Plastic surgery restores form and function through reconstructive procedures, cosmetic enhancements, and body contouring.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
The first three months are known as the graft survival phase. During this time, the transplanted fat cells are establishing their blood supply. It is estimated that 60-80% of the fat will survive permanently, while the body reabsorbs the rest.
The body naturally clears the dead fat cells through the lymphatic system. This is why the volume seems to decrease from the immediate post-operative size. Patients must be patient and maintain their weight during this critical window to support the living cells.
Swelling can persist for several months, masking the final result. In the face, subtle swelling can last for weeks. In the body, residual fluid can fluctuate with activity and salt intake.
Patients are advised to limit sodium, stay hydrated, and continue wearing compression on donor sites to manage this. Understanding that the “final” shape is not visible until the swelling completely resolves helps manage aesthetic anxiety.
Maintaining a healthy diet is essential. The new fat cells are living tissue that requires energy. Crash dieting during the recovery phase can starve the new grafts, leading to greater volume loss.
A diet rich in healthy fats (such as avocados, nuts, and olive oil) and protein supports adipocytes. Patients should view their nutrition as fuel for their results, avoiding inflammatory foods that could prolong swelling.
Long-term results are highly dependent on weight stability. The transplanted fat cells behave exactly like the donor-area fat cells. If the patient gains weight, the treated area will enlarge. If they lose weight, it will shrink.
For example, a patient who had a BBL will see their buttocks grow if they gain weight. Patients are encouraged to maintain a stable weight (+/- 5-10 lbs) to keep their proportions ideal and predictable.
Lymphatic drainage massage is often recommended for the donor sites (liposuction areas). This therapy helps clear excess fluid, reduces swelling, and prevents the formation of hard scar tissue (fibrosis) under the skin.
While the grafted area should generally be left alone initially, massaging the donor areas speeds up recovery and ensures smooth contours. Professional therapists trained in post-surgical care are preferred.
Over time, the fat becomes indistinguishable from the native tissue. It softens and moves naturally. Unlike implants, which can feel firm or foreign, fat grafts feel soft and warm.
The stem cells in the fat continue to improve the quality of the overlying skin for months or even years. This long-term integration creates a result that is not only visually natural but also tactilely undetectable.
In rare cases, fat necrosis (hard lumps of dead fat) or oil cysts can form. These are usually small and often resolve on their own. If they persist, they are benign but can be annoying.
Routine follow-ups allow the surgeon to monitor for these. Oil cysts can be drained with a simple needle in the office. Calcifications (tiny hard spots) can occur but are generally harmless; it is essential to distinguish them from other breast imaging findings.
The incision scars from the harvesting cannulas are tiny and usually fade to become imperceptible. However, protecting them from the sun is essential during the first year to prevent hyperpigmentation (darkening).
Silicone scar gels or creams can be used to ensure they heal flat and pale. Because they are so small, they rarely require revision and are easily hidden in natural skin creases or bikini lines.
Numbness in the donor sites or overlying the grafted area is common and temporary. Sensation returns gradually as the small nerve fibers regenerate. This can take a few weeks to several months.
Patients may experience itching or tingling (“pins and needles”) as the sensation returns. This is a typical sign of nerve healing. Permanent numbness is sporadic in fat transfer procedures.
In BBL procedures, patients often describe a “fluffing” phase around month 3. This is when the skin relaxes, the swelling is gone, and the fat softens, making the buttocks feel soft and jiggly rather than stiff and swollen.
This phase marks the transition to the final look and feel. The projection may drop slightly as the tension releases, resulting in a natural, mature contour.
In BBL procedures, patients often describe a “fluffing” phase around month 3. This is when the skin relaxes, the swelling is gone, and the fat softens, making the buttocks feel soft and jiggly rather than stiff and swollen.
This phase marks the transition to the final look and feel. The projection may drop slightly as the tension releases, resulting in a natural, mature contour.
The final result of fat transfer is a permanent modification of the body’s contours. It provides a double reward: a slimmer, more contoured donor area and a fuller, rejuvenated recipient area.
Patients typically report high satisfaction due to the natural look and feel. The improvement in body proportions or facial youthfulness is maintained as long as the patient maintains a healthy lifestyle.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
If you lose significant weight, the fat cells in the treated area will shrink just like fat cells elsewhere in your body. This means you will lose volume in the face, breasts, or buttocks. To keep your results, maintain your weight.
No, fat cells do not migrate. Once they develop a blood supply and integrate into the tissue, they stay exactly where they were placed. Gravity affects them over time just like natural tissue, but they don’t move to other parts of the body.
No. Lymphatic massage is crucial during the first few weeks or months to reduce swelling and prevent lumps in the liposuction areas. Once you are fully healed and the tissue is soft, you do not need to continue them.
Yes. Once the fat has established a blood supply and healed (usually after 6-8 weeks), you can sit, sleep, and exercise normally without damaging the graft. The fat becomes a living, durable part of your body.
By 3 to 6 months, the swelling is gone. The volume you see at that point is the fat that has survived. If the area maintains its volume and shape from that point forward, the graft was successful.
Your Comparison List (you must select at least 2 packages)
