What Is Fat Transfer?
Fat Transfer is the removal of fat cells and stems cells from one part of your body and the subsequent injection of them into another part so as to increase the size of the area (e.g. buttocks). As a result, you can improve your overall appearance.
Smooth Solutions Medical Aesthetics offers cutting-edge fat transfer technology for sculpting your body to look younger and feel better about yourself.
Who is a good candidate for a fat transfer?
Prior to developing this procedure, some people opted to have silicone implants placed in the buttocks to add shape, but that procedure was problematic as the implants could shift, creating all sorts of problems. Dr. Bertolino never placed butt implants. In contrast, a fat transfer simply uses your own fat and moves it from where you don’t want it to where you do. Dr. Bertolino can perform a fat transfer to the buttocks to add volume and roundness to a flat or small butt, or he can add size, giving the patient a more prominent butt.
In contrast to implants, a fat transfer uses the patient’s own body fat to reshape the butt. Dr. Bertolino believes fat injections create a more natural result, have a lower risk of infection, and have no risk of allergic reaction or rejection. Plus, liposuction to harvest the fat can be used to contour the areas around the buttocks to further enhance the changes.
Fat Transfer Procedure
Often a fat transfer procedure can serve as a less expensive and less risky alternative to buttocks implants. The excess fat removed from one area of the body is re-injected into areas needing a lift. Once the cells are injected into the desired area during the fat transfer, your body will produce new blood vessels to nurture these cells.
Because the fat is natural and your own, there are less likely issues with the body rejecting the fat cells. In addition, the results of a fat transfer are likely to look very natural. The procedure is far less invasive and far less expensive than traditional buttock enhancement procedures.
What Our Patients Have to Say
"Dr. Bertolino and his staff were Amazing he is very detailed and professional. He always ensures he does what fits your body and enhances your natural beauty. I would refer him to anyone. He took great care of me and his staff were the best. His office is very warm and friendly. I felt very comfortable speaking with him and allow him to work on me."
"From start to finish, Dr. Bertolino was transparent, patient, well-informed, and friendly. He thoroughly explained the steps of the procedure as well as any possible negative outcomes, even those that were statistically very unlikely to happen. Not only did he walk through each step with me, he had visual aids that helped me as a potential patient understand exactly what would be happening to my body. I particularly enjoyed how warm Dr. Bertolino and his wife are. Even though it is a voluntary operation, it’s a very anxiety-inducing situation, and he and his wife made sure to mitigate that anxiety with their beautiful warm personalities and extensive knowledge.
The first part of my operation was the Vaser Liposculpture. Based on online testimonies and personal experience, I would confidently say that Vaser is a better and more convenient procedure when compared to traditional liposuction (that is, for those who aren’t looking for weight loss, rather a tightening of their bodies like a smaller waist, a flatter torso, etc). The procedure left virtually no scars, had immediate results that are only getting better over time (!!!), and had me back on my feet within a week.
The second part of the procedure for me was a fat transfer to the buttocks. While a little more painful than the liposculpture, it was overall a very quick procedure that also had immediate results. Dr. Bertolino’s method of fat transfers aren’t like the violent transfers normally seen with other plastic surgeons. With a smaller cannula and a softer touch, the doctor gently transfer the fat to your desired area, taking special care not to inject the fat below your muscle (which is really bad). To ensure that the maximum amount of cells survive the transfer, Dr. Bertolino puts in about 50% more fat than required for your desired look and has you avoid sitting on your bottom for a minimum of 2 weeks using a special pillow. While slightly inconvenient, following those instructions gave me the results I was looking for (aka a very nice bottom!).
Post-op, Dr. Bertolino makes sure you have a way to always contact him and checks in with you at his office once a week to ensure that the healing process is moving along well. Overall, I have had the best experience I could’ve imagined and would recommend Dr. Bertolino 110%."
How Long is Fat Transfer Recovery
Recovery time after a fat transfer is also significantly shorter. You may experience some swelling, bruising, and numbness in the incision or puncture areas during your recovery. Most patients can return to work within seven days after the fat transfer surgery and can resume most normal activities in about two weeks. Fat transfer, results vary from person to person but the corrections generally last several years or more.
What to Expect After Fat Transfer Procedure
The post-procedure process takes time, and you can expect slightly more than half of the cells to survive. However, the results of a fat transfer are long-lasting, and you’ll see beautiful changes and a new you! Though the procedure is minimally-invasive, there still may be mild bruising or swelling at the injection site.
