WHAT IS FACIAL FAT GRAFTING?
One of the signs of aging is loss of volume in various areas of the face. There are a variety of options to rejuvenate volume or even augment certain facial features, and each comes with it’s unique benefits. Fat grafting has become very popular over the past decade and is a way to use the bodies own tissues to restore volume in a long lasting way that is also minimally invasive. Using your own body fat obtained using gentle liposuction techniques, Dr. Becker can add volume to the cheeks, soften facial folds and lines as well as improve the appearance hollows in the temples or under the eyes without risk of allergic reactions, rejection or long term risk of infection.
THE PROCEDURE:
Fat grafting can be done as a stand alone procedure, most often using local anesthesia and an oral relaxing agent, or along side other procedures as part of a comprehensive facial rejuvenation plan. The fat cells are removed and sterilely prepared for transfer. Then micro droplets of fat cells are then injected into the desired area though a small puncture in the skin made with a hypodermic needle. A small dissolvable stitch is placed at each puncture site to seal the area.
After the procedure, patients can expect some swelling and bruising at both the donor and treatment sites. The amount and length of swelling depend on the number of areas treated. Typically the puffiness and swelling subsides after a few weeks; most patients are able to return to normal activities right away. Most patients will return to work after a week, and regular exercise can be resumed after 2 weeks.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Fat grafting is an attractive option because it uses the bodies own tissue; However, there are special considerations compared to other methods of adding volume, such as filler or implants. In particular, the fat grafts must heal into the recipient site to survive. This means there is only a certain amount of fat that a particular area may be able to accept in one session, after which oversaturation will lead to less graft survival, or “take”. This means patients may require more than one fat injection session spaced three months apart to achieve the desired level of augmentation. Also, the grafts will initially lose some volume, but will restore themselves over a period of months as they become parted of their new location.
Fat grafting requires a deep understanding of facial anatomy and the normal fat pads of the face to achieve natural looking results. Contact us to see if fat grafting is right for you.
