Facial Fat Grafting: 5 Things You Should Know
The struggle against aging is real, and – let’s face it – it’s uphill all the way. As we age, our bodies experience a decrease in important structural proteins and subcutaneous fats, thinning skin, and loss of muscle tone, all of which contribute to a less facial fullness, drooping, and wrinkles. Unfortunately, your face is on the front lines of this battle, and it doesn’t help that it’s the first thing most people see.
Fret not! There are more options than ever to combat the signs of aging, with both surgical and nonsurgical procedures that yield natural-looking results. Dermal fillers can temporarily improve the look of fine lines, but facial fat transfer has become a popular option as it’s especially good at restoring volume and fullness. The results are more permanent than with other injectables – plus, it doesn’t involve surgery, so there’s virtually no downtime. Facial fat grafting can be performed as a standalone procedure or in conjunction with a multi-step rejuvenation plan.
Let’s take a look at five facts about facial fat transfer. If you’re serious about reversing the inevitable signs of aging, it could be just what you’ve been looking for.
Long-Lasting Results
During facial fat transfer, small amounts of fat are removed from your abdomen, buttocks, or thighs. The cells are purified, then injected into targeted areas of your face, where they integrate with existing adipose tissue and become a permanent part of your facial anatomy. Once recovery is complete, you can expect noticeable changes in tissue volume, and because the fat cells have been physically redistributed, the results are often permanent.
Sagging Skin Solution
Thanks to gravity, facial sagging has historically been one of the most difficult areas to treat without surgery. During the aging process, significant collagen reserves are depleted, particularly in the lower third of your face. Facial fat transfer can be used to restore volume in mildly sagging skin, and is often used to complement facelift surgery for a one-two punch against the signs of aging.
Minimally Invasive
Fat grafting is technically a surgical procedure, albeit a minimally invasive one. The incisions made at the donor site and transfer site are tiny, as are the tools used to harvest and reinject the fat cells. For those apprehensive about undergoing a major surgical procedure under general anesthesia, fat transfer can be an effective course of action with very little downtime.
Low Risk, High Reward
Because facial fat grafting uses your body’s own fat cells instead of chemicals, the risks of an adverse reaction at the injection site are minimal. In most cases, the procedure can be performed using local anesthesia or sedation in an outpatient setting, which also carries a lower risk than general anesthesia. Small scars at the harvest and injection sites are occasionally reported, but serious complications are rare.
Weight Loss Myths
Fat grafting procedures used for breast augmentation can require the transfer of as much as four cups of fat (1,000 cc) from the donor site. Facial fat grafts, on the other hand, typically use between 10 and 50 cc of fat – the equivalent of between two teaspoons and a quarter cup. For this reason, a facial fat graft is no substitute for weight loss, nor will it take the place of more targeted body contouring measures.
To schedule a consultation at our Portsmouth, NH practice, please call us at (603) 294-4526, or contact us.
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