Micro Fat Transfer

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Since 1997, Dr. Lucie Capek has been performing micro-fat transfers, or micro-fat grafting, for natural and long-lasting rejuvenation and contouring of the face and hands. She calls it the ultimate “green” procedure because it utilizes your own fat cells from unwanted ‘donor sites’ like your thighs to restore volume and enhance areas that need volume and reshaping. This means there is little risk of allergic reaction.

In recent years, her facial fat transfer method has become popular as a more permanent, natural, and attractive alternative to dermal fillers. As one of the top plastic surgeons in Latham, NY, Dr. Capek has perfected this method to fill under-eye hollows, lift and fill hollow cheeks, reshape a sagging jawline, or make your hands look more youthful using excess fat from your own body. She also performs large-volume fat grafting as an excellent option for breast and body enhancement (such as Natural Breast Augmentation).

Are you a candidate for this procedure?

Micro-fat grafting in Latham, NY may be a good option for you if you notice some of the following concerns and you have enough fat cells in other areas to transfer:

  • You have facial areas that appear creased and sunken or deflated due to volume loss, including under-eye hollows, flattened cheeks or temples, deep nasolabial folds, or thin lips
  • You are young but have facial contours that have experienced significant volume loss, such as under-eye hollows, flat cheeks, or a weak chin
  • Your hands have aged and the tendons and veins look prominent
  • You desire a more permanent way to restore volume and contour than hyaluronic acid injectable filler treatments provide
  • You wish to improve your body contour, revise scars, fill bodily depressions, and rejuvenate your hands and face for a more youthful appearance
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board-certified plastic surgeon

DR. LUCIE CAPEK

Dr. Lucie Capek offers advanced cosmetic plastic surgery from the unique perspective of a female plastic surgeon. Since 1996, she has been serving patients in the Capital District from Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Troy, NY. She is known for using the latest technology to perform body contouring, breast surgery, and facial cosmetic surgery. She personalizes every treatment to give each patient the most natural-looking results, enhancing their beauty and increasing their self-confidence. Above all, her practice is dedicated to your health and wellness. Dr. Capek understands that your beauty and confidence is about more than just your appearance. To schedule your first consultation, contact Lucie Capek, MD.

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Before Your Procedure

During your consultation, Dr. Capek will discuss your goals and expectations to determine the best treatment course to achieve your desired results. If your issues are related to aging, it is very helpful for you to bring in a close-up photo of your face from your late teens or twenties (a high school or college graduation photo or a wedding photo works well). This serves as an excellent reference for Dr. Capek to see how you have aged and how your face was shaped in youth.

Every micro fat grafting surgery is customized to each patient’s unique needs and Dr. Capek will review her recommendations with you. She will also advise you on how to prepare for your minimally invasive cosmetic procedure and what to expect during your recovery. You will have ample opportunity to have your questions answered so that you feel confident in your decision to have this procedure. Being prepared is your first step in ensuring a positive outcome.

As always, you want to be in optimum health when considering elective surgery. Follow a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise, and follow your primary care physician’s advice when treating chronic conditions like high blood pressure. Share your detailed medical history with Dr. Capek.

It is also imperative that you don’t smoke or be exposed to any nicotine-containing products for at least 6 weeks prior to and 6 weeks after your surgery. Smoking and other forms of nicotine decrease your body’s ability to heal normally and can lead to serious complications, including loss of fat grafts and infection. Avoid taking aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs: Advil, Motrin, Aleve), and vitamins/homeopathic regimens. These can increase bleeding.

utilizing the latest technology

Procedures in 3d

Your Procedure

Micro fat grafting is performed under local anesthesia and oral sedation in our QuadA-accredited office-based operating suite, Capek Surgical Arts. If you are having other plastic surgery procedures done at the same time, such as a facelift, deeper sedation or general anesthesia may be used.

During your procedure, fat tissue is harvested from one part of your body, purified, and then carefully re-injected with specially designed instruments called cannulas into the areas that need contouring. This is usually a three-step process consisting of (1) harvesting (2) purification and (3) injection.

Harvesting

Dr. Capek will recommend a donor site for fat harvest and will numb it with a local anesthetic injection. She will then create a small incision or skin puncture and, using a sterile technique, insert a cannula connected to a syringe to carefully extract fat. Several syringes of fat are typically harvested from areas like the inner or outer thighs, abdomen, or hips.

Purification

Dr. Capek will concentrate and purify the harvested fat cells by gently centrifuging (spinning) the syringes and then draining off any fluid or oil. She then transfers the fat into tiny syringes that allow for extremely precise placement using a 3-D injection technique to sculpt the recipient site.

