Houston & Pearland, TX
Fat Transfer

Introduction to Fat Transfer

Fat Transfers are a method of transferring fat from one area of your body to another where it may be more needed. By using your body fat to plump up certain areas, the risk of your body rejecting the procedure is virtually zero—unlike other, more invasive surgeries such as inserting implants. The result is a natural, permanent look!

Premier Plastic Surgery is a state-of-the-art medical spa for surgical and non-surgical treatments to restore and rejuvenate your body and skin. Dr. Hankins provides fat grafting services to men and women in Houston, Pearland, Lake Jackson, Friendswood, Marvel and the surrounding areas of South Houston. Read on to learn how a fat transfer procedure might suit you.

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What is Fat Transfer?

The basic premise of a fat transfer is to take fat from one part of your body where there is typically excess, such as your outer thigh or your stomach, and transfer and inject it to another area of your body that needs plumping up, such as the face or the buttocks.

The cosmetic surgery procedure is sometimes called fat grafting or fat injection. It’s also known as microlipoinjection and autologous (coming from the same organism) fat injections. It’s a safe, well-tolerated procedure with proven, long-lasting, natural-looking results.

What are the Benefits of Fat Transfer?

Most patients are delighted with the results of their fat grafting procedure. Some of the additional benefits include:

Long-lasting, natural-looking results

Chances of rejection or an allergic reaction are reduced by using your body’s tissue

Increased volume in an area that needs it while losing fat in an area that doesn’t need it

No general anesthesia is needed

Are Implants or Fat Transfers Better?

Each procedure has pros and cons. Fat grafts are permanent once they are taken. The downside is that in some cases, more than one fat grafting session may be necessary to obtain the optimum results.

Implants are both permanent and reversible. However, depending on the type, implants can degrade with time, degrade, and result in atrophy of adjacent soft tissue or bone. Dr. Hankins can help you determine which procedure is best for you in your private consultation.

Who are the best candidates for Fat Transfer?

Fat transfers are meant to last a lifetime for patients within their target weight range. However, patients who continue to fluctuate in weight after their operation may see their results vary with their weight fluctuations. This is because the transplanted fat cells will behave according to their site of origin, unlike the fat of the recipient site.

You should be at your ideal target weight before undergoing the procedure. Weight fluctuations can negatively impact your results, so patients’ ability to maintain a stable weight is crucial.

Those patients with a normal to slightly overweight BMI are ideal for the procedure. You may choose the area of your body where your fat is harvested.

Fat Transfer First Step
What’s the
first step?

There are benefits to undergoing a fat transfer procedure versus receiving implants. However, according to your medical history and desired results, a plastic surgeon can help assess which method would be most beneficial for you.

Dr. Hankins welcomes patients from Houston, Pearland, Lake Jackson, and the surrounding areas of South Houston. Contact Premier Plastic Surgery, and our friendly staff will help you schedule a consultation with Dr. Hankins to discuss all available options.

What to Expect from a Fat Transfer Treatment

Our plastic surgeon, Dr. Hankins, will first use general or local anesthesia to ensure your comfort during the fat transfer procedure. From there, excess fat is removed from one or more areas of the body (often using liposuction), purified, and then the transferred fat cells are injected into the areas of the body or face you’re looking to enhance or plump. The number of fat injections used depends on the results you’re looking for.

Depending on the procedure, you may or may not be awake. Minor procedures can be done with local or tumescent anesthesia only, whereas larger procedures may require IV sedation.

Fat Transfer Recovery

Fat transfer recovery involves rest and attentive care to optimize healing and achieve the desired results. Immediately after the procedure, patients may experience swelling, bruising, and discomfort at both the donor and recipient sites. Pain medication and cold compresses can help alleviate any discomfort and reduce swelling.

Patients should follow all post-operative instructions provided by Dr. Hankins, which may include wearing compression garments, avoiding strenuous activities, and refraining from smoking and alcohol consumption. Keeping the treated areas clean and dry is essential to prevent infection and promote proper healing.

During the initial recovery period, it’s normal for the body to reabsorb some of the transferred fat. As a result, the final results of the fat transfer may not be fully evident until several weeks or months after the procedure.

Follow-up appointments with Dr. Hankins will be scheduled to monitor the healing process and ensure optimal outcomes. Patients should communicate any concerns or unexpected symptoms to their surgical team promptly.

Fat Transfer Cost
How much does Fat Transfer cost in Houston, TX?

The cost of a Fat Transfer procedure will depend on several factors, including the severity of each patient’s case and the number of sessions necessary to achieve the desired look.

We offer several payment options, including LendingUSA® and United Medical Credit. If you have any questions about the fees or financing for your treatment or procedure, please don’t hesitate to ask.

We also accept:

Payment is due in full before the start of treatment. You can use payment options individually or in any combination you choose. Feel free to contact our office about your financing options.

