Fat Transfer to the Face
As we age our faces begin to lose volume predictably starting in our early 30’s. Initially we lose fat that functions to support our facial structure and contributes to youthful features. Most people will begin to notice deepening of their laugh lines, hollowness beneath their eyes and eventually less prominent cheeks. The most well-known means of treating volume loss of the face is by using various fillers to restore the volume and reduce the depth of laugh lines. Fillers are amazing products that, when done correctly by a well-trained provider, can truly restore the volume of the face in a natural, aesthetic fashion. The downside to filler is that the majority of products are temporary, and none are natural materials made by our own bodies. Fat Grafting provides excellent use of your body’s own fat cells from undesirable locations to be redistributed and restore the volume to your face. Fat cells are first harvested from other areas of your body such as your abdomen, waist or inner thighs using standard liposuction technique. Next the fat is prepared in small syringes to allow for only the healthiest fat cells to be injected into your face. Transplanted fat cells also contain stem cells that provide benefits to the skin including improved texture, less discoloration and overall improvement in skin health. Give our office a call today and book your free consultation to learn more!
Goals:
- Restore volume to the under eyes, cheeks and any area of the face with fat loss
- Reduce laugh lines or other deeper wrinkles of the face
- Liposuction of the abdomen, waist or inner thighs provides a secondary benefit
- Improved skin texture, discoloration and overall health
Recovery:
Most patients can return to their normal activities and work within 1 week of surgery. Initially the face will be swollen from the fat grafting procedure, but this will resolve within 1-2 weeks of surgery. Approximately 70% of transplanted fat will integrate and provide lasting volume in the area much longer than most filler products. Compression dressing will need to be worn for 1-2 weeks after surgery over the areas where liposuction was performed.