Fat Injections
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Montreal, Quebec
A fat injection is a minimally invasive procedure that uses your body’s own fat to restore natural-looking and feeling volume to the face and other areas. Over time, aging, weight loss, and other factors can result in sagging or diminished volume. Fat injections can address these concerns, allowing you to achieve long-lasting volume without synthetic fillers.
Dr. Gaby Doumit is a board-certified cosmetic and plastic surgeon based in Montreal. He offers more than 15 years of medical experience and has worked at some of the highest levels of plastic surgery. He is a recognized leader in his industry and has traveled to both national and international conferences to present his work.
If you are ready to explore your fat injection options, please contact us online or call (514) 932-8200.
Contents
Before and After Photos
About Fat Injections
Fat injections use a process called autologous fat grafting, which takes fat from other parts of your body before readministering it to the targeted area. Many surgeons consider autologous fat to be the ideal filler material for augmentation, as it creates softer and more natural enhancements, longer-lasting results, is readily available, and its biocompatibility reduces the risk of allergic reactions or complications. (1) Dr. Doumit can remove fat from essentially anywhere where there is excess fat using gentle liposuction, allowing for simultaneous body contouring results.
This treatment is highly versatile and can treat many areas of the body. Common uses include facial fat transfer, autologous breast augmentation, hand rejuvenation, and fat transfer to the buttocks (Brazilian Butt Lift/BBL). This procedure can complement other procedures or be performed as a standalone treatment.
Benefits
Fat injections offer several different benefits, including:
- Youthful-Looking Appearance: Fat injections can restore volume to the face and other areas to soften wrinkles and creases.
- Natural Looking and Feeling Results: This procedure utilizes your body’s own fat, resulting in softer, more natural enhancements.
- Dual-Contouring: Dr. Doumit first performs liposuction to remove fat from the donor area(s), sculpting them in the process.
- Minimal Scarring: Dr. Doumit places each incision in a discreet and inconspicuous area, making them easy to hide beneath clothing.
- Personalized Treatment Plans: Dr. Doumit designs each treatment plan around your specific goals and anatomy, ensuring your results align with your aesthetic goals.
- Permanent Results: The results of fat injections are generally permanent, especially when patients maintain a stable weight and healthy lifestyle habits.
Candidates
Candidates for fat injections include anyone interested in addressing visible signs of aging or making enhancements without using synthetic fillers or implants. Patients interested in more permanent results than those achieved with synthetic injectables may also benefit from this procedure. Patients should have sufficient fat in donor areas that can be used for the transfer. If patients do not have sufficient fat, Dr. Doumit will discuss alternative procedures.
Anyone interested in fat injections should be in good general health and maintain realistic expectations about the outcome of their procedure. Ideally, patients should be nonsmokers or willing to quit using nicotine. Dr. Doumit will determine each patient’s candidacy for this procedure during their consultation after he evaluates their concerns and medical history.
Personal Consultation
During your personal consultation, Dr. Doumit will meet with you individually to determine whether fat injections are appropriate for your goals. He will ask you several questions about your medical history and current prescriptions, as well as listen to your aesthetic concerns and goals. He will also perform a physical examination to evaluate the targeted areas, as well as potential donor areas to take fat from.
Dr. Doumit will use this information to create your treatment plan. He will recommend the most effective techniques, and he may suggest additional procedures that could enhance your results. You will leave this meeting with a treatment plan designed especially for you!
To schedule this consultation, please contact us online or call (514) 932 8200.
Preparation
Once you decide to proceed with your treatment plan, you will receive detailed preparation instructions. Guidelines typically include:
- Discontinue blood-thinning medications and supplements under your clinician’s guidance.
- Stop using nicotine and alcohol in the weeks before your procedure and throughout your recovery.
- Arrange time away from work and other commitments.
- Schedule transportation home after your procedure.
- Follow any additional instructions your care team provides.
