Fat Grafting Is the Newest Cosmetic Advance!
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the largest plastic surgery specialty organization in the world, comprised of more than 7,000 physician members and representing more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States who perform cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. The ASPS mission is to “advance quality care to plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery.”
Every year, ASPS holds its annual conference called “Plastic Surgery: The Meeting,” which brings the best and brightest plastic surgeons from around the world together to share their expertise and experiences, expand their knowledge, and improve patient care and outcomes. Dozens of courses in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery are provided during these meetings, which are intended for the advanced-level surgeon. Dr. Hiatt had the privilege of attending this year’s meeting, which was held October 11th through 15th, 2013 in beautiful San Diego, California.
Every year at this meeting, there seems to be a particular procedure or technique that is focused on. This year, fat grafting was the “hot topic.”
What Is Fat Grafting?
Fat grafting, also called “autologous fat transfer,” “fat injections,” or “fat transplant,” is a relatively new procedure that uses a patient’s own fat from one area of his or her body and injects it into another area. Fat is extracted from different areas of the body using liposuction. Small incisions are made in the patient’s “trouble zone” area(s), such as the abdomen, buttocks, hips, and/or thighs, and a small tube called a cannula is inserted to remove the excess fat via suction. The fat is then treated and reinjected into other areas of the patient’s face or body that needs plumping. Because this procedure uses the patient’s own fat, there is no risk of the body rejecting it.
Fat grafting is a great “2 for 1” procedure; it removes stubborn fat that doesn’t respond to regular diet and exercise, which provides a slimmer appearance, and it provides rejuvenation to other areas of the face or body that need improvement. Most commonly, fat transfer may be used as a facial filler to plump creased or sunken areas, such as the eyes, lips, and cheeks.
To learn more about fat grafting or any other plastic surgery procedure in Phoenix, Scottsdale, or Mesa, Arizona, we encourage you to contact board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Karl B. Hiatt. Dr. Hiatt is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and has more than two decades of experience performing many facial and body rejuvenation procedures. Schedule your consultation by calling (480) 844-1410 or filling out our online consultation form. Dr. Hiatt looks forward to helping you achieve the look you desire.