Dermal fillers for the face are used to contour facial features or add fullness to hollow areas due to the aging process. But as patients are becoming more conscious about their overall health and what they’re putting into their bodies, they are looking for a natural alternative to dermal fillers made with artificial ingredients and preservatives.
A facial fat transfer is a natural and organic option over dermal injections because the filler is made of your fat cells donated from another area of your body. And typically, the donated fat tissues are removed from an area of your body where you want to make slimmer or contour the shape. That’s what we would call a double bonus procedure.
So, let’s take a closer look at the entire process of transferring fat to your face and all the benefits that come with this facial rejuvenation and body contouring procedure.
A fat transfer for the face involves harvesting fat cells from another part of the body with excess fat tissue and injecting the liquified fat into various parts of the face to add volume and fullness. A liposuction procedure is used to extract the fat cells from areas where extra fat is stored, such as the abdomen, flanks (love handles), and thighs.
The fat from the liposuction is filtered and processed into syringes with needles then injected into the patients’ facial features. The areas of injections could be:
A facial fat transfer or fat grafting for the face is a three-step surgical process that is performed by a board-certified cosmetic surgeon—starting with fat extraction, fat filtration and processing, and injection.
The surgeon extracts the fat with a traditional liposuction process by making a tiny incision into the donation site and inserting a cannula (thin tube), sucking out the fat. The fat donor sites are typically places where the patient no longer wants pockets of fat and wishes for a slimmer shape.
Once the fat is removed, it is filtered and cleansed by spinning it in a high-speed centrifuge device. This process separates the fat cells from impurities, liquids, or damaged cells from the liposuction.
The liquefied fat is placed into syringes and injected into the desired areas of the face. The amount of fat needed will depend on how many areas are treated, and the volume used to create natural-looking results, is determined by the skill and injection technique of the surgeon.
The survival rate of the injected fat cells is on average 50\\\%; however, the surviving fat can last several years in the tissue. But, with any filler injections, it’s not a permanent solution and doesn’t stop the body from aging. It can only slow down the effects.
With that, if a patient wants to add more volume to their face, it is safe to have multiple fat transfer procedures under the care of a qualified plastic surgeon.
Many facial rejuvenation or contouring procedures require artificial substances or foreign objects such as implants, to assist in the enhancement. A fat transfer to the face is the ideal cosmetic procedure that provides a natural way to rebalance the fat and contour the shape of the face.
Here is a complete list of the benefits of a facial fat transfer:
An ideal candidate for a facial fat transfer has a realistic expectation for the final results of this procedure. They have a good understanding that the survival rate of the fat cells is around 50\\\% and may require multiple fat transfer procedures to achieve or maintain the desired results.
Other ideal characteristics and criteria that make a good candidate for a facial fat transfer include:
A facial fat transfer allows patients to have a natural and organic filler option over cosmetic dermal fillers made with additives and preservatives. But the main appeal of this procedure is having two treatments done at the same time. A procedure that gets rid of the unwanted fat from one part of your body and reuses it to restore the youthfulness and volume back into your face.
To find a board-certified cosmetic surgeon experienced with performing a facial fat transfer procedure, use our “Find a Doctor” navigation tool for a medical professional in your area.
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