Alternative forms of nonsurgical and surgical management consist of injections of man-made substances to improve tissue volume (such as hyanuronic acid, polylactic acid, etc.), use of man-made implants, or other surgical procedures that transfer fat from the body (flaps).

Every procedure involves a certain amount of risk, and it is important that you understand the risks involved. An individual’s choice to undergo a procedure is based on the comparison of the risk to its potential benefit. Although the majority of patients do not experience complications, you should discuss each of them with your physician to make sure you understand the risks, potential complications, and consequences of the procedure.

Potential Risks

• Bleeding
• Seroma
• Scarring
• Firmness or lumpiness
• Asymmetry
• Pain or tissue loss

Other more serious complications have been reported to be associated with fat transfer procedures, however, these are very rare. Such conditions include, but are not limited to:

Serious Complications

• Fat embolism or blood clots
• Stroke
• Meningitis
• Serious infection
• Blindness or loss of vision
• Death

In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single procedure. It is important to understand that more than one treatment may be needed and therefore to discuss with your physician the costs associated of repeat treatments.

Should complications occur, surgery or other treatments may be necessary. Even though risks and complications occur infrequently, the risks cited above are the ones that are particularly associated with fat transfer procedures. Although good results are expected, there cannot be any guarantee or warranty expressed or implied on the results that may be obtained.

Typically, the transferred fat loses some of its volume over time and then becomes stable. It is possible that more treatments may be needed to maintain the desired volume of the transferred fat and resulting appearance. Less commonly, if you experience significant weight gain, the transferred fat may increase in volume and cause an undesirable appearance.