Cincinnati Plastic Surgery Specialists in Autologous Fat Injections
Thank you for considering UC Health Plastic Surgery for your plastic surgery procedure. We offer a safe, comfortable atmosphere in our modern, state-of-the-art facility located in West Chester, Ohio, convenient to both Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. We offer a friendly staff of nurses and administrative support to help with your scheduling issues and questions.
What is Autologous Fat Transplantation or Microlipoinjection?
Fat injections are used to fill out lines and creased areas in the skin which are the result of sun damage, scarring, aging, or common facial movements that lead to laugh lines, “crow’s feet” and wrinkles. They may also be used to add fullness to lips and cheeks. Fat injections may be used alone or in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures including laser treatments or a facelift. The injections are autologous, in which the patient’s own fat is taken from the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks and then injected into the desired area(s).
Procedure Benefits
- Appearance of smoother skin
- More youthful appearance
Private Consultation
Your surgeon at our conveniently located Cincinnati offices will evaluate your overall health to determine whether you are a candidate for fat injections. You will discuss your goals and expectations, and your surgeon will explain the procedure. You should be prepared to discuss your complete medical history, including previous surgery, and any medications you are taking (including vitamins). You will also discuss the cost of the procedure, keeping in mind that this is an elective procedure which is not covered by most insurance companies.
Preparation
If you have a medical condition such as high blood pressure, it must be controlled before you can undergo this procedure. You may not be eligible for this procedure if you are pregnant, suffer from autoimmune diseases, or are allergic to lidocaine.
Procedure Overview
Your surgeon will begin by using an anesthetic agent in the area being treated as well as the donor site from which the fat will be taken, usually the abdomen, thighs or buttocks. In some cases, your surgeon may choose to use a topical anesthetic if you are especially sensitive. Your surgeon will use a syringe with a cannula to remove fat from the donor area. This fat is then injected at several points around the treatment site.
Recovery and Healing Time
No bandages are required. There may be some minor discomfort in the injected area, and some minor bruising or swelling may occur. You may see some redness around the injection site, but this redness usually disappears within 24 hours. There may be tiny scabs over the injection sites, but these usually heal quickly. You should be able to return to your normal activities unless a large area has been treated, in which case your doctor may advise you to limit your activity for a short period of time. You should avoid sunlight until any swelling and bruising at the injection sites are gone. Since the rate of injected fat metabolism is different for every patient, the results may last for different periods of time and further treatments may be required at 3-6 months or perhaps not until after more than a year following treatment. Follow-up or correction treatments may be necessary.
Procedure Risks
- Allergic reaction to anaesthetic
- Temporary swelling
- Bruising and/or redness at the injection sites
UC Health Plastic Surgery in West Chester, has three nationally recognized Cincinnati plastic surgeons.
Located north of Cincinnati, we serve West Chester, Mason, Loveland, Indian Hill and the rest of Greater Cincinnati and Dayton for all of their plastic surgery procedure needs.
