Fat Grafting/Transfer
Conveniently located to serve Western Canada.
Before & After images are available during consultation.
Edmonton Fat Transfer / Fat Grafting Explained!
Edmonton Fat Transfer Clinic, Youthful Image Clinic, has been performing fat transfer/fat grafting for over 25 years!
As we age, we lose and shift volume in the face and body. Fat grafting, also known as autologous fat transfer or just fat transfer, is a very popular procedure that is designed to use abundant tissue (our own fat/adipose tissue) and transfer it to the regions where volume and skin quality enhancement are needed.
The procedure is rather straightforward as it involves harvesting (removing) fat from the donor area(s) where it is available and moving it to the desired location on the body (from head to toe and in all places in between!). It sounds simple and it is simple if one knows how to do it safely resulting in desirable youthful results with minimal complications.
When it comes to fat transfer/grafting, it is all about the details and these details can result in natural beautiful, youthful and glowing results.
Fat (adipose tissue) is the natural “filler” that has been known to be long-lasting, natural, plentiful and desirable. At the same time, Fat Transfer is a surgical procedure requiring advanced training and experience.
Only physicians and surgeons who are privileged by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta can perform Fat Grafting / Transfer in Alberta. Such accreditation helps to ensure that doctors have appropriate training and judgment.
If you are interested, please contact us to see if you are a candidate for fat grafting procedure!
Why is Fat Transfer an excellent treatment option for facial and body rejuvenation?
Fat is an abundant resource that most of us have plenty of!
When larger volume of fillers (cost) or the need for most natural products (no rejection or allergy) are desired, a patient’s own fat sounds like a great choice. At the same time, it is important to note that fat transfer / fat grafting is an advanced procedure requiring local anesthesia at the harvest site and the recipient site. This advanced procedure requires a Non-Hospital Surgical Facility that is available at Edmonton’s Youthful Image Clinic.
An important fact about harvested fat is that it contains many cell types that assist in healing, repair and rejuvenation at the recipient site. This rejuvenation is in addition to the volume effect following fat transfer. This fact contrasts with regular fillers that do not have these cell properties.
Because fat is your own tissue, it is biocompatible, the risk of allergic reaction or rejection is eliminated. Although some of the fat that is transferred does go away, most of the transferred fat stays in place permanently resulting in long-term solution. Generally speaking, about 60-80% of transferred fat “take” or survives at the recipient site. This, of course, varies from person to person. Repeated treatments may be needed as the original recipient fat does continue to change. The need for repeated treatments is individually based on mutual agreement between patient and doctor.
Another benefit of fat grating is the fact that some fat is removed from the “fat-rich” areas such as abdomen, buttocks or thighs. This “two for one” session can help patients deal with stubborn fat deposits and replenish volume and rejuvenation where it is needed.
If you are interested, please contact us to see if you are a candidate for fat grafting procedure!
Can Edmonton Fat Transfer be combined with any other cosmetic therapies?
Many cosmetic concerns involve various aspects of youthful appearance. People are concerned about the tissue volume, texture, glow, firmness, tightness, elasticity, pigmentation, redness, luminescence and other beautiful and healthy characteristics. Clearly, fat grafting can not address them all but it can be safely combined with many other cosmetic treatments and procedures.
Facial and body characteristics can be improved with home therapies, laser and light modalities, neuromodulators (e.g. Dysport®, Xeomin®, Botox®), radiofrequency, oxygen therapies and others. The choice of these treatments depends on the concerns that need to be addressed.
It is true that fat grafting involves more extensive preparation, procedure and recovery and when performed, the focus of such recovery needs to be on the fat grafting procedure. Yet, at the same time, carefully selected additional treatment can enhance the results leading to a more comprehensive Youthful Image! Because we offer a multitude of different options, we can tailor the choice of modalities to accomplish your goals in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
If you are interested, please contact us to see if you are a candidate for fat grafting procedure!
What is the cost of Fat Transfer / Fat Grafting in Edmonton?
At the Edmonton Youthful Image Clinic, the costs of the procedure encompass all pre-procedure visits, surgeon and surgical room fees and all post-procedure visits. This is unique, we have our own operating room, as there is only one easily understood fee.
Depending on the type of the fat grafting procedure performed, the extent of the needed surgery and equipment used, the cost is $3000 and up. This compares favorably with regular fillers such as Juvederm® or Restylane® as we can harvest and inject more than 30 cc (equivalent in volume to thirty regular syringes of Juvederm® or Restylane®) of fat into needed regions rejuvenating the volume as well as skin and tissue quality.
Please note that additional fat grafting sessions may be needed for optimal results.
Please note that these costs may change without notice!
It is important to note that Dr. Sapijaszko has been privileged to perform Fat Grafting by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.
If you are interested, please contact us to see if you are a candidate for fat grafting procedure!
Which areas can be treated with Edmonton Fat Grafting / Fat Transfer?
Fat is very versatile! It is all over our bodies even in the areas that are not typically associated with fat! Fat is mostly localized in the immediate regions under the skin. Even the thinnest skin on the body (that of the eyelid, has a small layer for fat underneath it.
Because of the ubiquitous nature of fat, harvested fat from the areas where it is plentiful can be grafted to the desired locations. As such, we can perform:
- Fat grafting to the lips,
- Fat grafting to the cheeks,
- Fat grafting to the chin,
- Fat grafting to the lower and lower eyelids,
- Fat grafting to the temples
- Fat grafting to the forehead
- Fat grafting to the earlobes
- Fat grafting to the scalp
- Fat grafting to the neck
- Fat grafting to the breasts
- Fat grafting to the arms
- Fat grafting to the hands
- Fat grafting to the female genital region (labia minor and/or labia majora)
- Fat grafting to the buttocks
- Fat grafting to the knees
- Fat grafting to the feet
As you can see, all these regions can be rejuvenated with fat. In many ways, fat is your best friend as it can rejuvenate many body regions in a natural and healthy-looking way!
If you are interested, please contact us to see if you are a candidate for fat grafting procedure!
What are the side effects of Edmonton Fat Transfer?
Each procedure has benefits and possible risks. We always want to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks.
The risks are related to both the donor (harvesting) site and to the recipient (destination) site.
Some of the most common side effects of fat grafting include bruising, swelling and tenderness. These are usually self limiting and resolve over time with the help of compression, cool compresses and analgesics. In addition, there is a risk of irregular contours at the donor and/or recipient sites. These may require further treatments.
In rare cases, infection can occur either at the donor or recipient site(s). Fortunately, the chances of infection are very small.
Thorough review of additional, less common, side effects is communicated during the consultation process.
It is important for doctors to be honest about potential side effects and we strive to be as honest and thorough as possible!
If you are interested, please contact us to see if you are a candidate for fat grafting procedure!
Edmonton’s Youthful Image Clinic has been helping clients for over 25 years and it is one of Edmonton’s longest, same owners operated, clinics in Alberta!
If you are interested in Edmonton Fat Grafting Transfer, please contact us to see if you are a candidate for this popular therapy!
The information provided on this website is for Canadian patients only and is meant for information and education that is based on experience and research. This information is also available in multiple public sources.