Fat Transfer in Nashville, TN, With Dr. Cash
Fat transfer, also known as fat grafting or autologous fat transfer, is a combination of two procedures: liposuction and injections of your own fat.
Liposuction reduces excess fat to slim and reshape your body. In fat transfer, some of the removed fat is purified and processed for injection into a part of your body where more volume is wanted.
Liposuction can be used to trim excess fat from almost anywhere on your body, including your abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, upper arms, and under your chin. Fat transfer can fill in hollowed cheeks, plump your lips, smooth facial wrinkles or the backs of your hands, or augment your breasts or buttocks.
The beauty of fat transfer or fat grafting is that it uses tissue from your own body to make long-lasting improvements to your appearance. No manufactured fillers or implants are used.
To learn more about fat transfer and how it might benefit you, contact Nashville Plastic Surgery today to schedule a consultation with Michael Cash, M.D. Dr. Cash has attained certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He has the training and expertise to perform complex reconstructive surgery and customized cosmetic procedures with remarkably natural-looking results.
Why Might I Consider the Best Fat Transfer Treatment in Nashville, TN?
Fat transfer offers a double benefit: it removes unwanted pockets of fat from one part of your body while adding volume elsewhere, where more fullness is wanted. It does this using tissue from your own body for natural-looking and long-lasting results.
The first part of the procedure, liposuction, can:
- flatten a double chin
- trim your waistline
- remove excess fat from your thighs or upper arms
- slim your calves and ankles
The second part of the procedure, fat transfer, can:
- add volume to your cheeks
- correct a sunken or hollowed look under your eyes
- smooth facial lines and wrinkles
- plump your lips
- fill indented scars, such as those from acne, to make them less visible
- add a moderate amount of volume to your breasts (one or two cup sizes), buttocks, or hips
- smooth the backs of your hands
Why Choose Dr. Cash for Fat Transfer?
Fat transfer includes liposuction, which is a minimally invasive type of surgery. Given that your choice of surgeon is the most important decision you’ll make in the process. Ample experience with this procedure is crucial. Always choose a surgeon who is board-certified through the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), which is the only valid board certification for a plastic surgeon.
Choose a plastic surgeon who listens and whose results demonstrate a flexible and customized approach. A skilled plastic surgeon will tailor the details of each cosmetic procedure to your unique needs and desires. As one of the best cosmetic surgeons in Nashville, Dr. Cash will spend time with you to understand the results you hope to achieve. He’ll explain what you should realistically expect, plus the risks and costs. He equips his patients with the knowledge they need to confidently make decisions, always treating everyone with respect and attention.
Am I a Good Candidate for Fat Transfer?
Fat transfer or fat grafting is only an option if you have areas of excess fat that are suitable for reducing with liposuction. Dr. Cash can tell you in your consultation if you are a good candidate for fat transfer. You may be a good candidate if you have pockets of excess fat that can be reduced with liposuction and have areas of your face or body that would benefit from injected fat.
The best candidates for fat transfer
- Are close to (within 20 to 30 pounds of) their ideal weight
- Are in generally good health
- Have realistic expectations for the procedure and an understanding of the risks
As part of your consultation, Dr. Cash will examine you to determine whether the distribution of fat on your body is suited to reduction with liposuction and whether the other changes you would like to make to your face or elsewhere on your body can be effectively and safely made with fat injections.
At Nashville Plastic Surgery, our mission is to treat you with the utmost respect, help you make an educated decision, and provide you with the finest medical services in a safe and professional environment.
Dr. Cash, our board-certified plastic surgeon, specializes in breast augmentation, tummy tuck, liposuction, and more. Schedule a consultation today to learn more!
What Happens in a Fat Transfer Procedure?
When you come in for your fat transfer or fat grafting procedure, the areas to be treated will first be numbed with an anesthetic. You may also be sedated for the treatment. In some cases, when liposuction is used to remove a large amount of fat, the procedure is performed under general anesthesia.
- In the first stage of the procedure, liposuction is performed on the area with excess fat. A thin tube (cannula) is inserted through a small incision and the fat is broken up and suctioned out.
- In the second stage of the procedure, the extracted fat is purified to concentrate the adipose fat cells and processed for injection.
- In the third and final stage, the purified and processed fat is injected into the areas where more volume is needed or where wrinkles and lines are to be smoothed. You may receive multiple injections as Dr. Cash places the fat with precision to make natural-looking, contoured improvements.
A procedure typically takes between one and three hours, depending on how much fat is being removed with liposuction and how many locations on your body are being treated.
When the procedure is finished and you are fully alert, you can go home. You’ll need a friend or family member to drive you and stay with you, at least for the first night.
What to Expect in Fat Transfer Recovery
You’ll need some time for rest and recovery at home after your fat transfer procedure. You can expect some swelling and bruising at first, especially in the areas where fat has been removed with liposuction. To minimize swelling and promote healing, you will probably be supplied with compression garments or bandages. Temporary drains may be placed in the areas treated with liposuction to allow the discharge of excess fluid. Any discomfort can be treated with pain medication. Most patients take a few days off from work after the procedure.
Dr. Cash will provide you with detailed instructions on how to take care of yourself as you recover, when to see him for follow-up appointments, and how to reach him with any concerns. You should be able to resume light activities after about a week, gradually building up to your typical activity level over the next few weeks, following Dr. Cash’s guidance.
You’ll see initial results from the fat injections immediately, and they’ll continue to improve over the next few weeks as residual swelling disappears. Final results in the areas treated with liposuction will be visible in a few months.
Schedule Your Nashville Fat Transfer Consultation Today
Contact Nashville Plastic Surgery online or by calling (615) 454-2271 to schedule a consultation for fat transfer with Dr. Cash. He will examine you, ask questions to understand your goals for the procedure, and give his recommendations for the best and safest approach. Patients in metro Nashville and throughout middle Tennessee choose Dr. Cash as their cosmetic surgeon because of his ability to create stunning results and the caring attention he and his staff provide.