Fat Grafting

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Riverside County and Corona, CA

Fat grafting is a versatile procedure that uses your body’s natural fat to elevate its appearance. Fat grafting takes fat from one area of your body and transfers it to another to enhance its shape, fullness, and proportionality. (1) This procedure can address various concerns across your body and face, allowing you to achieve a more youthful-looking appearance and contour that you can feel proud flaunting.

Dr. Samuel E. Salcedo is a distinguished board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon at The Plastics Doc. Dr. Salcedo is known for his high level of care, safety, and efficiency, as well as his natural-looking results.

To start working with Dr. Salcedo, please contact us online or call (951) 268-6168. We offer both in-person and virtual consultations.

About Fat Grafting

Fat grafting, or autologous fat transfer, is a procedure that uses your body’s natural fat to refine your appearance. This procedure uses liposuction techniques to harvest fat from around the body before Dr. Salcedo purifies and readministers it into various areas across your face and body. When performing this procedure, Dr. Salcedo can transfer your fat to your face to perform facial fat transfer, to your breasts to perform a breast augmentation, or to your buttocks for a Brazilian Butt Lift. Regardless of which procedure you choose, you can enjoy natural-looking and feeling results – all without the use of implants, fillers, and other synthetic products.

About Facial Fat Grafting

Facial fat grafting transfers fat from other areas of your body to your face to address facial volume loss and visible signs of aging. Dr. Salcedo can administer fat to various areas of your face to smooth the appearance of wrinkles, creases, fine lines, and even facial scars. Many doctors and surgeons consider autologous fat to be the ideal filler for facial rejuvenation, as it produces softer results, offers permanent results, and is fully biocompatible, which means you will not need to worry about any allergic reactions or complications. (1)

About Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that can elevate and refine the shape, symmetry, fullness, and size of your breasts. Many patients opt to use their own fat to avoid unnecessary risks or complications associated with implants and to attain softer and more realistic results. However, most individuals cannot usually achieve more than a one cup size increase, making this procedure more suitable for those interested in more subtle effects.

About Brazilian Butt Lifts

A Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is a body contouring procedure that uses your natural fat to enhance the shape, size, symmetry, and fullness of your buttocks. This procedure offers a way to resculpt your backside without the use of implants, offering more natural-looking and feeling results in the process.

Benefits

There are numerous benefits to fat grafting, including:

  • Natural-Looking Volume: Dr. Salcedo can perform fat grafting to restore natural-looking and feeling volume to several different areas of the body, including the temples, cheeks, and buttocks.
  • Dual Contouring: This treatment uses liposuction techniques to harvest fat from other areas of the body, leaving them smoother and slimmer.
  • Lasting Results: The results of fat grafting can last for several years, especially when patients adopt a stable weight and healthy lifestyle.
  • Tailored Solutions: Dr. Salcedo designs each treatment plan around your specific anatomy and goals to create results you feel good flaunting.
  • No Synthetic Materials: By using your own fat, you can avoid putting synthetic fillers or implants into your body.

Candidates

You may be an ideal candidate for fat grafting if you are interested in addressing visible signs of facial aging or augmenting your figure without the use of synthetic implants or fillers. Dr. Salcedo can perform a facial fat transfer if you are interested in addressing facial volume loss or smoothing the appearance of wrinkles, creases, or fine lines. On the other hand, Dr. Salcedo can perform a BBL if you are interested in refining the fullness, shape, and symmetry of your buttocks. Dr. Salcedo can also use fat grafting techniques to enhance the breasts.

To qualify for this procedure, you should be in good general health and possess a stable weight you can maintain long-term. You should be nonsmoking or willing to quit nicotine. It is also important that you hold realistic expectations regarding your results. Dr. Salcedo will determine your candidacy during your consultation, once he has taken the time to get to know you more personally.

Personal Consultation

During your personal consultation, Dr. Salcedo will meet with you individually to determine whether or not a fat grafting procedure is right for you. He will converse with you about your medical history, personal concerns, and aesthetic desires. He will also perform a physical evaluation to assess your natural anatomy, skin quality, and any places he may take fat from.

Dr. Salcedo will use the details provided to create a one-of-a-kind solution for each of your concerns. He will decide on the most suitable approach, as well as the best area to take fat from. He will also take the time to answer and address any questions you may have, as Dr. Salcedo wants each patient to feel comfortable and confident in their procedure.

To schedule your consultation and start transforming your appearance, please contact us online. If you would prefer scheduling over the phone, you may reach our Corona office by calling (951) 268-6168.

We additionally offer virtual consultations if you cannot join us in-person.

Preparation

After scheduling your procedure, Dr. Salcedo will provide you with a set of detailed preoperative instructions to help you prepare. These instructions may vary depending on the details of your treatment plan, but you can expect him to direct you to:

  • Manage Certain Medications: You will need to discontinue taking any medications or supplements that may thin your blood. These typically consist of NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or aspirin.
  • Prepare Transportation: Dr. Salcedo will use local anesthesia with mild IV sedation during your procedure, which means you will not be able to drive yourself home afterwards. For your safety, please arrange a ride home with a trusted friend or family member.
  • Arrange Your Recovery: You will need to take time away from your responsibilities and commitments to focus on resting.
  • Fill Your Prescriptions: We recommend filling any prescriptions you may need throughout your recovery in advance to ensure you have them ready.
  • Avoid Alcohol: Please avoid consuming any alcohol before and after your procedure.
  • Stop Smoking: You will need to cease any nicotine use in the weeks leading up to the appointment and maintain your abstinence until you have made a full recovery.

