Improvements in liposuction techniques have led to the development of systems that allow harvested fat to be filtered and subsequently injected back into patients. Body jet liposuction allows the simultaneous injection of fluid at the same time as liposuction allowing the fat to be washed and filtered at the same time.
Fat harvested can be injected back into patients during the primary liposuction operation and many patients opting for liposuction should consider the benefits of autologous fat transfer for other areas of the body. In the face only relatively small amounts of fat are required to help volumize the face. Increasing amounts are required to provide a breast volume enhancement with very large volumes required to produce an enhancement in the buttock area. Patients need to prioritise the areas they wish to address.
It would appear that around 50% – 75% of fat will survive long term and injection techniques are continually improving in order to improve the amount of fat that will survive long term. It is important that during the liposuction component excessive fat is not harvested that can lead to irregularities from the harvested areas. Equally there is a safe limit of fat that can be injected back in one sitting in order to maximise survival.
Autologous fat transfer is increasingly being used as an alternative to both breast an buttock implants. Patients need to be aware that the amount of volume that can be achieved is less than silicone based implants and is less predictable but for patients primarily undergoing liposuction where the fat would otherwise be wasted to remains a valuable aesthetic option.
Mr Gary Ross is a Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic surgeon in the North West of England and offers an individualized range of plastic and cosmetic surgery treatments to enhance appearance. He is director of UK Aesthetic (www.garylross.com) and is a full member of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS); British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Association of Breast Surgeons (ABS), British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists (BAHNO) and is a fully accredited plastic surgeon on the General Medical Council’s specialist register for plastic surgery. He began his NHS Consultant career at the Christie specialising in breast and head and neck reconstruction before retiring from the NHS in 2013 to offer a wide range of plastic reconstructive and aesthetic procedures in the private sector. He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester and heavily involved in education and training. He has published over 100 peer reviewed articles and book chapters and lectures throughout the world as a key opinion leader. Mr Ross is frequently been featured in the media including the BBC and Tatler.
Mr Ross’s philosophy is to provide an individualized service that is tailored to the needs of every patient. He aims to achieve optimal results without compromising patient safety, applying the most up-to-date techniques in all aspects of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.
