Fat grafting is a surgical procedure that transfers fat from one area of the body to another. By using the fat that comes from your body to re-build soft tissue volume in another area, you can enjoy natural-looking results. There are three general steps to fat grafting: harvesting the fat, processing the fat, and placing the fat in the recipient area.
Fat can be harvested from areas of the body, such as the abdomen, hips, or thighs. These are often “problem areas” for many patients, and the removal of fat from these spots creates sleeker, smoother contours. The harvested fat can be placed in areas such as the breast, buttocks, or face to create additional volume for a more youthful, healthy appearance.
While fat transfer procedures are relatively low risk, the results depend on the quality of the fat that is transferred. Because of this, the fat processing step is critical; the more effective the processing step, the greater chance you have to obtain superior results. This is why Puregraft has become the gold standard in the processing of fat for autologous transfer, and the key to a successful fat grafting procedure.
Why is the processing step so critical to fat grafting?
Using either a needle or liposuction, depending on the amount of fat that is being removed, your surgeon will harvest fat from your body that will be used in your fat grafting procedure. The fat cells must then be separated from other types of cells and cellular debris, such as oils and blood. There is a fine balance at play when your clinician is processing your harvested fat; it is critical to purify and clean the sample as much as possible while minimizing the disruption of the fat cells. Thus, the fat tissue must be gently handled but thoroughly cleaned. This process of cleaning and purifying the fat cells has been highly variable in the past, often resulting in un-pure samples and damaged fat cells.
Fat grafting with samples that are not thoroughly cleaned of blood, oils, and other impurities impedes your body’s ability to accept the transfer and can cause the formation of lipid cysts and inflammation. On the other hand, using a sample that has been thoroughly purified, but where cells have been damaged, negatively impacts the viability of the transfer. These damaged cells may not survive the transfer, leaving patients with sub-optimal aesthetic results.
Common techniques to purify fat for transfer involve centrifugation, which spins the sample to separate the components, or straining, which mechanically separates the fat tissue from blood and oils. While these techniques do remove some impurities in the fat, they are notoriously inconsistent, leaving blood and oils behind, and can damage fat cells.
How does Puregraft ensure high-quality fat for transfer?
Puregraft is an advanced technology that significantly enhances the fat purification process. Through a specialized filtration system, Puregraft can gently and effectively remove almost all unwanted compounds from the sample, leaving a highly-purified and viable graft for transplant. Because the blood and oils are so effectively cleaned from the sample, patients who undergo fat transfer with Puregraft experience less inflammation, heal quickly, and have better aesthetic results. They are much less likely to re-absorb the fat transplant and are happier with their outcomes months and even years after their procedures. This filtration technology is improving the predictability of the fat grafting procedure, making it the best option for patients who want superior, natural results.
If you are considering a fat grafting procedure, make sure your fat will be processed through Puregraft, the gold standard for this step. Call 408.559.7177 to find out more about why we use Puregraft and to schedule your consult today!
