New procedure lets you transfer fat without any incisions

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There's a new cosmetic procedure taking shape that seems too good to be true. Doctors can now take fat from one part of your body and inject it into another.

If you can pinch it, they can take the body fat and stick it somewhere else. Houston surgeon Dexter Blome removes fat from an unwanted area and transfers it to a place that could be more filled out in what's called an AirSculpt procedure.

"Fat now, is a beautiful tissue to transplant and it's a shame to waste it," Blome said.

For single mom Julie Vargas, having the surgery is a way to feel better about her body. She cares for her 10-year-old son and her dad who is living with Parkinson's disease.

"I love to eat clean and eat healthy, but as for getting to the gym, it can sometimes be a hassle because I have so much to do, and by the end of the day, I'm exhausted," Vargas said.

Vargas visited Elite Body Sculpture because she wanted to move her belly fat to her bust, giving her a bigger bra size without the foreign objects.

"With a breast implant there's a plastic bag in your chest. Or a silicone bag in your chest. In this case, it's just your own body tissue," said Dr. Aaron Rollins, owner of Elite Body Sculpture and creator of the AirSculpt procedure.

Surgeons say one of the best parts of the surgery is the tiny opening required. Everything is done through an area only 2 millimeters across. This means there are no needles, scalpels or stitches involved.

"What we're doing with AirSculpt is you're going to see a tiny tube, it's very thin. A machine is going to move it back and forth like this over 1000 times per minute, so we get the fat out that way," Rollins said.

Patients are able to stay awake during the surgery and can return to work a couple days later.

Eyewitness News checked in with Vargas one month after her procedure.

"I don't have to suck it in when I walk around. You know how some girls, when they sit down, they have to pull their little pants over their belly? That's over," Vargas said.

With her transferred fat, she also went up a cup size in bras.

"It just feels good. It just feels good to look good," Vargas said.

Pricing for fat transfers start at $3,000, in addition to the lipo that needs to be done. For more information, visit Elite Body Sculpture's website.