Imagine restoring youthful volume and improving skin quality using your body’s natural resources. Autologous Fat Grafting, often referred to as Autologous Filler or fat transfer, is a sophisticated procedure that does just that. At WIH International Hospital in Bangkok, we specialize in this innovative technique, taking your fat cells from one area and artfully transferring them to another, offering a natural, biocompatible, and long-lasting solution for facial and body rejuvenation.
What is Autologous Fat Grafting (Autologous Filler)?
Autologous fat grafting is a surgical procedure where unwanted fat cells are harvested from one area of your body (the “donor site”) and then carefully purified and reinjected into another area (the “recipient site”) where volume is desired or rejuvenation is sought. The term “autologous” means “from the same individual,” emphasizing that it uses your body’s tissue, virtually eliminating the risk of allergic reactions or rejection.
Mechanism of Performance: How Autologous Fat Grafting Works
The success of autologous fat grafting lies in its three-stage process and the remarkable regenerative potential of adipose (fat) tissue:
Stage 1: Fat Harvesting (Liposuction)
- A small amount of fat is gently harvested from a donor area, typically where you have excess fat, such as the abdomen, flanks, or thighs.
- This is usually performed using a specialized, gentle liposuction technique with thin cannulas to minimize trauma to the fat cells. Local anesthesia is commonly used, often with sedation.
Stage 2: Fat Processing & Purification
- The harvested fat, which includes fat cells (adipocytes), preadipocytes, and a rich source of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), is then carefully processed.
- This purification step typically involves centrifugation, sedimentation, or filtration to separate viable fat cells from blood, excess fluids, oil, and damaged cells. This ensures only the purest, healthiest fat is transferred.
Stage 3: Fat Re-injection (Grafting)
- The purified fat is meticulously injected into the recipient areas in small, precise aliquots using fine cannulas.
- This “micro-droplet” technique ensures that each transferred fat cell has optimal access to the blood supply, which is crucial for its survival and integration.
- The regenerative properties of ADSCs within the fat graft further contribute to the healing and improved vitality of the recipient tissue.
The Performance Beyond Filling:
Unlike synthetic fillers, autologous fat grafting offers more than just volume. The transferred fat contains living cells, including ADSCs, which contribute to:
- Vascularization: Promoting the formation of new blood vessels in the grafted area.
- Tissue Regeneration: Improving the quality, elasticity, and texture of the overlying skin by releasing growth factors and cytokines.
- Long-Term Integration: The surviving fat cells become a living part of the new tissue, establishing a blood supply and remaining in place for many years, often permanently.
Aesthetic Applications of Autologous Fat Grafting
Autologous Fat Grafting is a versatile procedure, utilized for both facial and body contouring and rejuvenation at WIH International Hospital. Common aesthetic applications include:
Facial Rejuvenation:
- Restoring Facial Volume: Replenishing lost volume in the cheeks, temples, and forehead for a more youthful contour.
- Smoothing Deep Wrinkles & Folds: Effectively treating severe nasolabial folds (smile lines), marionette lines, and other deep creases.
- Under-Eye Hollows: Gently filling hollows under the eyes (tear troughs) for a rested appearance.
- Chin & Jawline Definition: Enhancing chin projection and defining the jawline, which can also help in reducing the appearance of dermal filler for jowls.
- Lip Augmentation: Providing a natural and long-lasting solution for fuller, more defined lips.
- Skin Quality Improvement: Enhancing overall skin texture, tone, and elasticity.
Hand Rejuvenation: Restoring volume to the back of the hands, reducing the visibility of veins and tendons for a more youthful look.
Buttock Augmentation (Brazilian Butt Lift): Enhancing the shape and size of the buttocks naturally.
Breast Augmentation: Providing a modest increase in breast volume or correcting asymmetries without implants.
Scar Revision: Improving the appearance and texture of depressed scars.
Considerations & Potential Side Effects of Autologous Fat Grafting
While Autologous Fat Grafting is a safe and highly effective procedure due to using your tissue, it is a surgical procedure and comes with its own set of considerations.
Important Considerations:
- Survival Rate: Not 100% of the transferred fat cells survive. A portion (typically 30-70%) is reabsorbed by the body in the initial months. For this reason, slight “overcorrection” is often performed.
- Multiple Sessions: Sometimes, more than one session may be needed to achieve the desired long-term volume, especially if a significant volume increase is sought.
- Downtime: As it involves liposuction, there is generally more downtime compared to simple injectable fillers, typically a few days to a week of swelling and bruising at both donor and recipient sites.
- Skill-Dependent: The success and naturalness of the results are highly dependent on the surgeon’s skill and experience in fat harvesting, processing, and precise injection techniques.
Is Autologous Fat Grafting Right for You in Bangkok?
Autologous Fat Grafting is an excellent option for individuals seeking a natural, long-lasting solution for volume restoration, contouring, and overall skin rejuvenation, particularly if they have a small amount of unwanted fat elsewhere on their body.
During your personalized consultation at WIH International Hospital, our specialists will thoroughly evaluate your goals, discuss donor and recipient areas, and determine if Autologous Fat Grafting is the most suitable approach for you. We will also provide transparent information regarding the fat grafting price and what to expect throughout your journey.
FAQ
What is Autologous Fat Grafting?
It’s a natural filler procedure where your fat is taken from one body area and then carefully processed and injected into another area to add volume or enhance contours.
How does fat grafting provide natural and long-lasting results?
The transferred fat cells, including beneficial stem cells, integrate into the new area and establish a blood supply. This provides both immediate volume and long-term tissue regeneration, with results often lasting for many years or permanently.
Where is the fat usually taken from?
Fat is typically harvested from areas with excess fat, such as the abdomen, flanks, or thighs, using a gentle liposuction technique.
What areas can be treated with Autologous Fat Grafting?
It’s versatile for facial rejuvenation (cheeks, temples, jawline, lips, under-eyes) and body contouring (hands, buttocks, breasts).
Is there significant downtime after the procedure?
Yes, because it’s a surgical procedure involving liposuction, you can expect more downtime than with injectable fillers. Swelling and bruising are common at both donor and recipient sites, typically subsiding within a few days to a week.
Do all the transferred fat cells survive?
No, not all fat cells survive. Typically, 30% to 70% of the transferred fat successfully integrates. Our surgeons often overcorrect slightly to account for this initial absorption.
Will I need multiple fat grafting sessions?
While many achieve their goals in one session, some patients may require additional sessions to achieve the desired long-term volume, especially if a significant volume increase is sought or if the initial fat survival rate is lower.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation and explore the transformative power of your body’s natural filler in Bangkok.
