Are fat injections safe?
Fat injections are considered safe but you will need to find an expert practitioner to give the results you’re looking for. Unlike most types of filler, fat is entirely natural – and it’s your fat, so it’s fully compatible with your body.
Liposuction, on the other hand, is considered to carry major risks. As you know, liposuction is invasive surgery: it involves an incision to the body and the use of surgical equipment inside the body, to extract the fat. However, most practitioners extracting fat for injecting into the face will be able to gather enough fat using a slim cannula that is slipped through a small hole in the skin that can be closed with a steri-strip (i.e. it is small enough not to need stitching).
Do fat injections work?
Yes, fat injections are an effective treatment for adding a modest amount of volume to the face. Injecting fat adds volume not only through the bulk of the fat but also its properties for promoting healing. The uncertainty about the result of fat injections is that while many of them will take root in their new location, some won’t, and will die off before they have established themselves.
Your fat contains what are called ‘mesenchymal cells’, cells that contain stem cells that can develop into whatever sort of tissue is needed. You may see these cells described as ‘adipose-derived mesenchymal cells’ because they’re derived from adipose (fatty) tissue. When these cells are injected into the face, they not only help plump it up from the inside out but also promote healing from deep within the facial tissues.