Donaldson Plastic Surgery – Dr. Jeffrey Donaldson

4661 Sawmill Rd. — Suite 100

Columbus, OH 43220

(614) 442-7610

Dr. Donaldson’s mommy makeover patient says,

Donaldson Plastic Surgery – Dr. Jeffrey Donaldson

4661 Sawmill Rd. — Suite 100

Columbus, OH 43220

(614) 442-7610

Dr. Jeffrey Donaldson’s breast augmentation patient explains, “It’s my body. I wanted somebody who had the expertise in order to [perform the augmentation]. I definitely found that here. I mean my look is completely natural, which is really what I wanted to go for.”

Donaldson Plastic Surgery – Dr. Jeffrey Donaldson

4661 Sawmill Rd. — Suite 100

Columbus, OH 43220

(614) 442-7610

Dr. Jeffrey Donaldson’s breast augmentation patient says, “It’s changed my entire life. I went out. I went shopping. I bought all the clothes that I always looked at in the store and wanted to wear, but could never wear. Now I can wear ‘em. I’ve had a wonderful summer. He’s changed my life.”

Donaldson Plastic Surgery – Dr. Jeffrey Donaldson

4661 Sawmill Rd. — Suite 100

Columbus, OH 43220

(614) 442-7610

Donaldson Plastic Surgery – Dr. Jeffrey Donaldson
4661 Sawmill Rd. — Suite 100
Columbus, OH 43220
(614) 442-7610

Fat transfer is a minimally-invasive surgical procedure during which a person’s own fat is harvested though needles, or cannulas, then purified outside the body and re-injected into areas that need more volume. In essence, fat is taken from wherever it is unwanted and transferred to wherever it is wanted.

(2) Are these types of procedures popular?

Very. Just in the last ten years, many advances have been made in the harvesting, purification and injection techniques. Many plastic surgical training programs have begun to incorporate fat transfer into their curricula, and it is routinely discussed at national and international plastic surgical meetings

(3) What are the different kinds of fat transfer procedures? How are they performed?

Fat transfer procedures may be categorized as cosmetic procedures and reconstructive procedures. Cosmetic purposes primarily include facial rejuvenation (cheek augmentation, lip augmentation, lower eyelid treatment, nasal contouring, wrinkle/crease filling, acne scar treatment) and buttock augmentation; reconstructive purposes include filling of post-cancer defects, treatment of radiation damage and scar revision to name a few. They are all performed using sterile technique in an operating room, and they all include various methods for (1) fat harvesting that is similar to liposuction, (2) fat purification using centrifuges, strainers and/or wicks, and (3) fat injection using syringes and specialized needles or cannulas. The fat must then be painstakingly placed in tiny particles throughout the surrounding tissues in a latticework, or honeycomb pattern, so that they take on blood supply and become part of the body once again.

(4) What types of fat transfer procedures to you perform in your practice?

Facial rejuvenation, buttock augmentation, filling of breast cancer defects and scar revision.

(5) What are the pros and cons of these different fat transfer surgeries?

Pros: Permanent, natural, safe, minimally-invasive, affordable. Cons: Variable results depending upon surgeon and patient.

(6) What are the side effects of fat transfer surgeries?

One side effect is favorable: stem cell activity. Fat is rich in stem cells, and current research is attempting to understand how fat transfer procedures may maximize their utility.  Many patients describe improvements in skin tone, clarity, texture and pore density above areas of fat transfer, which may possibly be due to stem cell differentiation into skin cells. Negative side effects can include oil cysts, fat necrosis or granulomas.

(7) What should a patient consider before considering this type of plastic surgery? How are these considerations different from other plastic surgery procedures?

First, the results may be unpredictable. They are highly dependent upon the surgical technique and the surgeon’s experience, but also the patient’s own fat and blood supply. Second, the results change significantly over time. Most studies show that 50-70% of injected fat cells survive, which means that up to half of the immediate result may be lost. This leads most surgeons to “over-correct” during the procedure, knowing that the final outcome will be less. Finally, it is a permanent solution, unlike fillers such as Restylane or Juvederm that fade away after a year. Some patients use temporary fillers to test their appearance before committing to fat transfer.

