Portland Fat Injection

Body fat makes an excellent soft tissue filler material. Fat injection (also called autologous fat transplantation) transfers fat from one part of the body to another to recontour the face; diminish frown lines, crow’s feet and nasolabial folds (smile lines); and provide definition to areas like the cheeks and chin. It can also be used to fill out depressed scarred areas on any part of the body. Fat injection is not permanent, and may require an effective maintenance program.

Technique:

The donor site (for example: abdomen, buttocks, or thighs) and the treatment site are injected with a local anesthetic. Intravenous (IV) fluids are also injected into the donor site to facilitate fat collection. Fat cells are extracted through a small needle attached to a syringe. The fat is then processed to remove excess fluids and reinjected with another needle in multiple thin strands in the desired area. “Overfilling” is a necessary corrective technique used due to fat absorption in the weeks after treatment. Fat also can be harvested during a liposuction procedure in one area of the body, and then reinjected in another.

Benefits:

• Natural, non-allergenic
• Outpatient procedure that generally takes an hour
• Injections may last several months to permanently
• Cost effective if combined with another procedure like liposuction

View before and after photos in the Photo Gallery