In Houston, fat grafting procedures, or autologous fat transfer, are becoming increasingly popular as a way to enhance and refine body contours and breast size without using breast implants. Autologous fat, meaning a person’s own excess fat, is taken from one area of the body via liposuction and transferred to another part of the body to add fullness, improve symmetry, or enhance curves.

Board-certified Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Bob Basu of Basu Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery specializes in body contouring procedures using advanced fat grafting techniques. His extensive experience tailoring fat transfer to fit the individual needs of men and women throughout Texas gives him expert insight to deliver high-quality, natural-looking results.

Contact us online or call or text our office today at (713) 799-2278 to schedule a consultation at Basu Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery, conveniently located in Houston and Cypress.

Why Consider Fat Transfer?

Fat transfer can produce beautiful, completely natural-looking results without the risk of an allergic reaction or rejection that are sometimes associated with dermal fillers or implants. Fat can also be safely injected in varying amounts, making it an ideal filler for natural breast and body contouring.

Candidates

Patients who consider fat grafting often have one or more of the following concerns:

• Depressed scars or birthmarks
• Asymmetrical features
• Flat or uneven buttocks
• Thin lips
• Hollowed cheeks
• Thin or aging facial features

Fat transfer also has the added bonus of slimming down the part of your body from where fat is harvested, which is often the hips or thighs. Please note that to be considered as a candidate for fat transfer surgery, you must have a BMI of 40 or less.

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Treatment Areas

Fat transfer is an incredibly versatile cosmetic procedure, as your own fat can be carefully injected into several areas of the face, breast, and body. Fat injections are used to provide several aesthetic benefits to the following areas:

• Breasts: Enhances breast size and shape without the needs for breast implants
• Buttocks: Commonly known as Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), your fat is used to strategically add volume and improve the shape
• Hands: Rejuvenates and adds volume to aging hands
• Hips: Adds curves and volume for an hourglass figure
• Calves: Improves calf contour and size
• Scars: Improves the appearance of indented scars and skin depressions
• Chest: Enhances the pectoral area in men who desire more chest volume
• Lips: Enhances lip volume and shape
• Face: Restores volume in cheeks, lips, and under the eyes for a more youthful, rejuvenated appearance

Dr. Basu also specializes in facial fat transfer as a more natural alternative to dermal fillers for restoring volume in the face.

Fat grating can be performed as a standalone procedure, but also combines well with other face or body procedures to provide additional rejuvenation!

How much do Houston fat transfer procedures cost?

Because fat transfer can be performed on a variety of areas of the body, the cost of a single procedure can vary widely. If you are considering fat grafting for medical reasons, such as to repair a scar or other skin condition following an injury, your insurance provider may help to cover the costs associated with the procedure. The total associated costs will include facility fees, anesthesia charges, and your pre-op and post-op appointments.

At Basu Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery in Houston, we offer frequent special promotions for a wide range of cosmetic procedures. We also offer plastic surgery financing options to help make your procedure as affordable as possible.

Your Fat Grafting Options

If you’ve decided to move forward with a Houston fat transfer procedure, you’ll have a few options to consider.

Donor Site

The donor site is the part of your body that Dr. Basu will harvest fat cells from using liposuction. Common donor areas where fat is often harvested from include the abdomen, thighs, and flanks, as these areas typically have excess fat. While many of Dr. Basu’s patients take this opportunity to reduce their love handles or slim down their thighs, some individuals prefer to use another location as their donor site, such as the upper arms. While the slimming aspect of fat grafting is an added bonus for many, it’s important to remember that usually only a small amount of fat is transferred in a single procedure.

Common Enhancements

The most common enhancements that patients have involving fat transfer include brazilian butt lifts, lip enhancement and facial rejuvenation. Patients also commonly use fat cells from their own body to fill out depressed scars from acne, injury, or a birthmark. If you have another appearance concern that you would like addressed with the help of fat grafting, you can discuss your goals with Dr. Basu during your consultation.

Your Fat Transfer Procedure

Initial Consultation

During your consultation at our Houston office, Dr. Basu will explain the details of the fat grafting procedure and answer any questions you may have about the fat transfer process. During this time, he will also work closely with you to create a customized surgical plan that will incorporate your specific goals for your final results.

Preparing for Surgery

In the days leading up to the surgery, cease taking medications and supplements that can increase bleeding, such as aspirin, NSAIDs, and vitamin E. Be sure to refrain from smoking and to limit alcohol intake, as they can impede your body’s ability to heal post-surgery.

