeon takes the patient’s own fat tissue, prepares it, and injects it into the areas of the face that have lost tissue.

Where the fat comes from and what it does

The fat is taken from specific areas of the body: around the abdomen, the buttock, the outer or inner thigh, and under the chin.

The prepared fat adds volume where it is injected and removes wrinkles. The volume of the lips can be increased. The cheekbones can be made more prominent. The volume of the cheeks and the forehead can be increased.

How deeply the fat is injected changes with where the wrinkles are and how deep they are.

The procedure

The surgeon enters through a cut about 3 to 4 mm long and collects the fat tissue with special cannulas. The prepared fat is then injected with a syringe into the areas of the face that need it.

What to know afterwards

1. Infection. Infection can develop at the injection sites and in and around the area the fat was taken from. Every surgical procedure breaks the integrity of the skin, which is an important defence organ of the body. Infection shows itself as heavy redness, pain and discharge at the wound. Infections that develop are usually controlled with proper treatment.
2. Keloid. In some people an abnormal healing tissue forms in the wound after a skin injury or an operation. It is pink, red or skin-coloured, looks like an irregular lump, and feels hard and elastic. It is called a keloid. If one forms, injections of medicine or further surgery may be needed.
3. The result. Many people are happy with fat filling. As with every cosmetic procedure, there is no guarantee of complete satisfaction. There is also no guarantee that wrinkles and hollows will disappear completely, or that no further treatment will be needed to reach the intended result. Part of the fat filling is absorbed, so repeat injections may be needed.