fat beautifier - Leslie Kuek Plastic Surgery

plastic surgery
dr Leslie kuek
FAT
BEAUTIFIER
Using one’s own fat tissue is the
latest breast enhancement technique.
Getting rid of fat tissue is one of the ways to achieve a nicer, firmer body contour.
Now imagine if the fat tissue could be “recycled” to help boost some other parts
of the body. That would be advantageous since the fat is still part of the body’s
own tissue.
In aesthetic procedures, the process is called fat transfer, which is becoming a
preferred method of breast enhancement. Although this is not a new technology,
doctors have over the past few years gained a tremendous amount of new
So currently, fat transfer is the only approved nonsurgical method for breast enhancement.
knowledge and greater understanding of the physiology and properties of fat.
MINIMAL SCARS
BENEFITS OF FAT TRANSFER
Although breast implant surgery is still the mainstay
Fat is living biological tissue and therefore it can survive for long periods of
of breast enhancement treatment, the main advantage
time after it is transplanted, unlike some fillers which are synthetic and will be
of fat transfer is that it is minimally invasive, requiring
metabolised by the body.
only small keyhole cuts to aspirate the fat from the
Because the fat is taken from the patient’s own body, it will not be rejected, and
there is no risk of other possible complications such as foreign body reactions or
lumpiness associated with some types of artificial fillers. Generally, complications
are uncommon in the hands of skilled doctors.
body and simultaneously re-inject into the breasts
after purification.
The fat is most commonly taken from the abdomen
so an additional advantage to the patient is that she
Moreover, the body is potentially a limitless source of fat tissue. Studies have
has also received a liposuction of the donor area. This
shown that this fat tissue is also a rich source of stem cells which can be used to
also means how much fat can be injected into the
enhance the survival rate and vigour of the transplanted fat cells, thereby improving
breasts therefore depends on how much pre-existing
the final results of breast enhancement.
fat there is available to be harvested.
Large amounts of fat can be safely transferred into the breasts to create
In addition, the patient is not exposed to the risks
significant volume increases. Smaller volumes of fat can also be used to precisely
that may be associated with open surgery such as
correct various body concavities and asymmetries and this is commonly done in
scars or implant issues.
the facial areas.
On the flip side, a successful implant surgery is
Also, vast improvements in the technique of harvesting and purifying fat for
generally permanent and does not require additional
autologous transfer into various other parts of the body has resulted in significantly
top-up of fat which may sometimes be needed with
improved success rates. The greater “longevity” of the transferred fat tissue
fat graft because a small proportion of the fat may get
therefore, leads to greater patient acceptance and satisfaction.
absorbed by the body over time. It is also important to
In the past, there were a few artificial fillers
available for breast enhancement such as Macrolane
note that fat grafting for breast enhancement is longlasting but not necessarily permanent.
and Aqualift but recently there have been some
concerns regarding their long-term safety and so
NOT FOR EVERY WOMAN
they are now not available in Singapore, pending
Patients who are still young and whose bodies are
further evaluation by the Health Ministry. Other
still changing (i.e. going through puberty) should not
claims for breast enlargements commonly advertised
consider plastic surgery till they are fully mature.
in magazines and newspapers do not have any
Otherwise, the only real limiting factor is the patient’s
scientific basis and in my opinion, should not even be
medical status and fitness to undergo surgery without
considered.
compromising their health.
DR LESLIE KUEK | Plastic Surgeon
Leslie Kuek Plastic Surgery
MBBS (S’pore), FRCS (Edinburgh, Glasgow),
6 Napier Road #03-08 Gleneagles Medical Centre. Tel: 6472 2972 / 6472 0021
FAMS (Plastic Surgery)
www.lesliekuek.com
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