Is Fat Transfer Painful?

Fat transfers shouldn’t be painful, as patients at Ogilvie Plastic Surgery are under local anesthesia during the procedure to help minimize pain. That being said, it is still a minimally invasive procedure, and patients may experience some discomfort. Afterward, most patients will experience some mild soreness, swelling, and bruising, but the pain should be manageable with prescribed medications.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

At Ogilvie Plastic Surgery, the number of appointments needed for fat transfers varies, but typically, patients will have their initial consultation with Dr. Ogilvie, the actual procedure appointment, and then however many follow-up appointments may be needed for each individual. Dr. Ogilvie will discuss a personalized schedule for your healing process with you.

How Long Until I See Results?

You should see some results immediately after your fat transfer, but keep in mind there will be some initial swelling and bruising that should disappear after a few weeks. After that, patients should see their long-lasting results start to appear within three to four months, but everyone is different.

Can I Combine Fat Transfer With Other Procedures?

Of course! You can combine fat transfers with other procedures to achieve your desired youthful look. In fact, many patients at Ogilvie Plastic Surgery in Chicago combine procedures to combat multiple signs of aging at once and usually see longer-lasting results. If you’re interested in incorporating other procedures with your fat transfer, talk with Dr. Ogilvie during your initial consultation.

What Are the Risks Associated With Fat Transfer?

As with any procedure, fat transfers do involve certain risks, such as infection, bruising, and swelling, like any surgical procedure. While temporary, other risks associated with fat transfer: Bleeding Uneven results Fat that gets stuck in a vein and goes to your lung Fat cells not surviving Fluid buildup under your skin Significant scarring (very rare) Please contact our office immediately if you experience any long-lasting or concerning reactions.

Chicago, Il

Fat Transfer

Name: Ogilvie Plastic Surgery
Brand: Ogilvie Plastic Surgery
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.0 (16 reviews)

Introduction to Fat Transfer

If you’re ready to trim down from one area and add volume to another, Ogilvie Plastic Surgery in Chicago offers various advanced aesthetic services for the skin and body, including fat transfer, also known as fat grafting. Dr. Michael Ogilvie, a double board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, is skilled in enhancing your natural features to create your dream aesthetics. By scheduling a fat transfer procedure, patients will have the excess fat removed from unwanted areas of the body, such as their stomach, hips, and thighs, and have it injected into areas of the body they’re looking to add more volume, such as their face, breast or butt.

A blonde woman in front of a wooden wall, sitting on a white bed, wearing a white tank top - Fat Transfer Procedure in Chicago, IL

What is Fat Transfer?

Fat transfer is a cosmetic surgical procedure that helps is a surgical treatment that corrects the visible signs of aging and enhances your facial features by taking fat from one part of your body, purifying it, and then placing it into the target area. The harvested fat is typically taken from an area with a readily available fat supply, such as the abdomen or thighs. Once the fat is removed from these areas, many patients discover they look even more toned after the procedure. This method of facial contouring can resolve numerous concerns, such as nasolabial folds (creases extending down from the nose on either side of the mouth) and thin or asymmetric lips (lip augmentation).

At Ogilvie Plastic Surgery, this minimally invasive procedure can help patients appear more youthful by plumping the skin and repairing scars and wrinkles through the transfer.

What Are the Benefits of Fat Transfer?

Though fat transfer has several benefits, its more attractive qualities to our patients are its long-lasting, natural results. Other benefits of fat transfer include:

Removing fat from unwanted areas
Filling in wrinkles or scars
Increasing definition
Improving the look of the skin

Who Are the Best Candidates For Fat Transfer?

The best candidates for fat transfers are healthy individuals who want to enhance their features safely and naturally.

You’re a good candidate for fat transfer if you:

Are in good health
Want subtle, natural-looking results and have realistic expectations
Looking to treat wrinkles, fine lines, sagging skin, or loss of volume

A woman with long black hair, smiling with her eyes closed and face rested in her hands - Fat Transfer Procedure in Chicago, IL

Let’s get started

What’s the First Step?

