For years, Dr. Himansu Shah of Signature Institute of Aesthetic Sculpting has listened as his plastic surgery patients utter the dreaded F-word in his office: fat.
Most of these patients have expressed the desire for their excess fat to be removed from the abdomen, hips, thighs, upper arms, back, neck and face — a request that Dr. Shah is happy to satisfy (for suitable candidates). Procedures like liposuction and tummy tuck allow him to eliminate excess fat for a slimmer and more sculpted result.
Newer trends in plastic surgery aim to do the exact opposite: add fat to the face and body, instead of removing it.
At first, you might not understand why someone would willingly want to add fat to the face or body. After reading this piece, you should have a better idea of what this strategy can accomplish, and why it is becoming more popular amongst plastic surgery circles.
Here, Dr. Shah, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Las Vegas, explains two of the most common scenarios in which adding fat produces an exceptional cosmetic result.
To Plump The Face
It is normal for the face to lose volume as it ages. This is particularly apparent around the eyes, cheeks and jawline. The skin starts to look thin and wrinkled, and the facial contours take on a hollow quality.
Dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane can be used to reverse these signs of aging and restore attractive and youthful-looking contours. Fat transfer, using the patient’s own fat, has emerged as a viable alternative to dermal fillers. Fat injections can minimize or eliminate wrinkles, restore smoothness and give the face a plump and round appearance. Many patients prefer the natural fat transfer approach to artificial fillers.
To Augment The Buttocks
The buttocks is another popular area to augment with fat. According to procedural statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 11,500 people had buttock augmentation with fat grafting last year (a 15 percent spike from 2013).
Dr. Shah has seen a similar spike in interest for the Brazilian Butt Lift at his Las Vegas plastic surgery practice. During the procedure, Dr. Shah uses liposuction techniques to remove surplus fat from another area of the body (e.g., the abdomen, hips, thighs), purifies the fat and then re-injects it into the upper quadrant of the buttocks.
The benefits of Brazilian Butt Lift are extensive. Not only does the buttocks appear perkier and “lifted” after the procedure, but the donor area of the body looks slimmer and more sculpted.
Traditional Fat Removal Techniques
Dr. Shah still offers traditional fat removal. If requested, he can reduce areas of bothersome fat in the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, hips, upper arms, neck and face with liposuction. He also performs CoolSculpting, an FDA-approved, non-surgical fat reduction system that uses controlled cooling to freeze unwanted fat cells.
Learn More About Fat Transfer Techniques
If you are interested in augmenting an area of your face or body with your own fat, or reducing unwanted fat with liposuction or CoolSculpting, schedule an informational consultation with Dr. Shah to discuss your options. Contact Signature Institute of Aesthetic Sculpting by calling (702) 684-5502 today.