Facial Fat Transfer Procedure
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.
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
WHO IS A 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 PROCEDURE DETAILS
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.
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 RESULTS 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.
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
