Fat transfer, also known as fat grafting or fat injections, represents a surgical process in which fat is transferred from one area of the body to another. The final goal is making physical improvements to the area where the fat is injected. The tights, hips or abdomen are the areas that fat is usually taken from, considering the unwanted percentage of fat cells. In most instances, fat transfer procedures see the fat removed via a procedure similar to liposuction - but designed to ensure that the fat cells harvested are alive, unbroken and accompanied by the rich supply of stem cells found.

In order to get an excellent result from your plastic surgery procedure, you need a knowledgeable and experienced surgeon, realistic expectations and overall good health. But there is another very important element – you! There are some checkboxes you'll want to tick leading up to your procedure. Dr Rozina Ali, one of the best plastic surgeons in London, highly qualified in aesthetic surgery and a pioneer of fat transfer procedures, has shared with us some useful insights from her PRE-OP Guide to reduce your risk of complications, keep you comfortable and ensure that you get the best overall result from your treatment.

Make sure you do your research right

Most importantly, check to see if the surgeon in question has the proper credentials. Medical credentials can often be confusing if you're unfamiliar with the jargon, so it's helpful to know what to look for.

FRCS Plast after their name - is the UK certification of plastic surgery training, qualification and entry to the specialist register.
Membership of a plastic oriented professional association - for example, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) or the International Association of plastic surgeons (ISAPS) or the American association of plastic surgeons (ASPS)
The clinic is CQC registered - all clinics that provide aesthetic surgery in the UK should be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC)

Hint: Testimonials and reviews are great but they are personal opinions of a subjective experience. Before-and-after photos serve as evidence of a surgeon’s aesthetic and ability to create attractive and natural-looking plastic surgery results that appeal to you.

Give up unhealthy habits

In every best practice before any kind of surgical procedure manual, nicotine use is well known to sabotage the results of plastic surgery. By restricting blood vessels, nicotine decreases the blood flow throughout your body. Plastic surgery is extremely delicate, and your blood vessels play a major role in the results. If they are restricted, the results are compromised.

Excellent blood flow can also greatly impact your recovery process, from how fast you heal to how great your risk of developing a blood clot is. Thus, even if you can’t quit smoking for good, you should stop smoking for at least six weeks before and after any medical procedure, including fat transfer.

Have a balanced diet

Aim to consume a rainbow of colours every day, which means getting as many fruits and vegetables on your plate as possible. In produce, various colours represent different vitamins and nutrients. As such, eating yellow, red, green, pink, orange, and purple fruits and veggies will maximize your diet’s nutritional value, which sets your body up for a rapid and fibre-rich from any surgery.

At least for 2 weeks before the surgery, avoid foods, drinks, and herbal supplements that can increase the risk of bleeding and bruising. And in terms of medication, you will be asked to discontinue the aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Motrin, blood thinners, vitamin E, omega-3, fish oil, alcohol and herbal supplements known to increase bleeding or other surgical risks. Tylenol can be taken for headaches. If you have questions about medications you take to control any pre-existing health conditions, do not hesitate to ask your doctor for clarification.

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Make sure you are happy with your weight

Fat transfer is not a weight loss solution. The area where fat is being taken from may be larger than you would like and removing the fat and recontouring the area will help to improve its appearance. Meanwhile, injecting fat into the body will enlarge and improve the target area.

Nevertheless, it is important to understand that any significant fluctuations in weight could cause your shape to change and this can have an effect on the results of your procedure. For example, losing weight when you have had a fat transfer breast augmentation could cause losses in volume and shape. The results of your procedure will be much better maintained by staying at a steady weight.

Set realistic expectations

Another important part of the pre-operative period is preparing your mind for surgery. Do not forget that amazing results don’t happen overnight. You want to be realistic about the transformation that your body is going through and well informed about the expected outcome.
On the day of the procedure make sure you thoroughly understand what to expect. No surprises on the day of surgery - you don’t want to set yourself up to be confused by anything, as your procedure should be a predictable, planned and calm experience.

Do your homework on your planned procedure, but do not scare yourself by googling plastic surgery horror stories on the Internet.
For any questions about the upcoming procedure, reach out and book a consultation with your surgeon. They will know best how to clarify your uncertainties and help you feel prepared and calm about your upcoming treatment.

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