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Seffiller® – autologous fat filler at Dr. Nüchel Aesthetik in Mönchengladbach

Regenerative medicine & skin quality

Seffiller® – autologous fat filler

Volume restoration with the patient's own fat: with Seffiller®, micro autologous fat is harvested in a gentle procedure, processed in a closed system and injected as a natural, body-own filler – physician-performed and individually tailored.

Treatable areas

  • Cheeks & midface
  • Tear troughs
  • Temples
  • Chin & jawline

Seffiller® is a procedure of regenerative aesthetic medicine in which your own fat tissue serves as a natural filler. SEFF stands for “Superficial Enhanced Fluid Fat” – a finely processed, fluid form of autologous fat for superficial and mid-deep skin layers. The material comes entirely from your own body, without industrial foreign material.

It combines two aspects: the immediate build-up of volume and a regenerative component, since autologous fat contains, alongside fat cells, biologically active cells. The fat is harvested via a gentle mini-liposuction under local anaesthesia (usually abdomen or flank), processed purely mechanically in a closed system – without enzymes or additives – and injected with fine cannulas. A portion is broken down again; the take rate varies individually, so a second session may be sensible.

All information is provided for general guidance and does not replace personal medical advice. Treatment results can vary from one individual to another.

Indications

Who it is suitable for

Whether a treatment makes medical sense in your case is something we determine together in a personal consultation. Typical concerns include:

  • Volume loss in the mid-face, the cheeks or the temple area
  • Sunken, tired-looking facial areas and loss of contour due to the ageing process
  • Tear troughs and sunken areas under the eyes (after careful medical consideration)
  • A wish for a body-own filler without industrially manufactured foreign material
  • Poorly defined facial contours, for example at the chin or jawline, where a fat reserve is present
  • Improvement of skin quality and structure in previously volume-depleted areas
  • Patients who prefer a long-term result over a filler that needs to be repeatedly refreshed
  • Correction of small volume deficits or irregularities, also as a complement to other procedures

Step by step

How the treatment works

This is how the treatment usually proceeds with us – from the first consultation through to aftercare.

  1. Consultation and analysis

    We discuss your wishes, analyse your facial anatomy and check whether sufficient fat tissue is available as a donor region. In doing so we clarify contraindications as well as the procedure, take behaviour, risks and costs, and explain openly what is realistically achievable – and what is not.

  2. Preparation and anaesthesia

    The donor and treatment areas are cleansed and disinfected; the harvesting site (e.g. abdomen or flank) is locally anaesthetised, and the recipient area on request. A general anaesthetic is not required.

  3. Gentle harvesting of the micro autologous fat

    Using very fine cannulas, the required small amount of fat is harvested in a gentle mini-liposuction – not a liposuction for body contouring. Access is via tiny incisions that usually do not need to be sutured.

  4. Mechanical processing in a closed system

    The fat is processed purely mechanically in a closed, sterile system into a fine, fluid autologous fat (SEFF) – without enzymes or chemical additives. This produces an injectable material that can also be introduced into more superficial skin layers.

  5. Injection as a body-own filler

    The processed autologous fat is introduced precisely with fine cannulas in several fine layers, so that it is well supplied with blood vessels and takes better. We adjust the result continuously together with you.

Transparency

Prices

pro Behandlung
750 €

All prices are guide values for initial orientation. Medical services are billed according to the German scale of fees for physicians (GOÄ); the final amount depends on the individual effort involved and is discussed transparently with you before treatment. For treatments without a listed price, we are happy to give you a guide value during your consultation.

Enquire about this treatmentView the full price list →

Patient information

Safety & patient information

Responsible treatment includes open information about possible risks and side effects – even when they occur only rarely.

  • Swelling, redness and a pressure sensation

    Very common and usually harmless: at the harvesting and injection sites, swelling, redness and a feeling of tension or pressure occur. The swelling phase can be longer than with a hyaluronic acid filler and extend over a few days to around two weeks.

  • Bruising (haematomas)

    Through the fat harvesting and injection, small blood vessels may be injured, so that bruises arise – at the donor region and in the treated area. They are common, usually harmless and mostly subside within a few days; blood-thinning medications or certain dietary supplements can intensify this tendency.

  • Tenderness of the harvesting site

    The donor region (e.g. abdomen or flank) may be tender to pressure for a few days after the mini-liposuction, similar to muscle soreness. Palpable hardenings or slight swelling may also occur there temporarily, which usually resolve on their own.

  • Irregularities and palpable nodules

    In the treated area, unevenness or palpable hardenings may form, for example with uneven take. Many resolve or are assessed at the follow-up appointment and treated where appropriate.

  • Asymmetries and uneven take

    Because the take rate can vary individually and from side to side, the result may initially appear slightly uneven. In some cases a complementary session is sensible in order to even out volume.

