Despite being something which we usually want to get rid of, fat plays a very important role within our bodies and is surprisingly very important in the processes of how we heal from injury or disease. Medical science has been studying this for many decades, with the first understanding on the healing properties of fat discovered when treating soldiers during World War One.
Despite being something which we usually want to get rid of, fat plays a very important role within our bodies and is surprisingly very important in the processes of how we heal from injury or disease. Medical science has been studying this for many decades, with the first understanding on the healing properties of fat discovered when treating soldiers during World War One.
Fat and small accumulations of fat within the body are essential for a healthy body. It provides us with many benefits, including energy to function, particularly when there is a call for more energy than provided by the food we ingest. It also cushions joints from daily movement and helps to repair damaged tissue.
Lipogems is an innovative technology solution which allows the transfer of small fragments (gems) of your body’s own fat cells, called adipose tissue, into areas where healing and support is required due to injury, disease or ageing, thus harnessing the natural healing power of the body and fat.
The Lipogems system has U.S. FDA clearance for a micro-fragmented adipose tissue processing system utlising the body’s own fat to support tissue repair.
It is used within a variety of medical specialities including gastrointestinal and general surgery, orthopaedics for joint, tendon, ligament and muscles concerns, gynaecology, pain management and wound healing, plus plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Lipogems has multiple applications and can be used alongside surgery or as a minimally invasive procedure on its own as an alternative to surgery. It is ideal as an aid to the natural healing process in the repair, support, and reconstruction of damaged or injured tissue.
The procedure consists of several phases. Harvesting is performed under anaesthesia to avoid discomfort and involves the infiltration of a solution of saline, adrenalin, and lidocaine to the area before the fat can be extracted using blunt cannula connected to a syringe. The harvested fat is then introduced into the Lipogems system where it is filtered and processed into micro-fragments. The purpose of this phase is to separate the bulky adipose tissue, collecting the gems or individual fat cells whilst discarding the impurities, such as blood, cell membranes, plus liquid fats, and oils. Once the Lipogems have been harvested, this optimal collection of fat cells can be reinjected immediately into the area being treated.
The unique and scientifically important part of Lipogems treatment is that the process preserves the structure of the fat cells, including all the growth factors, stem cells, and vascular architecture, as well as a collagen matrix which is required to make them flourish and function normally in their new location. Fat cells are used because they have incredible reparative properties, and offer cushioning to other tissue within the body, so are ideal for supporting healing where there is damaged tissue. They are simple and easy to harvest from an area of the stomach, thighs, or buttocks where they are usually in abundance.
At Dr SW Clinics, we use Lipogems for gynaecological concerns related to male and female sexual rejuvenation, pain management and regenerative therapies for the knees, hips, feet, ankles and heels, the elbows, back or spine, shoulder or hand and wrist, as well as rejuvenation or reconstructive cosmetic concerns in the face or body including the following:
Male and female sexual rejuvenation
Face and body cosmetic concerns
Pain management and regenerative therapies
Your practitioner will use a single-use complete Lipogems kit for your procedure. This is known as a closed-loop system whereby the adipose tissue is harvested and redelivered to the body, whilst staying inside the single-use medical system at all times. This contains everything required to carefully harvest the adipose tissue, including thin cannulas, tubing, collecting containers and filters to micro-fragment the fat cells. Being a closed-loop system, it maintains sterility, with minimal trauma to the fat cells to retain their cellular microarchitecture, allowing the practitioner to deliver the Lipogem treatment to the areas requiring repair or restoration using very fine needles.
The whole procedure takes place in one single surgical session.
Your suitability for Lipogems treatment will be determined during a consultation with our doctor who is a specialist in regenerative medicine and pain management solutions. A full medical history will be taken, including discussion of your area of concern, any medication you are currently taken and any allergies which may affect your suitability for treatment. A physical examination is usually also required.
Lipogems can be used to treat male and female patients with a gynaecological or sexual health concern, manage pain in patients with chronic pain in their joints, ligaments or tendons and as an aid to trauma, scarring or injury within the body from accident or disease.
As we are using your own fat cells to treat another area of your body, this is a natural treatment and there are very few reasons why you would not be suitable for treatment.
If you are allergic to any of the products used for anaesthesia, have a medical condition which precludes the use of anaesthesia or are pregnant or breast feeding, you will not be suitable for a Lipogems procedure.
The harvesting of the fat cells is performed under either local anaesthetic with sedation or general anaesthetic depending on the extent of the procedure being performed. It is performed using a blunt cannula inserted through a small incision in the skin. There will be no pain or discomfort during the fat harvesting process.
The harvesting of fat, processing and reimplantation of the Lipogems is performed in a single procedure. The fat harvesting takes approximately 30 minutes depending on the amount of available fat within an area. After a short period of time for the processing of the Lipogems, they can be reinjected into the area needing treatment such as the genitals or directly into a joint, which is likely to take approximately another 30 minutes.
We prefer to perform the Lipogem procedure using local anaesthesia and sedation which means that the recovery time is short, and you can return home the same day as your procedure. You do not usually need sutures or stitches for the incisions made to harvest the fat as these wound close up quickly and heal by themselves. They will be dressed and bandaged for 24-48 hours and may leak a little fluid and be tender during that time. Expect to feel some pain and experience mild to moderate swelling or bruising, which can be managed with over the counter pain medication.
You can usually return to your normal activities after a few days.