Prepare your home for the post-surgery recovery period by stocking up on easy-to-prepare foods, pain medications, and ice packs. Ensure you have a support system in place, like a friend or family member, who can drive you home post-surgery and assist during the initial recovery days.

We will provide you with specific pre-op instructions to follow in the days leading up to, and the day of, your fat transfer procedure.

Surgical technique

The fat grafting procedure is a two-step process. First, Dr. Basu uses general or local anesthesia to harvest fat from your donor site before purifying the fat cells and re-injecting them into areas of the breast or body that you would like to enhance. As some of the transferred fat will not integrate into its new location, Dr. Basu may inject a greater amount than needed initially in order to provide you with the best possible outcomes.

A fat transfer procedure typically takes between one to five hours. The duration varies depending on the areas being treated, the volume of fat being transferred, and your specific anatomical considerations. Smaller areas, like the face or hands, may take less time compared to more extensive fat transfers, like Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs) or breast augmentation.

Your Recovery & Results

Fat transfers are highly individualized procedures, and recovery will vary depending on the amount of fat taken during liposuction, the number of areas in which Dr. Basu performed liposuction and the extent of the fat injections. Dr. Basu will provide detailed instructions about recovery at your personal consultation. Once recovery is complete, fat transfer offers long-lasting results as the injected fat integrates with the existing fatty tissue.

Why trust Dr. Basu with your fat transfer

Dr. Basu is among the most experienced and respected Houston board-certified plastic surgeons. He has established an award-winning luxury private practice in Northwest Houston located in Cypress Town Center. Whether he is performing fat grafting on the face, neck, breast, buttocks, or body, you can expect nothing less than a world-class patient experience. Dr. Basu excels in a full range of plastic surgery procedures that require a great deal of nuance and careful precision, including facelift, neck lift, breast augmentation, breast lift, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, and post weight loss body lifts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a weight requirement for fat transfer?

There isn’t a strict weight requirement for fat transfer, but candidates should have enough fat deposits in donor areas (like the abdomen, thighs, or flanks) to harvest for the procedure. Ideal candidates are generally those who are at a stable, healthy weight, as significant weight fluctuations post-surgery can affect the longevity and appearance of the fat grafting results. It’s essential to have a consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon who can evaluate your individual case and advise you appropriately.

Are fat injections permanent?

Fat transfer results can be long-lasting, but not always permanent, as some of the transferred fat may be reabsorbed by the body over time. To maintain the results, it is crucial to maintain a stable, healthy weight, since significant weight fluctuations can affect the volume and appearance of the transferred fat. Engage in a healthy lifestyle, follow post-operative care instructions meticulously, and have regular follow-ups with your surgeon to monitor and maintain the outcomes of the procedure.

Will weight loss affect my results?

Yes, weight loss can affect your fat grafting results. Since the transferred fat behaves like fat in other parts of the body, it may shrink if you lose weight, potentially altering the results of the procedure. To maintain consistent results, it is advisable to stay at a stable weight following fat grafting surgery.

How long is recovery? When can I go back to work?

Recovery time after a fat transfer procedure varies, usually ranging from a few days to several weeks, depending on the location of the procedure. Most patients can expect to return to work and resume non-strenuous activities within 1 to 3 weeks. It’s essential to follow your surgeon’s specific post-operative care instructions and guidelines regarding resuming physical activity to ensure a smooth and safe recovery process.

How do I choose the right surgeon?

When selecting the best surgeon for your procedure, it is essential to select a surgeon who is board-certified in plastic surgery, as board certification demonstrates they have met specific education, training, and professional standards. Be sure to thoroughly research and review the surgeon’s experience, especially with fat transfer procedures, as well as look at before-and-after photos of previous patients. Fat transfer procedures in particular come with dangerous risks when performed by an unqualified surgeon—Dr. Basu was recently featured in a Salon article discussing the potential dangers of this surgery and what he does to mitigate them.

Additional Fat Grafting Resources

• Read real patients’ testimonials on our reviews page
• Visit our before and after photo gallery to see real Brazilian butt lift results
• View before and after photos to see real facial rejuvenation results
• Explore before and after photos to see real liposuction results
• Follow Basu Plastic Surgery on Instagram to see real patient transformations and learn more about popular plastic surgery procedures

Schedule Your Consultation

To take the first step toward achieving your ideal figure with fat transfer, contact us online or call or text our office today at (713) 799-2278.

Areas served:

• Uptown Houston

• Cypress