WHAT IS FAT GRAFTING? 

Fat Grafting is a surgical procedure involving the removal of fat from one part of the body for transfer to another part of the body. It is also known as fat transfer.

This procedure is usually carried out in plastic surgery clinic to improve the appearance of the part of the body where the fat is to be deposited.  It is popularly regarded as a cosmetic procedure used to improve the shape or contour of parts of the body such as the cheeks, chin, nasolabial folds of the face, breasts, hips, and buttocks. In more recent times, it is also used as a therapeutic procedure to reconstruct body defects and heal wounds as well as scars. For example, it has been used medically to heal breast tissue after radiotherapy and can help to improve the shape of the breast following breast reconstruction surgery. 

PROCESS OF FAT GRAFTING IN SINGAPORE

Fat grafting involves three main processes. 

1. Fat extraction 
2. Fat processing or filtering 
3. Fat reinjection 

1. FAT EXTRACTION 

The fat is removed from the "donor" areas using liposuction. Manual liposuction is used for small volume fat transfer, whilst power-assisted liposuction is used for larger volume harvest. Both involve the use of thin cannulae with smaller holes. Laser or ultrasonic types of liposuction are less commonly used for fear that fat cells may be destroyed in the harvesting process. 

2. FAT PROCESSING OR FILTERING 

After the fat has been extracted, it needs to undergo a few more processes to remove excess fluid, oil, debris, and dead cells that are liable to cause problems when reinjected or not survive. Such processes include gravity separation and centrifugation. Another way to process the fat is washing it with a sterile normal saline solution.

3. FAT REINJECTION 

Finally, the processed purified fat containing fat cells and fat-derived stem cells is reinjected in small droplets in multiple layers into the recipient area. It is done in small droplets to allow blood circulation to reach every droplet of fat to maximize fat graft survival. 

TYPES OF FAT TRANSFER 

The types of fat grafting or fat transfer can be broadly categorized into three considerations and are differentiated based on:

•  the volume of fat transfer that is to be transferred 
• the part of the body that fat is to be transferred into
• the amount of filtering or processing that the fat will have to pass through to achieve particular fat parcels sizes

The types of fat transfer are:

1. MACRO FAT TRANSFER 

Macro fat transfer involves the removal and deposition of larger parcels of harvested fat from one part of the body to another. The improvement sought in this type of fat transfer is mainly volumization to increase in size and simulate "a lift". This method is popularly used in the popular cosmetic procedure known as the Brazilian butt lift (BBL). It is also used in breast augmentation. 

2. MICRO FAT TRANSFER 

Micro fat transfer is a more intricate procedure involving smaller volumes of fat. It is typically used in cases where the patient wants more volume in finer areas, such as parts of their face, without the worry of lumpiness. Common sites for micro fat transfer include the lip, chin, or cheek augmentation, under-eye correction, etc.

3. NANO FAT TRANSFER 

Nano fat transfer is the most delicate type of fat transfer involving fat that has undergone the most filtration. It helps with slight volumization, improves the appearance of the skin, deals with fine lines and crow's feet, and helps with rejuvenation.