Facial Fat Transfer
Fat transfer, also known as fat grafting or fat injection is a procedure to naturally restore youthful volume and contours to the face
The Truth about Fat Transfer
The term “fat transfer” does not do justice to the procedure.
When a “fat transfer” is performed all of the cells that make up the layer underneath the skin are transferred. Of course, fat cells are transferred, but so are the cells that make new collagen and elastin which is vital to youthful tissue strength and elasticity. Most importantly, the subcutaneous fat layer has the highest density of stem cells of any tissue in the body.
The transferred stem cells are activated to help heal the other transferred cells. These stem cells also migrate into surrounding tissues and help restore the overlying skin and subcutaneous tissues.
Fat transfer could just as easily be called a stem cell transfer that also includes cells to restore volume and tissue strength.
This patient had fat transfer to the Brows, Cheeks, Lips, Chin and Jawline.
Fat Transfer to the Brows, Cheeks, Lips, Chin and jawline.
Advantages of Fat Transfer
1. Natural results: When properly performed the treated areas look and feel completely natural because your own tissues that have restored to areas diminished with aging.
2. Long-lasting results: Unlike fillers that need to be repeated every few months, fat transfer to the face provides results that last years to decades.
3. No lumps: With proper technique no “lump” problems, unlike so called long lasting or “permanent” fillers that have a high incidence of lumps which require steroid injects and/or excisions. (excision will create a scar and steroid injection can cause thinning of the surrounding skin and tissues.
3. Versatile: Fat transfer can be used to improve all facial features; brows, cheeks, lips, nasolabial folds, and under-eye area, chin, jawline, and many nose defects.
4. No scarring: Fat transfer requires only tiny entry sites, which leaves no visible marks.
5. No allergic reactions: The transferred tissue is your own tissue so no risk of allergic reactions.
6. Improved skin texture: Because the transferred fat contains stem cells that stimulate collagen and elastin production skin texture and quality is often improved.
7. Moderate discomfort: Patients experience a mild bruised sensation if that.
8. Quick recovery: Patients can resume normal activities after 48 hours.
9. Enhance any age: Artistically placed fat transfer can improve everything from moderate contours problems to sculpting a truly youthful and aesthetic face.
FAQs
Who is a candidate for volume restoration?
Any age who has areas of the face they wish to enhance such as cheeks or lips. Some wishing to restore youthful contours may be in their late 20’s to early 30’s as they begin to lose facial volume in the lower eye/upper cheeks and around the chin. Later the brow and temple begin losing volume. This volume loss gradually increases with each year.
As the tissues thin around eyes and brows, the brows droop, upper eyelids sag and bags appear to protrude under the eyes. The cheeks acquire a drawn look. The chin loses its projection and over all strength, jowls are accentuated. All these unsightly changes can be improved and even eradicated by precise, artful volume restoration.
As with any cosmetic plastic surgery, realistic expectations are important. Patients need to fully understand what the procedure can and cannot achieve. You should have all your questions answered before the surgery. Just as importantly, you should listen carefully and completely to your surgeon’s answers and explanations.
When to use fat transfer?
Over time the facial tissues thin. When sagging is moderate to nonexistent and volume loss is the only problem, then replacing volume with fat transfer techniques will create results far superior to surgical procedures or synthetic fillers.
Patients with noticeable skin laxity and wrinkles will often experience dramatic results by combining volume enhancing by fat transfer with a deep skin peel to smooth and tighten the skin or a radio frequency skin tightening procedure. Patients with pronounced skin sagging will find combining their face, neck or brow lift with fat transfer will achieve the most optimum results.
Who else will benefit from fat transfer?
Young individuals who desire more volume and better defined contours in certain areas of the face such as the cheeks or lips, will also benefit from long term volume enhancement.
Fat Transfer Procedure
The procedure is usually performed using only local anesthesia with or without light sedation. During the transfer procedure the fat layer is first removed or “harvested” using a modified liposuction technique. The harvest site(s) is chosen from areas on the patient where fat persists even after weight loss.
Next the harvested tissue is carefully processed. Finally, the fat is precisely injected throughout the areas in need of restoration.
Fat Transfer Recover
Most patients have moderate to no pain. Keep the head slightly elevated the first 48 hours. Bruising is uncommon. Fat may have a longer period of swelling. After 48 hours you may begin to resume normal activity.
Fat transfer to the face is a 100% natural, permanent, safe treatment that enhances younger faces and restores youthful contour to the brows, cheeks, nasal labial folds, lips, chin and jawline.
Take the First Step
If you are considering fat transfer to the face, schedule a consultation with Dr Perry. At your consultation Dr. Perry will carefully listen to your concerns and goals, perform the appropriate examination, answer any questions and explain your options.