Placement

The micro-fat injection sites, also known as recipient sites, will be prepared. Dr. Capek will numb the area into which grafts will be injected. She will insert the specialized cannula through a tiny needle stick and meticulously place the micro fat grafts through multiple passes and into multiple levels of tissue. Each time the cannula is withdrawn, a line of fatty tissue parcels is carefully deposited in these natural tissue planes. This injection process is repeated in a three-dimensional, artistic process until the desired correction has been achieved, creating a structural grid of grafted fat. The result is a smooth, beautiful, and natural-looking contour.

After Your Procedure

You will experience only minimal discomfort for a day or two after your fat transfer procedure, mostly in the donor site. Your peak swelling and bruising will ‘blossom’ by day two and it may take 2-3 weeks for this to completely resolve in most patients. Dr. Capek recommends using ice-water compresses on the area for 48 hours (NO ice directly on the skin as this can kill fat cells and cause frostbite) and sleeping with your head elevated. Wearing a Spanx-like garment on the donor site can help minimize post-operative bruising and swelling there.  She will also give you herbal supplements before and after your procedure to minimize bruising. You can wear makeup the next day and shower normally. Most patients return to work with camouflage makeup in less than a week. Strenuous exercise is discouraged for two weeks.

In Dr. Capek’s experience, micro-fat grafting to the face is very successful and long-lasting in most patients after just one procedure. However, everyone heals differently and has different expectations so additional treatment sessions may be required to achieve your desired results.

What are the risks?

The most common side effects of this procedure include swelling, bruising, or tenderness in the treated area and donor site. Poor graft survival or minor lumpiness may occur but is not common. Serious complications such as infections, damage to deeper structures, or emboli are extremely rare in Dr. Capek’s experience. You can help minimize the risk of complications by following Dr. Capek and her nurses’ detailed instructions both before and after your surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions about Fat Grafting and Transfer

How much does fat transfer cost in Latham, NY?

The cost of a fat transfer procedure varies depending on the size of the treatment area and number of areas being treated. At your consultation, we will discuss your treatment plan and you will receive a detailed cost estimate.

What is the downside to fat grafting?

Fat grafting is a safe procedure that offers the benefit of natural rejuvenation. One potential downside is that the body can absorb too many transferred fat cells, which could impact the result. Successful graft survival can vary, but mostly depends on the experience or the surgeon and a compliant patient. Dr. Capek has performed thousands of fat transfer procedures and she has the expertise to minimize this risk. Make sure to follow her directions meticulously to do your part to optimize results.

What is the difference between micro and nano fat injections?

Micro fat grafting uses intact living fat cells to restore lost volume and enhance the contours of the face and body. Nano fat is processed micro-fat that contains growth factors releases by fat cells, as well as stem cells to rejuvenate the skin and deep tissues without adding volume. The results are excellent for texture and fine lines, but are not effective to facial or body contouring. Dr. Capek typically uses nano-fat during facelift procedures to improve skin quality.

What is the best age for fat transfer procedures?

Healthy adults of all ages can benefit from fat grafting. Whether you are 20-30 and want to enhance the contours of your face like hollow under-eyes, thin lips or flat cheekbones, or 50-70 and want to address volume loss caused by the natural aging process, a micro fat transfer procedure can help.

Is a fat transfer better than dermal fillers?

Fat grafting and dermal fillers are both beneficial procedures for patients desiring natural facial rejuvenation or contouring at any age. Both options have pros and cons and this is best discussed at your consultation. rnRemember that fat transfers can be also be used on other areas of the body, for example to enlarge the breasts naturally. In many areas of the face results last longer with fat transfer, but dermal fillers are a simple and effective treatment for wrinkles and volume loss for most patients and can be done during a short office visit.

QuadA Accredited

CAPEK SURGICAL ARTS

Dr. Capek is pleased to offer her patients an intimate, comfortable and discreet surgical experience at Capek Surgical Arts (CSA), her state-of-the-art Quad A accredited operating suite right here in Latham, NY. You can undergo your procedure under the expert care of board-certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Capek and her exceptional team of anesthesia and clinical staff without having to go to a hospital or surgery center.

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Schedule a Consultation

A consultation with Dr. Capek is necessary to determine whether micro fat transfer is a good non-surgical treatment option based on your aesthetic goals. Contact our practice today to schedule your consultation. Our office is just 13 miles from Albany and 9 miles from Schenectady, New York.

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

For more information, schedule your consultation appointment with Dr. Capek today!