  • Partial loss of volume through resorption

    A portion of the introduced fat is broken down in the first weeks, so that the initial volume recedes before a stable result settles in. This is not a fault of the treatment, but a normal biological process – and one reason why a second session may be required.

  • Fat tissue necrosis and oil cysts

    Rarely, introduced fat may not be sufficiently supplied and die off (fat tissue necrosis); in the process, palpable hardenings or oil-filled cavities (oil cysts) may form. Such changes require a medical assessment and are monitored or treated depending on the findings.

  • Infections

    As with any procedure involving a break in the skin, despite sterile working, germs may enter and trigger an infection at the harvesting or injection site. Signs are increasing redness, warmth, pain or the formation of pus. Infections are rare but must be treated medically; in the event of corresponding complaints, please contact us immediately.

  • Scars at the puncture sites

    The access points for fat harvesting and injection are via tiny incisions that usually heal inconspicuously. Rarely – particularly in the case of a corresponding predisposition – visible or excessive scars (keloids) may occur.

  • Vascular complications

    As with any injection in the face, there is the very rare but serious risk that material enters a blood vessel or a vessel is compressed and the blood supply is disturbed (vascular occlusion). Possible consequences range from skin pallor and pain to the death of tissue; in the specialist literature, visual disturbances have also been described in very rare individual cases of injections in the face. Sound anatomical knowledge and a suitable technique serve to minimise this risk. In the event of sudden severe pain, skin discolouration or changes in vision, medical help is required immediately.

When we do not treat

In certain situations we do not carry out a treatment, or only at a later time – for your safety.

  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding – in the absence of sufficient safety data, we refrain from the treatment during this time.
  • Known clotting disorders or therapy with blood-thinning medications; a treatment is only carried out after medical consultation and careful consideration of the benefits and risks.
  • Very low fat reserves, so that no suitable donor region is available for the fat harvesting.
  • Acute infections, inflammation or open skin areas in the harvesting or treatment area (e.g. an active cold sore); the treatment is postponed until complete resolution.
  • Severe internal medical underlying conditions or an overall reduced general state of health that may speak against the procedure.
  • Active autoimmune or chronic-inflammatory conditions – here an individual medical consideration is required.
  • Known wound-healing disorders or a pronounced tendency towards excessive scar formation (keloids).
  • Acute or insufficiently treated susceptibility to infection as well as certain immunosuppressive therapies (individual clarification required).
  • Unrealistic expectations or a treatment wish for which, from a medical point of view, there is no sensible indication.

This information does not replace a personal medical consultation. Before every treatment we inform you individually about the procedure, risks and alternatives.

In depth

Medical details & background

How it works & the evidence

Fat tissue is more than an energy store: alongside fat cells (adipocytes) it contains connective tissue, small blood vessels and biologically active cells – which makes it interesting for regenerative aesthetic medicine. In the Seffiller® procedure it is processed into an injectable, body-own filler. SEFF (“Superficial Enhanced Fluid Fat”) denotes a particularly fine, fluid autologous fat that can also be introduced into more superficial skin areas. This is achieved through purely mechanical processing in a closed, sterile system – deliberately without enzymes (such as collagenase) and without chemical breakdown.

The mechanism of action rests on two pillars: the immediate volume effect, which fills deficits and supports the tissue, and a regenerative component through body-own cells and messenger substances to which research attributes a favourable influence on the surrounding tissue. We deliberately phrase this cautiously: it is not a stem cell therapy, and the regenerative effect is not to be equated with a guaranteed rejuvenation.

For the result to last, the fat must take, that is, be supplied with blood vessels and integrated into the tissue; this succeeds best when it is distributed in fine layers and small amounts. Insufficiently supplied fat is resorbed in the first weeks – this take rate varies individually and cannot be predicted exactly, which is why a second session is sometimes sensible. Because the material comes from your own body, the risk of a foreign-body reaction is eliminated, and a well healed-in result is usually permanent; set against this is the greater effort, and unlike hyaluronic acid, autologous fat cannot be dissolved by an enzyme.

The use of the patient's own fat for volume build-up (lipofilling or autologous fat transfer) has been established in aesthetic and reconstructive medicine for years and is widely described; controlled studies and reviews report satisfactory results and an overall favourable safety profile when applied appropriately.

Specifically with regard to the processing methods for fine, fluid autologous fat (the SEFF principle), however, the data situation is more limited and more heterogeneous – the studies differ in method, technique, area and follow-up, high-quality comparative studies are rare and a portion is manufacturer-affiliated. Statements about efficacy and durability therefore cannot be generalised, and results vary individually. The regenerative component is to be assessed especially cautiously: that fat tissue contains active cells is documented, but its actual contribution to a measurable improvement of skin quality or tissue structure is the subject of ongoing research. We therefore deliberately avoid terms such as “stem cell therapy” or promises of rejuvenation.

Preparing for your treatment

A few simple measures before your appointment help you contribute to the best possible result with as few complications as possible.

