Recipe for permanent fat injections

Modified on | by Dr. Ricardo L. Rodriguez

I see this question all over the Internet: Are fat grafts permanent? The answer is:

When done correctly, fat grafts are permanent. When done incorrectly, they don’t last and you will need a redo.

But how does a plastic surgeon achieve this?

Steps for long lasting fat injections

First, the physician must employ correct techniques; and second, the patient must follow the post op recovery restrictions.

For the surgeon, the following techniques should be performed with fat injections:

  • Right extraction pressure with low suction
  • Various types of laser lipo will kill the fat cells –these techniques should not be used for extraction
  • Fat cells should not be washed
  • Proper centrifugation techniques
  • Proper isolation and injection techniques to ensure that the good fat is enriched with some of your own stem cells. Fat must be reinjected in small quantities to allow blood supply to grow into the new fat grafts.

After the surgery, the patient must not put pressure on the grafts for a period of 2-3 weeks. In the example of the Brazilian butt lift, patients should ideally not sit on the new fat grafts for 3 weeks to allow a full ‘take’.

When the above techniques and protocols are used, my fat grafts have been permanent.

By Dr. Ricardo L. Rodriguez MD Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Cosmeticsurg Baltimore, Maryland Ricardo L. Rodriguez on American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

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26 thoughts on “Recipe for permanent fat injections”

    • Dr. Ricardo L Rodriguez says:

      Shirley: As they say, we have the technology! We can get you wider, bigger hips. If you are interested we can get you in contact with kelly@cosmeticsurg.net

  • Moses says:

    Dr. Rodriguez: Do you perform the Brazilian Butt lift on men as well. If so, is there any difference in treatment and post surgery care? Im interesting in getting it done.

    • Dr. Ricardo L Rodriguez says:

      Moses: Yes, we do. It is basically the same procedure as in females except that it is harder to get a lot of fullness on the lateral hips. Most men do not want lateral hip fullness ("Saddlebags") as it gives a very feminine shape, so that works out alright. We'd love to help you, and you can contact Kelly at kelly@cosmeticsurg.net for more info.

  • mary says:

    can fat graphs be done on the back of the fingers (i have excessivw wrinkles around my knucles) as well as the the back of the palm of the hand? Thanks, Mary

    • Dr. Ricardo L Rodriguez says:

      Mary: Yes, we have done it. If you are interested, contact Kelly at kelly@cosmeticsurg.net We're looking forward to hearing from you!

    • Dr. Ricardo L Rodriguez says:

      Nichole: Contact Kelly at kelly@cosmeticsurg.net- she'd love to help you with price info

    • Dr. Ricardo L Rodriguez says:

      Amber: I have done many procedures for military personnel. We have a military discount as my small way of giving thanks to those who serve our country. We can also put you in contact with military personnel who have had the procedure done. Contact Kelly at kelly@cosmeticsurg.net We'd be happy and honored to help you!

    • Dr. Ricardo L Rodriguez says:

      Jennifer: Yes, we do! You should expect one to two cups increase in size, but it is your own tissue and feels completely natural. We love doing it and recommend it highly. Contact Kelly at kelly@cosmeticsurg.net if you are interested. We'd love to hear from you!

  • Enoch McAlister says:

    I am very slim and really dont have much fat of my own. Is it posible to use someone else's fat stem cells for my butt injections?

    • Dr. Ricardo L Rodriguez says:

      Enoch: The short answer is no. The long answer is that stem cells can impart immune protection to the fat cells from another person, but the technical details about how to do this are far in the future.