Cash or Check: personal check, cashier’s check, or cash

American Express

VISA

MasterCard

Discover

We don’t want finances to prevent you from getting the cosmetic surgery you want and deserve. To that end, Dr. Christopher Hankins is committed to making it as affordable as possible, including offering alternative financing solutions to his patients in Houston, Pearland, Lake Jackson, and the surrounding areas of South Houston.

We understand that sometimes it can be challenging to pay for cosmetic surgery. Dr. Hankins and his entire team at Premier Plastic Surgery want to ensure that your choice of procedures is as affordable as possible. One way we do that is by offering complimentary consultations to all our patients.

Please note: We charge a no-show fee for consultations and require a credit card to schedule an appointment.

Why Choose Dr. Hankins?

Christopher Hankins, MD, is a plastic surgeon specializing in facial, breast, and body aesthetic surgery. He also has advanced training in hand surgery, breast reconstruction after cancer, and other reconstructive surgical procedures. Dr. Hankins completed five plastic surgery fellowships with highly distinguished physician mentors in the United States and the United Kingdom, including a Plastic and Microsurgery fellowship at the Baylor College of Medicine and a Hand Surgery fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Dr. Hankins earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He completed his General Surgery training prerequisite for Plastic Surgery as established by the Residency Review Committee in Plastic Surgery and Anatomic and Clinical Pathology.

Dr. Hankins served as the Medical Director of the Wound Care Center at Lake Jackson Hospital from 2011 to 2014 and continues to treat wound care patients at his Premier Surgery Center and Lake Jackson Hospital.

In addition to his practice in plastic and aesthetic surgery, Dr. Hankins is actively involved in the study and clinical application of anti-aging medicine. He is a Diplomate of the American Association of Anti-Aging Medicine.

Dr. Hankins has authored 19 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and serves on the editorial boards of four medical journals and as a reviewer on three others. He has been a presenter on various plastic surgical topics at the regional, national, and international levels.

Dr. Hankins has participated in plastic surgery medical missions in Peru, Bolivia, and Pakistan, where he performed several surgical procedures on disadvantaged children and adults. He sits on the Boards of Directors of the Agris-Zindler Children’s Foundation and the House of Charity.

Dr. Hankins treats patients in Houston, Pearland, Lake Jackson, and the neighboring communities of South Houston, but no matter where you come from, you will be in expert hands!

Fat Transfer FAQ’S

What Areas Could You Have Fat Transferred To?

We routinely transfer fat to the face, to the buttocks and to the breasts. We have a state-of-the-art fat transfer system that is produced by Wells-Johnson. It is a completely closed system, in which the fat is never exposed to the open air and the fat is only outside of the body for the shortest possible time. It is very safe, and we have never had any issues with the fat that we have transferred using this device.

What Areas Could you have Fat Transferred From?

Fat can be transferred anywhere in the body so long as the donor site has no residual deformity after the fat is removed. The most common sites are the lower abdomen, flanks or back but virtually any location can be used especially if the patient has a low body fat content.

Is Fat Transfer painful?

Fat transfers are minimally invasive procedures that do not involve a lot of pain. Patients usually notice a soreness as their bodies heal.

How many appointments will I need?

As many as necessary for your case. Fat grafts result in a permanent look, so Dr. Hankins wants to ensure he gets it right and that you will be satisfied with your results. You can determine how many sessions will be needed in your consultation.

How Long Until I See Results?

Special care is required for two weeks post-treatment. The fat transfer procedure is typically outpatient so you can go home on the day of treatment. You will likely see some swelling and bruising, but those side effects will subside independently.

That said, you will need someone to drive you home. You’ll want to rest for the first few days, and then you should be able to return to work after that, as long as your job isn’t too strenuous or involves heavy lifting.

You will see results immediately, with permanent results appearing in 6 months or less. However, most results won’t appear until the swelling decreases and the transferred fat tissue develops its blood supply. It usually takes a few months before you see the final results. The results can last up to two years.

Can I combine Fat Transfer with other procedures?

Yes. You can discuss further assistive measures in your consultation with Dr. Hankins. Some patients prefer to undergo multiple procedures simultaneously to minimize their recovery time, but more intensive surgical procedures may be spaced out for maximum healing.

What are the risks associated with Fat Transfer?

Although Fat Transfers are a minimally invasive surgical procedure, they do not come without risks. Some adverse effects of a Fat Transfer include:

Fat embolisms
Seroma
Scarring
Bleeding
Risk of infection

Schedule a
Consultation

If you’re wondering if a fat transfer is right for you, don’t hesitate to contact the office and schedule a free personal consultation. You’ll be able to have all your questions answered and your concerns addressed before you make a decision.

Dr. Hankins will help you determine if fat grafting is the right choice to help you achieve the desired look. We serve Houston, Pearland, Lake Jackson residents, and the surrounding communities of South Houston.

Houston & Pearland, TX Fat Transfer