(8) What do you see as the future of fat transfer plastic surgery? Where is it headed?

One of the most exciting and controversial applications for fat transfer is in cosmetic breast augmentation. Many women (and surgeons) are thrilled by the idea of taking fat from the belly, or the hips and using it to enlarge the breasts. These techniques are being developed and refined, but many questions about long-term safety and the effect on breast cancer screening will need to be answered before this becomes mainstream. Also, more breakthroughs in the delivery of stem cells through fat transfer will likely be seen soon.

(9) Please add any additional information that you feel the readers would like to know that is not covered here.

Fat transfer may be done under local or general anesthesia, depending upon the extent of the procedure and the areas of treatment. Minor facial rejuvenation typically costs around $2000, major facial rejuvenation costs around $5000, and buttock augmentation costs around $10,000.

Quotes may attributed to Dr. Jeffrey Donaldson,

Reprinted from NBC4i:

COLUMBUS, Ohio —
When it comes to cosmetic surgery, breast augmentation is the number one procedure done in the US.

There were 289,000 done last year alone.

Doctors are always looking for better ways to perform the procedure — ways that give patients better results with less down time.

Plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Donaldson, of Columbus, spoke about what he’s doing.

“We’re doing endoscopic, transaxilliary breast augmentation. It’s positioning the breast implants through the armpits and under the muscle,” Dr. Donaldson explained.

Typically surgeons cut just under or on the breast, leaving a scar, but Dr. Donaldson’s procedure creates only a tiny scar in the armpit, leaving no visible scar on the breast.

“These scars are really well hidden, way up high in the armpits, so this surgery is appealing because it leaves the scars off the breasts,” said Donaldson.

First a small incision, about a half-inch wide is made.

Then space is created for the implant, and then he deflates the implant. The doctor then fills the implant with saline once inside.

The procedure costs about $5,000 and isn’t for everyone.

Dr. Donaldson said the ideal patient is young and looking for a natural look.

Patients will experience a week of swelling and bruising.

Experts are not convinced about what causes capsular contractures: some think it is bacteria or “biofilm,” while others believe it is trauma from surgery. Regardless, the reported incidence is anywhere from two to thirty percent depending upon the surgeon.

Dr. Donaldson takes many precautions to prevent capsular contractures in his own practice. First, he uses meticulous sterile technique and antibiotics to avoid bacteria and infection. He insists on “no touch” handling of implants so they go directly into position without delay. He operates with a soft touch — “gentle with tissue” — to minimize trauma. These simple principles have helped Dr. Donaldson achieve an extremely low rate of capsular contracture.

Columbus, Ohio patients also visit Dr. Donaldson for second opinions regarding capsular contracture treatment. For these individuals, he performs an operation including capsulotomy (scoring and release of capsules) or capsulectomy (removal of capsules), with removal of the old breast implants and placement of new breast implants.

It is important for a woman who is considering breast augmentation in Columbus, Ohio to carefully examine herself, and to think about where she desires more fullness, what amount of cleavage, possible improvements in symmetry from side to side. Dr. Donaldson considers this information essential to his discussions with patients about their goals and expectations, and he uses it to customize his decisions about implant position for each patient.

A decision to go above or below the muscle is often determined by several factors: the incision, the implant type, and the shape and quantity of natural breast tissue. If the incision is made in the armpit, the submuscular position is generally preferred because it is a simpler surgical plane. If the implant is filled with saline, the submuscular position may also be preferred to improve the natural feel and to disguise the edges. A large amount of natural breast tissue often makes a subglandular position desirable; whereas a breast that has dropped some from breastfeeding may respond well to a bi-planar position to encourage fullness toward the neckline. When augmentation is combined with a significant breast lifting procedure, it may be advantageous to protect the implant under an extra layer of muscle.

While some surgeons are only trained to place implants in one position, and others tend to fall into a rut using the same technique for every patient, Dr. Donaldson approaches each patient uniquely in Columbus, Ohio; breast augmentation results can vary remarkably depending upon the implant position.