Procedure

Dr. Salcedo performs each fat grafting procedure at his surgical center. The duration of your procedure will vary depending on whether you are receiving a facial fat transfer or a BBL, but Dr. Salcedo will discuss this with you beforehand.

Regardless of where Dr. Salcedo transfers your fat, he will begin the procedure by performing liposuction. (2) He will place a small incision near your donor area, or the area from which he will be extracting your fat. He will inject the fat deposits with a tumescent fluid consisting of lidocaine, epinephrine, and saline. (3) This solution can numb your tissues, prevent bleeding, and firm the fat cells for easier removal.

Dr. Salcedo will then process and purify your fat through a centrifuge before loading it into syringes for more precise administration. From there, he will either administer it to different regions of your face or to your buttocks.

Facial Fat Grafting

If you are undergoing facial fat grafting, Dr. Salcedo will carefully inject the fat into different features and areas of the face. He can smooth the appearance of wrinkles, creases, fine lines, and facial scars to address visible signs of aging. He can additionally administer fat to restore volume loss in areas like the cheeks or temples. Through this process, Dr. Salcedo can effectively restore a more youthful-looking appearance to your lips, cheeks, under-eyes, forehead, and more.

Breast Augmentation

If you are augmenting your breasts, Dr. Salcedo will administer the fat into various areas around your chest. He may increase your breast volume to attain a fuller appearance, reshape them, or address any unevenness or asymmetry. He may also combine this procedure with a traditional implant-based augmentation to use your body’s fat to hide the edges of your implants.

Brazilian Butt Lift

If you are receiving a BBL, Dr. Salcedo will meticulously layer the fat in your buttocks. By doing so, he can improve the volume, shape, and symmetry of your buttocks with ease. He may also add fat to the surrounding areas to fill in your hip dips and create a more seamless transition between your hips, buttocks, and thighs.

Recovery

After your fat grafting procedure, you will need to take time away from your commitments to focus on your recovery.

  • Week One: During this first week, you can expect some swelling, bruising, or tenderness around the treated areas. These effects are transient and will subside on their own, but you may also manage them using prescribed pain medications and plenty of rest. Dr. Salcedo will provide you with a compression garment to wear around your treated area. This garment will reduce swelling and preserve your new contours as your body heals.
  • Week Two: Any discomfort and bruising will begin to subside, and you may start to feel well enough to begin taking light walks.
  • Week Three and Four: Around this time, you may be able to return to light activities and desk work. Any residual side effects will start significantly decreasing, and your final results will start developing.
  • Weeks Five and Six: As you approach the end of your recovery, you will be able to return to more strenuous tasks or physically demanding activities. Dr. Salcedo may also start directing you to stop wearing your compression garments.

Dr. Salcedo will provide you with a full set of postoperative instructions to guide you through your recovery. By following each one, you can return to your routine quicker while ensuring the best possible results.

Results

You may notice immediate improvements in your appearance, but the full results will become more apparent as you continue to recover. The results of your fat grafting procedure will vary, but you can generally expect improvements in your figure’s fullness, smoother-looking and feeling contours, as well as a more proportionate appearance overall.

Your body will resorb some of the fat during your recovery, but what remains will stay fixed in place, allowing you to enjoy natural-looking and feeling results that you can enjoy for years to come.

Cost of Fat Grafting in Corona, California

The cost of your fat grafting procedure will vary depending on several aspects of your treatment plan. These can include the type of fat grafting procedure Dr. Salcedo performs, the amount of fat he transfers, and the overall complexity of your procedure. Once he has met with you individually to discuss each of these details, he will give you a comprehensive cost estimate. Dr. Salcedo additionally offers financing for those who qualify.

To learn more about the cost of your customized fat grafting procedure, please contact us online or call (951) 268-6168. We additionally offer virtual consultations.

FAQ

Where does Dr. Salcedo source the fat he uses in the procedure?

Dr. Salcedo uses autologous fat, which is fat he sources from your own body. He will evaluate your natural anatomy to determine the best place to take fat from, with most patients choosing areas such as their abdomen, thighs, and buttocks.

Where can Dr. Salcedo transfer fat to?

Dr. Salcedo can transfer fat to your face during a facial fat grafting procedure, to the breasts during breast augmentation, or to your buttocks during a BBL.

How long will the results of fat grafting last?

When you pair this procedure with a stable weight and healthy lifestyle, the results of your treatment can last for several years. Once the grafted fat establishes a blood supply in its new location, it will remain there permanently.

What makes autologous fat different from dermal fillers?

Autologous fat uses the tissue from your body, making it fully biocompatible while offering a more natural look and feel compared to synthetic fillers. The act of harvesting autologous fat also leaves the donor area more toned and slim, contributing to a more desirable figure overall.

How will I know if I am an ideal candidate for fat grafting?

Dr. Salcedo will meet with you individually during your personal consultation to assess your candidacy. As he meets with you, he will evaluate your medical history, concerns, and desired appearance, and examine your natural anatomy and skin quality. Using this information, he will determine whether this procedure, or another, is best for your goals.

References

  1. Vasavada A, Raggio BS. Autologous Fat Grafting For Facial Rejuvenation. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557860/
  2. Abu-Ghname A, Perdanasari AT, Reece EM. Principles and Applications of Fat Grafting in Plastic Surgery. Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 2019;33(03):147-154. doi:https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0039-1693438
  3. Bartow MJ, Raggio BS. Liposuction. PubMed. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563135/