  • sadme says:

    hmmmm very strange that link no longer works because that website took down that article soon after i shared the link... Now that is something to think about! Thank Goodness i still have saved many documents from the web as well as pdf's confirming this since somebody has either deleted or censored those documents from appearing on the web

  • sadme says:

    Thanks for the kind words doctor, it really made me feel better since i am used to being treated like a bad person for voicing my terrible experience with my other doctor. I would definitely trust you to care properly for me and the fat grafts because of your experience and knowledge with fat injections. Thank You

  • sadandhurt says:

    Please check out this link and it clearly says that pressure is not to be applied to the areas of fat grafts. http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/15308 Hello again doctor, i wanted to ask you a question about why my doctor would apply heavy pressure on my lower fat grafted eyelids if i was only about 1 week fresh from surgery, and i had no signs of edema or any complications whatsoever , i was careful and gentle with my face and i never so much as lightly touched my face when i would apply ice or gently wash my face. I had done a marvelous job of ensuring my post operative recovery and i had suffered no complications and the bruising had gone down to almost gone Unfortunately my dr didn't do his part in my post operative care or healing regimen. Since during the post op 1 week from surgery, my doctor caused a great deal of injury to my face I don't know if my doctor did it on purpose or if my dr. just did not know what he was doing,since it damaged my face and rendered my surgery a complete failure. The pressure from where his finger immediately left two permanent dents as well as caused the fat to become watery lumpy and it caused the fat to disperse and to die . I had to hold my face up with bandages and pray for the best. I just wanted to say that you should help to spread the word that pressure to the areas of fat transfer is a huge no no.

    • Dr. Ricardo L Rodriguez says:

      Sadandhurt: Thank you for your comment, and I am sorry you have gone through all this misfortune. Our readers will learn from your experience, so you are helping a lot of people.

  • medryl says:

    Hello doctor, how much will it cost me for taking the fat from my stomach away and putting it in my butt..i already have a bit butt but i dont mind having it even bigger lol please answer, i will be looking out for your answer. Thanks.

    • Dr. Ricardo L Rodriguez says:

      Medryl: Thanks for contacting us! Here at cosmeticsurg.net we love doing the Brazilian Butt lift. Our record is injecting 1,100cc per buttock cheek, that is almost 2 1/2 pounds per butt cheek!!! Of course, what size you want determines what we inject, but we would love to have you come here so we can help you. Contact Kelly at kelly@cosmeticsurg.net and she will give you all the info you need. Looking forward to seeing you!

  • sadme says:

    doctor you need to be more clear in your explanation please clarify these facts by affirming or disproving them.. 1. Pressure should not be applied to the ares of fat grafts/transfers , especially not any kind of forceful or heavy pressure because the fat is trying to form an attachment to the blood vessels in your face and their survival is dependant on healing properly and this can only be accomplished by not manipulating or massaging the areas for about a month , and by massaging i mean rubbing your eyes or pushing down onto them in any way that can harm or move the fat . lighlty tapping or gentle touching is okay and makeup can be applied if you avoid the areas of fat grafts and not until the swelling and bruising goes down and with as much care as possible to not cause harm to the fat grafts which can easily be harmed and cause it to disperse and form lumps by pressure such as the pressure that is used to glue fake nails on your fingertips / stick something onto the wall etc etc right?

    • Dr. Ricardo L Rodriguez says:

      Sadme: You are correct. Light pressure is OK. Since you are talking fingernails, here's an example. Look at your fingernail. Put light pressure on it with an opposite fingernail. When it starts blanching, that is the pressure at which it is occluding the small blood vessels. Do not apply more than that pressure. Hope this helps!

  • sadme says:

    wonderfully said doctor, you truly are helpful and are an expert in fat grafts God bless you, i quoted you in my blog , is that okay? Hope so ..

    • Dr. Ricardo L Rodriguez says:

      Sadme: I love your email name, lol. What is your web blog address so I can check it out?

  • alex says:

    You mentioned not to put pressure on a fat graft done to the facial area or any area. What "kind" of pressure are you referring to in reference "to" the facial area? Are you talking about not even washing the face? What if someone "touches" your face? Could you clarify? Thanx, Alex

    • Dr. Ricardo L Rodriguez says:

      Alex: I guess I should be more specific about pressure. What you really are trying to avoid is direct damage to the cells or shutting off the blood supply, which in turn would cause cell death. Direct damage would be blunt trauma, as if somebody punched you. Touching gently, washing the face DELICATELY and GENTLY is OK. Pressure above 30 mmHg, or about the pressure needed to blanch our fingernails if you put pressure on them is not good. You could easily do that by sleeping on an area that had fat grafts. I hope this helps. Happy New Year!