Your first step to getting fat transfer in Chicago is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ogilvie, where you will discuss your medical history and desired procedural outcome. During this consultation, you will learn what the procedure will entail and if it’s the best option. When meeting with Dr. Ogilvie, discuss any concerns you may have and your expectations and goals.

Contact our Chicago area office to schedule your consultation and learn more about fat transfers and whether they’re the right procedure for you.

What to Expect on the Day of Fat Transfer Surgery

On your scheduled fat transfer day, you will meet with Dr. Ogilvie, who will review the steps and goals of your surgery. Once the two of you are ready to begin, the donor and recipient sites for the fat transfer are numbed with local anesthesia during the procedure. Dr. Ogilvie will remove the fat by suctioning it with a syringe or cannula (thin tube) inserted through tiny stab incisions. Once the fat is removed, it is purified in a centrifuge to remove blood and any damaged cells. The fat is then carefully injected into the areas of your face that need volume restoration with a tiny cannula. Slight overfilling may be necessary to allow the body to reabsorb a portion of the transferred fat over time in the initial period after surgery.

After the procedure, Dr. Ogilvie will give you detailed instructions for a quick and safe recovery.

Fat Transfer Recovery

After their fat transfer procedure at Ogilvie Plastic Surgery, patients can expect to see common side effects, such as bruising and swelling, which should subside after a few days. Though some people may return to work or regular activities after a week of recovery, make sure to give your body time to heal, as everyone is different. It is recommended to avoid any strenuous activities, as mild pain and soreness are to be expected. If pain levels worsen, make sure to contact the front desk at our Chicago office.

Fat Transfer Cost

How Much Does Fat Transfer Cost in Chicago, IL?

The cost of fat transfer in Chicago depends on who you go to and their level of experience. A more reputable plastic surgeon like Dr. Ogilvie may charge more for their expertise. Other factors that must be considered are fees associated with the facility used or if an anesthesiologist is needed — which, for fat transfers, they usually are.

Unless a patient has an underlying medical condition, health insurance usually won’t cover fat transfers as it’s considered a cosmetic procedure.

Why Choose Dr. Ogilvie?

Michael P. Ogilvie is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery, American Board of Plastic Surgery, National Board of Medical Examiners, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and Illinois Society of Plastic Surgeons. He strives to fully understand his patients’ goals to provide realistic expectations, expert care, and a full complement of cosmetic and reconstructive surgical procedures to meet every patient’s individualized needs.

By choosing Dr. Ogilvie, you can be sure your fat transfer will be in the hands of a reliable and board-certified plastic surgeon who will perform your procedure with the highest levels of care and artistic vision to give the most natural results possible.

Fat Transfer FAQ’S

Fat transfers shouldn’t be painful, as patients at Ogilvie Plastic Surgery are under local anesthesia during the procedure to help minimize pain. That being said, it is still a minimally invasive procedure, and patients may experience some discomfort. Afterward, most patients will experience some mild soreness, swelling, and bruising, but the pain should be manageable with prescribed medications.
At Ogilvie Plastic Surgery, the number of appointments needed for fat transfers varies, but typically, patients will have their initial consultation with Dr. Ogilvie, the actual procedure appointment, and then however many follow-up appointments may be needed for each individual. Dr. Ogilvie will discuss a personalized schedule for your healing process with you.
Of course! You can combine fat transfers with other procedures to achieve your desired youthful look. In fact, many patients at Ogilvie Plastic Surgery in Chicago combine procedures to combat multiple signs of aging at once and usually see longer-lasting results. If you’re interested in incorporating other procedures with your fat transfer, talk with Dr. Ogilvie during your initial consultation.
As with any procedure, fat transfers do involve certain risks, such as infection, bruising, and swelling, like any surgical procedure. While temporary, other risks associated with fat transfer:
- Bleeding
- Uneven results
- Fat that gets stuck in a vein and goes to your lung
- Fat cells not surviving
- Fluid buildup under your skin
- Significant scarring (very rare)
Please contact our office immediately if you experience any long-lasting or concerning reactions.

Schedule a consultation

If you want to know more about how fat transfer works or whether it’s a good fit for you on an individual level, contact our offices to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ogilvie. As a plastic surgeon, Dr. Ogilvie has years of experience working with patients on precisely this type of procedure.

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