Protecting Your Fat Transfer Procedure with HBOT

You’ve surely heard of liposuction, but have you heard about surgical fat transfer? It’s an increasingly popular cosmetic surgery that moves fat from one part of the body to another (1). Fat is often removed from the thighs or stomach and added to the breasts or backside. The procedure can offer good results, but it comes with many risks. Some fat transfer patients have died as a result of the procedure; the risk of death from this surgery is 10 times greater compared to other cosmetic surgeries.

Some unwanted complications of surgical fat transfer include haematomas (blood collecting under the skin), fat necrosis (fat tissue death), fat embolisms (fat blockage in blood vessel), pneumothorax (air leaking from lungs into chest wall), and obvious, hypertrophic scars (2). Like all surgeries, surgical fat transfer comes with risks of excessive bleeding, blood clots in veins, infections, and allergic reactions to anesthesia (1). Those who avoid these major complications must contend with common side effects such as bruising, swelling, temporary neuropathy (numbness), and scarring (1).

According to a 2017 article in the Annals of Medicine & Surgery, “Fat necrosis accounted for 62% of all complications and occurred in 17 of the 24 studies.” Transferred fat cells are especially susceptible to necrosis (cellular death). Researchers are still determining exactly why some fat transfers are successful, and some result in necrosis (3). If 50% or more of the fat tissue dies, another fat transfer surgery may be necessary (1).  

Cellular death is caused by a lack of oxygen (4). There is an innovative, proven treatment that prevents fat necrosis by oxygenating the cells: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).  It involves breathing 100% infused oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. This enables oxygen to reach every part of the body, where it both repairs damaged cells and encourages new cellular growth (5). At the same time, HBOT promotes circulation and stem cell growth, which reduces inflammation, and supports the immune system (5). For decades, HBOT has proven effective for treating a multitude of medical conditions, including diabetic ulcers, bone infections, and radiation injury (6). 

The risk of cell death is highest within the first 3-5 days after surgery. The low-end recommendation for post-surgical fat transfer patients is five HBOT sessions. These crucial five sessions stabilize the cells, promote collagen production, maintain skin elasticity, improve wound healing, and reduce scar formation (6). Ischemia, one of the most serious risks of fat transfers, happens when a part of your body isn’t getting enough blood and oxygen. This can lead to failure of your fat transfer surgery, organ damage, and even organ failure. Five sessions is the bare minimum needed to prevent ischemia. 

However, at Holistic Hyperbarics, the bare minimum isn’t good enough for our patients. Our experience treating fat transfer patients has taught us that ten sessions should be the gold standard for post-operative fat transfer treatment. Because the risks of this surgery are so great—and the high cost isn’t usually covered by insurance––taking the time to heal your postoperative body in a hyperbaric chamber is one of the best ways to ensure proper healing. When you go beyond five sessions, you get more vascularization (new blood vessels forming); less pain and swelling; and improved outcomes. 

Give us a call for more details about our HBOT fat transfer protocol, and to book your first treatment. Our state-of-the art spa features knowledgeable staff, a relaxing environment, and comfortable hyperbaric chambers. We’d love to answer your questions, and look forward to working with you.

SOURCES:

1. Staff, NHS. “Surgical Fat Transfer.” National Health Service U.K., NHS, 11 May 2020, www.nhs.uk/conditions/cosmetic-procedures/surgical-fat-transfer/.

2. Eto H, Kato H, Suga H, Aoi N, Doi K, Kuno S, Yoshimura K. The fate of adipocytes after nonvascularized fat grafting: evidence of early death and replacement of adipocytes. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2012 May;129(5):1081-92. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e31824a2b19. PMID: 22261562, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22261562/.

3. Sieber DA, Van Beek AL. Are We Killing Our Fat Cells before Grafting Them? Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2014 Jan 6;1(9):e79. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000000015. PMID: 25289273; PMCID: PMC4174099, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4174099/.

4. Brunelle JK, Chandel NS. Oxygen deprivation induced cell death: an update. Apoptosis. 2002 Dec;7(6):475-82. doi: 10.1023/a:1020668923852. PMID: 12370489, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12370489/.

5. Staff, Mayo Clinic. “Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 12 Jan. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy/about/pac-20394380.

6. Staff, IHAUSA. “Anti Aging.” International Hyperbarics Association, International Hyperbarics Association, 2020, www.ihausa.org/anti-aging.html.