What is Facial Fat Grafting?
Facial fat grafting is a surgical rejuvenation procedure where liposuction is performed on a section of your body with available fatty tissue. The harvested fat is then processed and placed into small syringes for transfer into areas of the face that require volume repletion. Common areas of volume depletion due to aging include the cheeks, paranasal (around the nostrils), nasolabial folds, forehead, lips, undereye bags, and hollows of the eyes.
For this reason, fat grafting is particularly effective as a facial rejuvenation treatment. In facial grafting, a portion of the fat is moved to the facial area from another area of the body. Think of facial fat grafting as a form of permanent filler! It is important to note, as with any fat grafting procedure such as the Brazilian Butt Lift, the retention of the injected fat is approximately 60%.
Am I a good candidate for Facial Fat Grafting?
The facial changes that occur with aging can be described as volume loss. This leads to the downward migration of the once tightly suspended structures such as the fat pads under your eyes and cheeks and thinning of your skin and bones. Wrinkles can develop across your neck, your nasolabial folds (smile lines) deepen, the fat pads in your cheeks descend and shrink creating eye bags, your lips lose volume, and your eyebrows droop. Typically, the beginning of this aging journey becomes visibly apparent in your mid to late twenties. Facial fat grafting effectively addresses the issue of volume loss with aging!
If you are young but are unsatisfied with the contour, projection, and shape of certain facial structures such as your cheeks, forehead, and chin, then facial fat grafting may benefit you.
Advantages of Facial Fat Grafting
The rate of patients opting for fat grafting procedures is continually rising. Advantages of Facial Fat Grafting include:
- Natural approach: Fat grafting uses your own tissue instead of an implant.
- Natural feel: Some patients report that fat grafting reconstruction has a softer more naturally feel than that of implants or filler.
- Two birds with one stone: The liposuction procedure removes fat from an area where you don’t want it, while the fat grafting procedure allows you to place it where it is wanted!
- Fuller, softer cheeks
- Fuller lips
- Tighter, more youthful skin
- More rested and energized under-eye areas
- A more defined silhouette and facial profile & reduced fat from other areas of the body
What to Expect During Recovery
Facial Fat Grafting Rejuvenation can be performed with many other procedures such as facelift surgery, eye brow lift surgery, blepharoplasty, and injectables such as Botox into certain areas to minimize resorption of the newly transferred fat.
Patients can expect to experience mild to moderate facial swelling, as well as soreness and swelling in the area where the fat was harvested. Pain is well controlled with over the counter and prescription medications. Patients will receive compression bandages after surgery. These should be worn consistently (24/7, with exception to breaks for showers) for a minimum of 2 weeks.
Patients are expected to attend every follow up appointment and follow surgeons post-operative instructions. Recovery times and instructions can vary depending on each patient’s unique healing process, anatomy, and extent of surgery. Generally, your body will need a few weeks to heal completely, but you can return to work after just a few days!
If you have been considering facial fat grafting rejuvenation or would like to know more about alternative treatment methods, Synergy Plastic Surgery is here to help! Equipped with our state-of-the-art MedSpa and laser center, and 6 board certified plastic surgeons, you can feel confident that you are receiving the best care that is tailored to your aesthetic goals and unique anatomy.
Schedule your consultation with Synergy Plastic Surgery and let us help you achieve your unique beauty goals. Call (512) 244-1444 to get started and unlock your personalized Synergy Experience today!
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