Procedure
When you arrive for your procedure, Dr. Doumit will first cleanse your skin, and anesthesia will be administered to keep you comfortable.
Dr. Doumit will make small incisions in the donor area, then inject the fat with a tumescent solution. The solution contains lidocaine, epinephrine, and saline; it is meant to numb the local tissue, minimize bleeding, and swell the fat cells for easier removal. (2) After allowing the tumescent fluid to settle and take effect, Dr. Doumit will then insert a thin tube called a cannula through the same incisions to break down and suction out the fat. He removes the fat carefully and artistically to provide the donor area with the optimal sculpt.
Dr. Doumit will then process and purify the fat before carefully reinjecting it into the targeted areas. For a facial fat transfer, fat injections can address common concerns like hollowing of the cheeks, temples, or undereyes, as well as augmenting areas that could benefit from added definition. Fat injections can also benefit other areas experiencing volume loss, such as the hands.
Recovery
Patients commonly experience initial swelling or bruising in the treated areas, but these effects are temporary and will subside on their own. You will be able to return to your job and other light activities after about a week or two, but you will need to continue avoiding strenuous or high-impact activities until Dr. Doumit clears you to return. We may also ask that you refrain from touching or putting pressure on treated areas.
You will receive more detailed post-operative instructions after your consultation. If you have any questions or concerns throughout your recovery, Dr. Doumit and his team will be available to provide guidance and support.
Results
The full, refined results of your fat injections will become more apparent as swelling decreases. Your body may resorb some of the transferred fat during your recovery. The remaining fat, however, will stay in place permanently, providing natural-looking and feeling results you can enjoy for years to come.
Cost of Fat Injections in Montreal
The cost of your fat injections will depend on the area being treated, the amount of fat we use for your enhancements, whether we perform any additional procedures, and several other factors. Dr. Doumit will provide a comprehensive cost estimate for your procedure during your consultation, once he establishes each detail of your treatment plan.
To learn more about the cost of your procedure, please request a consultation online or call (514) 932-8200.
FAQ
Where does the fat used during a fat transfer come from?
Dr. Doumit can take fat from essentially anywhere in the body that has an adequate amount of excess. Patients often choose to remove fat from areas such as the abdomen, flanks, buttocks, or thighs. If a patient does not have sufficient fat in one area, Dr. Doumit can take fat from multiple areas to perform the procedure. Dr. Doumit will determine which donor areas he will harvest fat from after your initial consultation.
What can fat injections address?
Fat injections can improve premature signs of aging, such as facial wrinkles and creases, hollowing, and sagging. It can also rejuvenate the hands, provide a subtle cup size increase for the breasts, or enhance the buttocks during a BBL.
How long will the results of my fat injections last?
The results of fat injection procedures are generally long-lasting. While the body resorbs some of the injected fat during the initial recovery phase, the surviving fat will stay in place permanently after establishing a normal blood supply.
Are there any risks associated with fat injections?
As with any surgical procedure, risks may include infection, bleeding, asymmetry, dissatisfaction with results, and more. However, fat injections are often praised for their high safety profile; because this treatment uses fat from the patient’s own body, it is completely biocompatible and lowers the risk of rejection or infection. During your consultation, Dr. Doumit will discuss each of these risks and their associated complications with you to ensure you are fully informed.
Can I combine my fat injections with another cosmetic procedure?
Yes, patients may choose to combine their fat injections with another procedure to enhance their final results. We recommend scheduling a consultation for further information. Are there any alternatives to fat transfer? Yes, if you do not have sufficient fat for a fat transfer, there are alternative options for augmentation. These include implant-based breast augmentation, dermal fillers, and more. We would be happy to discuss alternatives with you during your consultation if you are not eligible for a fat transfer.
References
- Costanzo D, Romeo A, Marena F. Autologous Fat Grafting in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: An Historical Perspective. Eplasty. 2022;22:e4. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9350545/
- Bartow MJ, Raggio BS. Liposuction. PubMed. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563135/