  • Please do not stop blood-thinning medications or anticoagulant painkillers (e.g. NSAIDs) on your own initiative – discuss their use in advance with us and your treating physician.
  • Certain dietary supplements and herbal preparations (such as fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo) as well as alcohol can increase the tendency to haematomas; a time interval may be sensible.
  • Inform us about your medical history, allergies, previous aesthetic treatments as well as any tendency towards cold sores or conspicuous scar formation.
  • Where possible, avoid intensive sunbathing and tanning beds in the days before the treatment; irritated skin should subside beforehand.
  • Plan a time buffer before important occasions or trips, as swelling and bruising can be visible for a few days.
  • Come to the appointment rested and well hydrated, and wear comfortable clothing that does not constrict the planned donor region.
Aftercare

The right care after treatment supports healing and the result. You will receive individual recommendations from us – as a rule:

  • Cool the treated areas carefully in the first few hours against swelling and bruising, without exerting strong pressure on the injected area.
  • Do not vigorously massage the treated area in the first few days and avoid sleeping on it, so that the introduced fat can heal in undisturbed.
  • For a few days, refrain from intensive sport, sauna, steam bath, tanning beds and very hot baths, as heat and increased circulation can intensify swelling.
  • Spare the harvesting site too; if recommended, wear a supportive compression and avoid strong pressure or friction in this area.
  • Protect the skin consistently from UV radiation and use a high sun protection factor (SPF 50+) in the days after the treatment; avoid direct, intense sun.
  • On the day of treatment, avoid alcohol and blood-thinning substances as far as possible, as these can favour bruising.
  • Contact us immediately in the event of severe or increasing pain, a conspicuous pallor or discolouration of the skin, increasing swelling with warmth, the formation of pus or changes in vision.
  • Attend the agreed follow-up appointment; once the healing-in phase is complete, we assess the result and discuss whether a complementary session is sensible.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Answers to questions we are asked particularly often about “Seffiller® – autologous fat filler”.

The fat harvesting is carried out under local anaesthesia and is usually well tolerable; during the anaesthesia a brief burning sensation may occur. In the days afterwards, the harvesting site and injected area may be tender to pressure, similar to muscle soreness. These complaints usually subside.

This is a central difference from absorbable fillers: the portion of the autologous fat that takes well and is supplied with blood vessels by the body usually remains in place over the long term. In the first weeks, however, a portion of the introduced fat is resorbed, which is why the initial volume initially recedes somewhat before a stable result settles in. A guaranteed durability cannot be assured, as the individual take behaviour differs from person to person.

Our price list offers an initial orientation; the final amount depends on the area, the amount of fat required and the effort involved. Billing is as a private medical service according to the German scale of fees for physicians (GOÄ); aesthetically motivated treatments are usually not covered by the statutory health insurance funds.

The consultation, fat harvesting, processing and injection are carried out exclusively by licensed physicians with appropriate experience. Particularly with injections in the face, sound anatomical knowledge – especially of the course of the blood vessels – is a central aspect of safety.

There is no fixed age limit; what is decisive are the findings, sufficient fat reserves and realistic expectations. The treatment predominantly concerns adults from the age at which age-related volume losses become visible. In minors we do not carry out aesthetically motivated treatments as a matter of principle.

No. Although autologous fat contains, alongside fat cells, regeneratively active cells (among others stromal cells), the procedure is expressly not a stem cell therapy; we make no promises of “rejuvenation” or “cure”. The effect is based primarily on the build-up of volume; the regenerative component is the subject of ongoing research.

Only a small amount of fat is removed – not a liposuction for body contouring – so a visible change to the donor region is usually not to be expected. Bruising, swelling and a pressure sensation may occur there temporarily; the tiny incisions generally heal inconspicuously.

Sources & guidelines

  • AWMF guideline register – register of the scientifically based guidelines of the medical specialist societies (www.awmf.org).
  • German Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (DGÄPC) and further medical specialist societies – recommendations and patient information on autologous fat transfer.
  • Controlled studies and systematic reviews on autologous fat transfer (lipofilling) in aesthetic and reconstructive medicine.
  • Manufacturer information and processing specifications of the closed system used as well as assessments of the relevant European authorities on medical devices.

Personal consultation

Arrange a personal consultation

In a confidential conversation on our practice floor at the Albertus Zentrum in Mönchengladbach, we take time for your questions and assess whether the treatment may be suitable for you.

Book a consultation

More treatments

You might also be interested in

If the concern is a quickly visible, well controllable and, if needed, dissolvable build-up of volume, a hyaluronic acid filler may be more suitable – it manages without fat harvesting but is broken down over the course of time. If skin quality and structure are in the foreground, regenerative and energy-based procedures (e.g. microneedling radiofrequency INFINI™, CO₂ laser) come into consideration as a complement; for the scalp and hair, the related approach Seffhair®.

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