According to a press release from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the fat grafting procedure has been found to be a very effective way to correct thin or slender calves. The procedure can be used to correct deformities or for cosmetic purposes.
The release states that the fat grafting or augmentation procedure has many advantages when compared to calf implants. The procedure can include liposuction in adjacent areas to improve calf contours. Other benefits include smaller incisions, better, more durable results, lack of foreign body reactions, possible additional augmentation, and precise patient-specific adjustments. All of these benefits are not possible with implants, according to the release.
During the study that was published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 13 patients underwent fat transfer calf augmentation and reshaping over a five-year period. Ten of those patients underwent bilateral calf augmentation, and three patients were treated for congenital leg deformities.
Fat was taken from the thigh area, abdomen, waistline, flanks, hips, and upper back, depending on the patient. No matter the harvest site, additional liposuction was performed to the knee area to improve contour.
What is Fat Transfer?
Basically, during the fat transfer procedure, fat is taken from areas that have excess fat. Essentially, removing this fat makes fat transfer presents a two-fold benefit: Smoothing and contour the harvest site, while augmenting the transfer site. Fat is removed using a gentle liposuction procedure so that the fat cells are not damaged. The cells are then treated to separate them from excess fluids. These treated cells are then placed into the area that is being augmented. In some case, the fat cells are enhanced by fat stem cells, which increase the healing process.
In addition to calf augmentation, fat transfer can be used for:
Says Dr. Thomas Wright, medical director of Laser Lipo and Vein Center, “We find that the natural fat transfer method for augmentation is very successful, and provides very natural looking results. In addition, since the body’s own fat, there is little risk of rejection or allergic reaction.” If you are interested in calf augmentation or augmentation for other body parts, please call us today to set up a complimentary consultation.