Autologous fat treatment

As a rule, autologous fat transplantation takes place on an outpatient basis under twilight anesthesia and local anesthesia at the Nymphenburg Clinic for Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery in Munich. After another short discussion and the marking, you will be taken to the operating room and the anesthesia is administered.

The fat is suctioned from a location of your choice and collected, washed and concentrated in a closed, highly sterile and air tight system. From this closed system, the fatty tissue is transferred to small syringes and distributed with fine cannulas in the areas to be treated. The fat cells will gain access to the bloodstream in the tissue and grow. At the end of the operation, only small plasters are applied to the incision areas. If irritating fat pads have been removed, a suitable compression wash is applied.

Moderate pain is expected during the first days after surgery. This can be well managed with cooling and oral painkillers. At the beginning there is clearly too much volume. This is due to a natural swelling and some overcorrection which is necessary because not all grafted adipose tissue will survive (see above). In addition, the rate of increase differs from person to person and therefore can not be reliably predicted. Clear explanations for this are not yet known.

On the day following the operation, you report to our practice again, and your bandages will be removed. Basically, we advise our patients to cool the operated areas to minimise swelling as much as possible. Also, the stress on the transplanted cells is reduced by a decreased metabolism when cooling and increases the survival rate of fat cells. You will subsequently visit our offices regularly. Sporting activities, sauna and swimming should be avoided for four weeks.

In the areas of liposuction you should wear the necessary compression underwear consistently for four to six weeks to avoid any dents. For two to three weeks you should minimise social obligations.

In the first six weeks after surgery, the swelling will go down. The treated areas will regain some volume over the weeks that follow. This is because the fat cells recover after the stress of the transplant and begin to store fat. Any hematomas will also disappear within the first two to three weeks after surgery.

As with all procedures, complications are possible, but generally very rare. Asymmetries triggered by an asymmetrical swelling or hematoma can occur. Swelling and hematoma of the skin are normal and subside within two to three weeks. For this period it makes sense not to involve yourself in social obligations. Infections are extremely rare and can usually be treated well by the use of antibiotics.

It is quite normal that not all fat cells will grow. We assume that as a rule about 50 – 60% of the transplanted fatty tissue will increase (“take rate”). This is because not all fat cells are integrated into the tissue so that they gain access to the blood circulation. The fat cells that dont grow are absorbed by the body. In this respect, a certain amount of “loss” must always be expected.