What Is Facial Fat Transfer?
As you get older or lose weight, it’s common to experience a loss of volume around the cheeks, eyes, and jawline, creating a tired, aged, or “hollow” appearance in the face. Thanks to advancements in plastic surgery, it’s now possible to rejuvenate your appearance and fill out your features through a technique known as facial fat transfer (or facial fat grafting). Facial fat transfer is used at San Diego Plastic Surgery Center led by Dr. Jose to minimize some of the most common signs of aging, and it increases volume by smoothing facial wrinkles and folds on your face using your own fat. By taking excess fat from your body, Dr. Jose Rodriguez can skillfully place the purified fat into the desired sections of your face for lasting, beautiful results. As an added benefit, facial fat grafting can also improve the contours of your body by relocating fat. To get more information about facial fat grafting, contact our office in San Diego, CA to book a consultation with Dr. Rodriguez.
How Does A Facial Fat Transfer Work?
Fat transfer is a two-step procedure that includes harvesting the fat and relocating it. Since such a small amount of fat is needed, the process usually involves local or mild anesthesia. To begin, Dr. Rodriguez will perform liposuction to remove fat, which may be taken from your hips, flanks, or abdomen. Once the fat is removed, it can be processed and then placed in syringes. Dr. Rodriguez will use different injection angles and techniques to ensure high immersion rates into your skin and to create evenness. According to your treatment plan, fat may be transferred to your lips, cheeks, and/or beneath your eyes to add volume, as well as to improve lines and facial depressions.
What Can I Expect After Facial Fat Transfer?
Before your procedure, Dr. Rodriguez will let you know what to expect after surgery and how you will be able to heal more comfortably. Follow-up appointments should be made at San Diego Plastic Surgery Center led by Dr. Jose so Dr. Rodriguez can evaluate your healing and progress. Your recovery will be different based on how much fat is removed and grafted, but you need to plan to spend 1 – 2 weeks to rest and heal. Initially, you may feel uncomfortable with bruising and swelling in the liposuction site(s) and the transfer site(s). You might notice some improvements right away, but it is going to take several weeks before you can see your final outcomes. A small amount of fat might be reabsorbed, but with proper maintenance, your results should last for several years.
What Are the Benefits of A Facial Fat Transfer?
Many aestheticians around the world treat volume loss using synthetic facial fillers. While these products can be effective, facial fat transfer offers a number of unique benefits for our patients in San Diego, CA, including:
- Less risk of allergic effect
- Reduces lines and furrows
- Reliable enhancements
- Generates results
- Takes out stubborn fat from trouble spots
- Enhances the lips, cheeks, and more
- Minimal downtime
- Utilizes your body’s own fat as an alternative to synthetic fillers
- Firms and plumps skin
- Minimizes the visibility of scarring
Am I A Candidate for Facial Fat Transfer?
A fat transfer can help if you want to add natural-looking volume to specific places in your face. A facial fat transfer can fill in wrinkles like laugh lines, smile lines, and Crow’s feet. Fat can also be used to reduce the visibility of acne scars and pitted areas. You may also add volume to your cheeks and lips for a more youthful appearance. Similar to the results of a dermal filler injection, such as Restylane or Juvéderm, a fat transfer is a good option if you’d like longer-lasting results. Ideal candidates for facial fat transfer typically need enough excess fat to fulfill their goals.