The extent of this bruising and swelling will depend on the number and areas being treated. Any post-treatment discomfort can often be treated with over-the-counter pain medication.
What Are the Risks Involved With a Fat Transfer?
These fat transfers to the buttocks, called a Brazilian butt lift, have become quite popular. That brings people who shouldn’t be performing the procedure into the game. People who either don’t have the necessary training or experience with this process have led to some serious complications in patients. Dr. Bertolino is a board-certified family practitioner who also has 2 years of general surgery training. His credentials ensure the level of expertise necessary to perform all of the procedures we offer. Still, there are risks with these fat transfers to the buttocks. As mentioned above, however, it’s critical that patients do their research when it comes to the level of training of the practitioner.
There are the same risks involved with this procedure as with any surgery: infection, reaction to anesthesia, excessive bleeding, fluid accumulation, and the like.
Specific to this procedure are these risks:
- Numbness or changes in skin sensation
- Fat necrosis
- Asymmetry between buttocks
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
- Skin discoloration
- Prolonged swelling
- Enduring pain
- Need for a revision procedure
What is a Brazilian Butt Lift?
A Brazilian butt lift is simply a fat transfer to the buttocks. These days it seems everyone wants to have a bigger, rounder backside. That’s as true in Buffalo as Miami, and that’s exactly what a Brazilian butt lift does. In these procedures, fat is harvested through liposuction from an unwanted area such as the lower abdomen or outer thighs. It is purified to remove everything but the autologous fat cells. These fat cells are then injected back into the buttocks. Dr. Bertolino pays particular attention to the upper buttocks with these injections, as that area has usually flattened somewhat as the patient has aged.
What Are the Benefits of a Brazilian Butt Lift?
If you’ve always been dissatisfied with the shape or contour of your backside, this procedure with Dr. Bertolino could be a nice option. A Brazilian butt lift enhances a patient’s natural curves. It can add volume and roundness to a flat or small butt. A butt lift can add size, giving you a more prominent butt.
Plus, this procedure has the added benefit of removing fat from an area where you do not want it, such as the flanks. During your consultation, Dr. Bertolino will discuss possible areas for your liposuction, as these can further enhance where the fat is transferred to.
How is a Brazilian Butt Lift Done?
The Brazilian butt lift is a two-step procedure that takes from two to four hours. Dr. Bertolino first harvests the patient’s own fat through tumescent liposuction. This helps to contour the areas surrounding the buttocks. This is done through a closed system to keep the fat pure and clear from possible contamination. All containers we use for the fat are only used one time to ensure the ultimate sterilization for each of our patients. The harvested fat is then purified to separate the fat cells from other cells, blood, and other liquid.
The second step involves re-injecting the fat into the buttocks. Dr. Bertolino does this through dozens of tiny injections at varying depths. This ensures an even, natural-looking augmentation. In his Brazilian lifts, Dr. Bertolino pays special attention to the upper buttocks because this presents a lifted, younger-looking profile. This is the area of our backside that tends to flatten and descend as we age.
How much fat is removed?
There isn’t a “set” amount of fat to be removed. During your consultation with Dr. Bertolino, the two of you will discuss your goals. How much larger do you want your buttocks to be? Is the goal to simply add shape or to increase overall size? Your goals will dictate how much fat is needed. Dr. Bertolino will harvest about three times the amount that will be re-injected. That ensures the highest quality fat cells with the best chances of permanently “taking.” For a rough estimate, a 1000 ccs of fat is usually the minimum amount that needs to be harvested
What is recovery like after a Brazilian butt lift?
You’ll need to follow Dr. Bertolino’s recovery instructions closely for these procedures. As you would expect, we advise patients to avoid sitting directly on their buttocks or lying on their backs for two to three weeks following your surgery. This can seem extreme, but it is important because the transplanted fat cells need to acquire a blood supply to successfully “take.” When doing this, it helps to not put pressure on these cells or to jostle them about. A special pillow makes this more work than you might at first assume. You’ll be able to return to work after two weeks, and you can return to normal activities in about a month.
When will I see my results?
Your results are immediate, but they will take some time to settle in, as the fat needs to “take.” That process is described above, as the fat cells acquire a blood supply. Some of the cells will not successfully take and the body will dispose of them. In fact, your final results may take a full year to show themselves. Over time, some of the initial volumes will diminish — patients retain 60 to 80% of the transferred fat, as the body absorbs the rest.
Schedule a Consultation
Please call 716-633-6100 or fill out a Contact Form here for a fat transfer consultation. We will discuss your needs and concerns, and determine if fat transfer is a viable option for you.