Body contouring procedures restore more youthful curves, shapeliness, and overall appearance to the face and entire body. Liposuction removes extra fat and may be performed in conjunction with fat injections which correct areas of volume depletion. In areas of fatty tissue excess, liposuction may be carried out to permanently remove fat deposits that are resistant to diet and exercise. For women, these areas typically include the abdomen, flanks, outer thighs (“saddle bags”) and inner thighs; in men, the flanks (“love handles”), abdomen, and chest (“gynecomastia”) are often treated with liposuction. Other parts of the body where liposuction can produce better contour are the neck, arms, and knees. Liposuction is a minimally invasive procedure that requires tiny incisions, is most often performed under twilight anaesthesia, and offers quick recovery and permanent results.
The complementary counterpart of liposuction is fat grafting. With age, some areas of the body experience soft tissue volume loss and the overlying skin can appear to sag. To correct volume depletion and create a better and younger look, fat injections can restore a more youthful contour and natural looking curves. The fat is obtained from an area where the patient has fat excess, with a technique similar to liposuction, usually from the belly, flanks, or thighs. It is then extracted, purified, and injected directly into the areas that need to be plumped back up. Most fat injections, also referred to as autologous fat grafts and fat transfers, are used to improve appearance in the face, where they increase cheekbone prominence, correct tear trough deformity, and fill in laugh lines. When placed along the cheekbones, fat injections also create a mild lifting of the midface tissues, as a nonsurgical facelift. The procedure produces similar results to those obtained with dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Voluma. In addition, fat contains stem cells, which when transferred as part of fat injections, have anti-aging properties that lead to improved skin tone and texture . The fat injection procedure is usually performed under local anaesthesia with mild sedation, and results are immediate and very long lasting.
Dr. Olivia Hutchinson is a board certified female plastic surgeon in New York City. She has advanced specialized fellowship training in aesthetic plastic surgery of the face, breast, and body. Her practice on Manhattan’s Upper East Side is equipped with a fully AAAASF certified Operating Room for the safety, privacy, and convenience of her patients. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Hutchinson, please contact us or call us at (212) 452-1400. We look forward to hearing from you and answering any questions you may have about this and any other plastic surgery procedure.
