Liposculptures

Table of contents:

Lipofiling – also called 'free fat transfer' or fat grafting – is a procedure that uses one's own body fat instead of implants (or other artificial materials) to achieve certain body shapes. It is a very effective procedure because it is not very invasive and produces natural results. Approximately 60% of the transplanted fat remains permanently. Fuller and rounder feminine shapes can be obtained through liposculpture (extensive liposuction of the abdomen and flanks) and lipofilling (and re-injection of this fat) to the buttocks and hips.

If the composition of the body fat allows it, lipofilling is the preferred technique for body contouring. Dr. Doornaert has done extensive research on the subject of lipofilling at the University of Ghent (Belgium) for his PhD.

Contraindications for lipofilling

  • No Fat—Since the fat comes from the patient's own body, fat transfer is not ideal for patients with very little body fat.
  • Limited Volume—The downside to this type of hip augmentation is that the transferred fat cells must have a healthy blood supply to survive. Since pressure is detrimental to the survival of the fat cells, there are limits to the amount of fat that can be injected in one procedure. This procedure also takes longer, since the fat must first be removed from another area of ​​the body. Additionally, it is important to note that liposuction is only for removing extra-abdominal fat. So if you have a lot of intra-abdominal weight, liposuction may not produce the desired results.
  • Absorption—When lipofilling is performed, some of the fat (on average about 40%) will be reabsorbed by the body. Only 60% of the fat remains in the areas where it was injected long-term. Therefore, most patients need a significant amount of their own fat to achieve the desired long-term results.

Benefits of lipofilling

  • One advantage of this type of procedure is that it not only gives you a rounder shape, but it can also give you a smaller waist. (Or other narrowed area, depending on where the surgeon can remove the fat) 

Where in the body can liposculpture be performed?

  • Fat Transfer to the Breast Area—Fatty tissue can be harvested from areas of the body where it is naturally present, such as the thighs, abdomen, and hips. After the fat has been processed, it can be used for lipofilling, which involves injecting several small doses of fat into the tissues that are to be augmented. In some cases, a natural-looking, lifelong augmentation of the area (without scarring) can be achieved. In other cases, lipofilling can be used to complement a smaller implant to achieve a more natural, long-lasting result. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best solution for you.
  • Fat Transfer to the Buttocks—If body fat accumulation allows, liposculpture is the preferred technique. The popular name for this fat transfer is a Brazilian butt lift. The results are stable, complications are minimal, and no long-term problems are expected. Dr. Doornaert has done extensive research on the subject of lipofilling for his doctorate. While there are a few different procedures that can give transgender patients a fuller, more feminine backside, the most successful procedure to date is the Brazilian butt lift. The procedure differs from traditional buttock implants because it uses fat from specific areas of the body instead of artificial implants. The Brazilian butt lift is ideal for transgender women because it not only increases the fullness and projection of the buttocks, but it also removes fat from more masculine areas of the body such as the abdomen or flanks. This can create a more feminine waistline, for example. The fat transfer (including the Brazilian butt lift) is less invasive than implants. A disadvantage is that the amount of volume remaining after a year varies from person to person. In some cases, a second lipofilling is necessary.
  • Fat Transfer to the Hip Area—The most common medically accepted approach to hip augmentation is to transplant one's own fat into the area. Learn more about hip enlargement via liposculpture.

Procedure

The fat used for fat grafting can be extracted from any part of the body - such as the abdomen or thighs - through liposuction, and will then be injected where needed.

The removal of fat from the body is usually done under local anesthesia. If it is combined with other procedures, it will usually be done under general anesthesia. The method used by Dr. Doornaert is called the Coleman method.

  • Liposuction—The fat used for re-injection can be removed by liposuction from any part of the body that has sufficient fat. In most cases, this is from the abdomen, upper legs, or thighs. After injecting local anesthesia, which minimizes bleeding in this specific area, a very small incision is made and fat is aspirated using a blunt needle with multiple perforations and a special aspirator. This small incision is then closed with one suture.
  • Filtration—This fat is filtered to separate blood, oil, and local anesthetic from the fat cells.
  • Fat injection—A minimal amount of local anesthetic is injected into the area where we want more volume, after which the fat cells are injected using cannulas.
    • The trick of fat transfer is to inject only a very small amount of fat per needle insertion. In this way, the grafted fat comes into direct contact with the surrounding tissue and the fat in the vessels can grow very quickly. This allows the fat to survive.
    • About 60% of the fat remains forever, the other 40% is absorbed by the body. Therefore, during the operation, more fat is injected than necessary (overinjection), in anticipation.
  • Repetition—After 6 months, a new fat graft can be performed if necessary until the desired effect is achieved. Repetition is necessary for approximately 50% of our patients.

Recovery

After the procedure, it is necessary to avoid pressure on the treated areas to allow for maximum fat survival. Conversely, pressure garments (tight-fitting, elastic garments) are indicated for the compression of liposuction areas. The bandage should be worn for 2 to 3 weeks around the flanks. If liposuction is performed from the legs, the liposculpture pants should be worn for 6 weeks. No wound care is required. No sports for 3 weeks.

Complications

  • Adhering to post-operative instructions is very important for these procedures. You will be given specific instructions on where to avoid pressure and what not to do. No matter how perfect the surgery is, if the post-operative instructions are not followed, complications will occur.
  • Less volume than hoped for—A second session may be scheduled to make up for any volume deficit. Many factors determine how permanent the results will be. Your body naturally reabsorbs fat so the surgeon must over-inject initially, and success rates can vary widely. Some fat is always reabsorbed by the body and sometimes only a certain percentage is permanent, although newer techniques may offer longer lasting results.
  • Weight gain—If you gain weight significantly after the procedure, it may appear in the treated area.
Combination with hip augmentation

It is also possible to combine your hip augmentation with a buttock augmentation. But we want to warn you: it can be very uncomfortable because after these procedures you will only be able to sleep on your stomach.

Do you want more information? Curious what we can do for you? Dr Doornaert will be happy to explain all this during a personal conversation.