Fat grafting, sometimes called fat transfer or fat injection, is a common cosmetic procedure where excess fat is removed from areas it’s not wanted and reinjected into areas that may be lacking volume or contour.

Most patients elect fat removal from problem areas such as the inner thighs, love handles, or abdomen. Fat can be removed from other harvesting sites including the upper arm, bra strap area, and so on.

Fat grafting is dependent on their being enough fat available to transfer. Discuss specific problem areas with your doctor during a consultation.

Fat grafting for a Brazilian butt lift has three steps: harvesting, purification and transfer, and placement.

Harvesting sites are selected by a patient and his or her surgeon. A tiny cannula, or microfilament, is inserted into these sites to extract excess fat. This step is also known as liposuction.

During the purification and transfer stage, impurities are removed from the fat cells and prepared for transfer in small syringes that will be used for fat injection.

Finally, tiny incisions are made at injection sites on the buttocks where the syringe or cannula will be inserted.

During the placement stage, each pass of the cannula deposits fat cells in natural tissue planes. This step is repeated until the desired shape and contour is achieved.

Fat extracted from problem areas is often resistant to diet and exercise. These fat cells will continue to be stubborn once transferred to the buttocks.

For example, if a patient has excess fat transferred to the buttocks, this fat will show gain and lose similar to the way it did before it was transferred. Excessive weight gain or loss could alter the overall shape and contour of a Brazilian butt lift procedure.

It should be noted that up to 40 percent of transferred fat may not survive placement in the buttocks.

After surgery, patients are wrapped in a special compression garment to treat the areas where liposuction was performed. The garment minimizes swelling and discomfort during recovery and helps the skin retract after fat injections.

Immediately following surgery, patients can expect swelling and bruising in areas used to harvest fat cells. Pain medication is prescribed to manage any discomfort.

Most patients are up and walking about within 48 hours of surgery. High impact activities should be avoided for approximately four weeks. After one month, patients can resume light cardio, like speed-walking, and resume normal activities six to eight weeks after surgery.

Sitting affects blood circulation; patients should avoid sitting directly on the buttocks for a minimum of eight weeks after surgery. Patients should sleep on their stomach or side during recovery. If sitting is absolutely necessary, patients should use an inflatable pillow to avoid direct pressure on the fat graft.

We also recommend a comprehensive pre- and post-surgery nutritional supplement system called the VitaMedica Surgery Program for all patients undergoing cosmetic procedures.

To be considered a "good candidate" for Brazilian butt lift surgery, patients should be within approximately 15 pounds of their ideal weight. Remember, patients need excess fat to transfer to the buttocks to achieve optimal results.

Candidates should also be in relatively good health, and ideally without circulatory disorders. Smokers should stop smoking before and after surgery to minimize recovery time.

Finally, good candidates have realistic surgery goals. If you are considering a Brazilian butt lift and reside near Mishawaka, Elkhart, or South Bend, a board-certified surgeon will assess your eligibility during a scheduled consultation.