Fat Transfer to the Face Explained

The face tends to lose volume as a person ages and this can cause the facial skin to sag and droop.  Fat transfer to the face, AKA fat grafting or autologous fat transfer, is a cosmetic procedure that uses excess fat from a patient to fill-in areas of the face that have lost volume over the years. The cosmetic treatment can address issues such as sunken cheeks, nasolabial folds (AKA “smile lines” or “laugh lines” that run from the side of the nose to the corners of the mouth) and sunken cheekbones, Fat transfer to the face facial rejuvenation can even be used to add volume into lips that are thinning. Cosmetic Town TV recently examined fat transfer to the face facial rejuvenation to give patients a better idea of what they can expect from this cosmetic procedure:

Fat Transfer to the Face Facial Rejuvenation Procedure

Fat transfer to the face facial rejuvenation is normally performed on an outpatient basis at the office of a cosmetic surgeon. There is no need for any allergy testing before the procedure because the fat that is used is taken from the body of the patient.

Fat transfer to the face begins with liposuction being performed to remove excess fat from the patient. Some of the most common areas of the body where the fat is removed include the abdomen, hips, thighs and buttocks. The fat is removed from these areas using a cannula that is designed to break the fat apart which makes it easier for the “broken fat” to be suctioned out of the designated area. The fat that is removed is then placed in a centrifuge and spun at a high speed to separate the fat cells from any liquid that is also removed during the liposuction procedure. Any damaged fat cells are removed by the doctor and then the remaining fat cells are used for fat transfer to the face facial rejuvenation.

Once the fat removed from the body has been processed and purified, the fat is injected back into the body of the patient in the areas of the face that are targeted for treatment. The fat is injected at a depth that has already been determined to help the patient achieve the desired shape, contour and rejuvenated appearance to the face.

Fat Transfer to the Face Facial Rejuvenation Ideal Candidates

Ideal candidates for fat transfer to the face facial rejuvenation include adults that want to reduce or eliminate the appearance of wrinkles, lines and creases that have appeared in the face thanks to the aging process. Fat transfer is also ideal for patients that have lips that have lost volume over the years. In addition, patients that have lost any fat in the layer of the face that forms the contours of the jawline and cheeks are also good candidates for fat transfer to the face. Patients with creases in the forehead or the eyebrows, sunken or hollow areas on the face and scars that can see their appearance improved by the addition of volume are ideal fat transfer to the face facial rejuvenation candidates.

Fat Transfer to the Face Facial Rejuvenation Cost, Recovery and Results

The cost of fat transfer to the face facial rejuvenation depends on the amount of fat that is removed from the body and then transferred to the face, the area of the country where the cosmetic procedure is performed and any fees charged by the doctor or the facility. In general, the cost is anywhere from $3000-$5000.

Once the fat transfer to the face has been performed, patients can expect some swelling and bruising in the treated areas. These conditions will resolve within a few days. There is not much in the way of downtime after the injections and most patients resume normal activities within a few hours to a day or two after the treatment. The results will be visible once the swelling has disappeared.  There is little to no chance of an allergic reaction since the fat that is transferred comes from the body of the patient.

The final results vary per patient but, overall, the results are long-lasting and can be enjoyed by patients for many years. Eventually, the fat that is transferred will be reabsorbed by the body so patients will need to have a follow-up procedure at some point to maintain the results.

Consult with a Board-Certified Fat Transfer to the Face Facial Rejuvenation Doctor

Once a patient makes the decision to have fat transfer to the face facial rejuvenation performed, the next step is having a consultation appointment with a board-certified doctor. The cosmetic doctor will examine the current condition of the skin to determine if the person is an ideal candidate for fat transfer to the face. In addition, the doctor will set realistic expectations for what can be accomplished by having fat transfer to the face performed. It is important to set realistic expectations about the final results to the patient will not be disappointed or surprised by the appearance of the treated areas once the fat transfer to the face procedure is completed by the cosmetic surgeon.

MA