Your surgeon will always discuss with you and recommend the treatment that is appropriate for you. During the consultation, the surgeon will also explain the treatment, its results and benefits, the duration of the result and the frequency of repeating the treatment.

FAT HARVEST/TRANSFER TO FACE & HANDS

Autologous fat (transferring one’s own fat) is today’s number one filling agent for loss of volume and creases on our faces. Our surgeons have over 25-years experience in fat injection both in London and Dubai. As we age the appearance of creases on our face is inevitable. Even though these creases are part of the normal ageing process and there is nothing we can do to stop it, we can fill out the creases with fat, thus making them decrease or appear less prominent.

As we get older, we start to lose fat from our upper face. This loss of fat and associated loose skin starts to show in the cheek area, giving us a sad, gloomy look. By placing the fat in the upper third of our face we produce an uplift effect, reshaping the face to the more youthful years.

As well as losing volume from the face, the backs of the hands can also lose volume. Therefore autologous fat is the ideal filler to rejuvenate the back of the hands, as well as the nasal labial fold (mouth to nose grooves) or any body depression.

Since it is the patient’s own fat there is no risk of rejection and no possibility of an allergic reaction. This procedure is mainly used to produce a more youthful look and for recontouring of the face, hands and other body contours.

WHERE THE SURGERY WILL BE PERFORMED

Fat harvest and injection to hand procedure is performed in our Dubai Healthcare City clinic.

TYPE OF ANESTHESIA

The fat harvest and injection to hand procedure is carried out under intravenous sedation so there will be no pain and you will sleep through the operation.

THE SURGERY

Fat harvest and injection to hand usually takes between one to one and a half hours.

PREPARING FOR YOUR SURGERY

You will be given specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medicines.

If you smoke, plan to quit at least two weeks prior to the surgery and not resume smoking for at least two weeks after your surgery. Avoid overexposure to the sun before the surgery, especially on the abdomen, and do not go on astringent diet, as both can inhibit your ability to heal. If you develop a cold or infection of any kind, it is important to inform the surgeon, as your surgery may need to be postponed.

You will need to arrange for someone to collect you after your surgery, as you will be unable to drive. It is also advisable to have someone to stay with you for a few days to help you out, if needed.

BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE

It is a requirement of the authority of Dubai Healthcare City, that all patients wishing to have their fat stored have a detailed blood test prior to the procedure. This blood test must include the standard profile of a Full Blood Count, Biochemistry Profile, ESR & INR together with the legislation requirements of; HIV 1& 2, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C & Syphilis. Each patient will be asked to sign a consent form for this test to be completed & will be offered the counselling services from our colleagues at Number One Healthcare, should this be required.

Two weeks before the surgery, you should not take any medications containing aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), since these products affect the blood clotting mechanism and therefore may lead to excessive bleeding during and after surgery, hence resulting in increased bruising. Taking high doses of vitamin E preparations, eating large amounts of garlic and consuming alcohol can also produce the same result and should be avoided. If pain medication is necessary, we recommend you take ibuprofen/paracetamol.

It is in your own best interests to quit smoking, at least two weeks before and until 2 weeks after surgery. It is well known that smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels, which leads to a decreased blood supply to the skin, thus slowing and interfering with the healing process.

YOUR FAT HARVEST PROCEDURE

This procedure is performed either under local anaesthesia or light sedation. Sedation is a state in which you will be unaware of what is going on and pain-free, however, this is not a general anaesthetic so you will not be “put to sleep”. If you are having the procedure under sedation, you must arrange for someone to come and collect you and stay with you overnight

Once the harvesting site (area) has been determined (generally the abdomen, but fat may be harvested from the hips and thighs), the area is anaesthetised. Next, the fat is harvested with a 1-2 millimetre cannula. The fat is then mixed with a solution called albumin to clean and preserve the fat. The area requiring rejuvenation is anaesthetised and the fat is placed with a blunt cannula.