Facial Fat Transfer

If you’re interested in improving the appearance of hollow areas of your face such as the cheeks and temples but you’d prefer a more natural treatment than dermal fillers, you may be a great candidate for facial fat transfer.

Using Your Own Fat as a Natural Filler

Did you know that your very own fat can make an excellent facial filler? In the right patients, fat provides a beautifully natural-looking way to get youthful plumpness in sunken areas of the face. This is known as facial fat transfer or fat grafting, a minimally invasive procedure that achieves impressive results.

Key Benefits of Fat Transfer

Removes fat from another area of the body
No foreign substances or chemicals
No risk of allergic reaction
Results look and feel very natural
Longer-lasting results than with dermal fillers

How Facial Fat Transfer Works

Nearly everyone has excess, unwanted fat in one area of the body. This is typically the stomach, thighs, and hips. Dr. Stephens can take some of this extra fat by using liposuction, a minimally invasive procedure, and then use this fat as a filler to get that volume you want to improve wrinkles, hollowness, and sunken areas of the face.

The advantage of using your own fat instead of dermal fillers is that there’s no risk of an allergic reaction because the fat is from your very own body. It also looks very natural and lasts longer than dermal fillers. Fat transfer is ideal for adding volume in the temples, cheeks, wrinkles, and nasolabial folds.

Facial Fat Transfer Procedure Details

The first step in facial fat transfer is liposuction to remove the fat from the donor site. Both general and local anesthesia can be used, depending on how much fat is being taken. Dr. Stephens will make small incisions near the donor site.

He will then insert a cannula (a small, thin tube) to loosen the fat and remove it. Once the fat has been removed, it will be prepared and then placed into a syringe so it can be injected into targeted areas — just like a dermal filler. The procedure takes 1-2 hours.

What Downtime is Involved?

Most patients return to work 7-10 days after facial fat transfer
It typically takes 1-2 weeks to completely heal
No pressure on the incisions for at least one month
Swelling and bruising for one week is to be expected
Keep your surgical bandages on until we clear them to be removed
Refrain from strenuous activities for at least two weeks

Results: What to Expect

If you’re considering facial fat transfer, it’s important to be aware that the results will be more gradual than they are with dermal fillers, which tend to be instant. Results with fat transfer may not be fully settled for several weeks, and you may also need to have the procedure done again if enough fat doesn’t survive in its new environment. Once your desired outcome has been achieved, results are long-lasting and sometimes even permanent.

Who is a Good Candidate for Facial Fat Transfer?

Individuals who make the best candidates for facial fat transfer are those who:

Want to add volume to their face using a natural filler
Have enough extra fat on another area of the body to use
Are non-smokers in overall good health
Understand that they may need multiple sessions to achieve the desired results
Have realistic expectations for what fat transfer can do

Facial Fat Transfer with Dr. Stephens

Located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Dr. J. Anthony Stephens is a board-certified surgeon with in-depth knowledge, experience, and a reputation for delivering natural-looking results. Stephens Plastic Surgery + Skincare Aesthetics of Baton Rouge is a private, patient-friendly plastic surgery and medical spa practice where we work hard to meet your aesthetic vision. We pride ourselves on giving you a great experience and beautiful, natural-looking results that speak for themselves. We are educators, advocates, and real people just like you, and when we begin working with a patient, they become a patient for life. Contact us today to discover more.