Facial Fat Transfer

What Is Facial Fat Transfer?

Facial fat transfer is a technique where we harvest fat from another area of the body and inject it into strategic areas of the face for the purpose of facial rejuvenation. Also called facial fat grafting or autologous fat grafting, facial fat transfer is a form of permanent filler.

Many surgeons consider a patient’s own body fat to be the ideal filler because it is 100% biocompatible, feels and looks natural, and provides long-lasting results. We usually harvest fat by performing liposuction on the flanks, abdomen and thighs, as many patients have excess fat in these locations. Another reason we choose these sites is that fat from these areas is of higher quality and more likely to produce the desired results. 

While less invasive than a traditional facelift, facial fat transfer is a surgical technique nonetheless. That means patients need to be relatively healthy and take some time off to recover. 

What Facial Fat Transfer Treats

Facial fat transfer restores facial volume and can be performed on nearly any area of the face. Not only does this technique restore facial volume, but it also enhances facial contours and revitalizes the skin by improving tone and texture. In addition to its use for cosmetic purposes, facial fat transfer is also extensively used in reconstructive surgery. 

Specific concerns that we can treat with this technique are: 

• Hollow temples 
• Forehead hollows and creases
• Under-eye bags and tear troughs
• Nasolabial folds and marionette lines
• Sunken cheeks
• Thin lips
• Retruded chin
• Atrophic scars
• Facial asymmetry

Good Candidates for Fat Transfer

Most people with age-related volume loss in the face who are in relatively good health can be candidates for this procedure. The ideal candidate is someone with visible facial volume loss and a sufficient amount of body fat to harvest for transfer. 

Because of this, patients with an extremely low body mass may not be candidates for this procedure if they do not have enough surplus fat needed for harvesting. Patients who are currently on a weight loss program are also not ideal candidates because weight loss post-procedure can lead to unpredictable results. 

You must be healthy to undergo this procedure. If you have a condition that affects clotting and wound healing, you have a greater risk of serious complications and may want to consider less invasive alternatives. 

Facial Fat Transfer Process

Facial fat grafting is a surgical procedure that requires some preparation and recovery. However, it is a less invasive procedure that is regularly performed on an outpatient basis at our Brookstone Ambulatory Surgery Center (BASC). Here is what to expect when considering facial fat transfer. 

Preparation

One of our surgeons will call you in for a consultation to discuss your goals and concerns and walk you through the treatment process. They will also perform an initial examination to see if you are a good candidate for this treatment and which approach is best for you. 

You will need to undergo a pre-treatment evaluation to determine whether you are healthy enough to undergo treatment. This will involve a physical exam and some lab work. If you have a chronic medical condition or are taking blood-thinning medications or supplements, you may need to bring certain health parameters under control and discontinue your medication before your treatment. We will need to take pre-procedure photographs and select donor sites for fat harvesting.

Because this procedure involves anesthesia, you should arrange for someone to drive you back home and help you during the first days of your recovery. You will need to take at least a week off from work and social activities to recover. 

Treatment

Surgery will take place at Brookstone Ambulatory Surgery Center (BASC). The procedure takes two to three hours to complete. Facial fat transfer is performed under local or general anesthesia in three stages:

1. Harvesting

Your surgeon will harvest fat from an area rich in fat cells, such as the abdomen, flanks or thighs. In some cases, the neck area is chosen as the donor site to simultaneously contour the jawline. To do this, the surgeon applies a local anesthetic and makes a small incision to insert a blunt cannula. They then remove the fat using a syringe or suction machine. 

2. Processing

The harvested fat tissue contains additional components that can interfere with healing and final results. These components are blood, dead fat cells and the anesthetic medication. To remove these components and extract as many healthy fat cells as possible, our team will use sedimentation, a centrifuge or filters before moving on to the next step.

3. Transfer

Once we have harvested and processed the donor fat, your surgeon will transfer it to the treatment site using syringes. They will need to make one or multiple punctures in the treatment site first to evenly distribute the fat cells. Fat is transferred in stages and at different levels, which ensures good revascularization. Your surgeon may inject slightly more fat cells than necessary since some level of reabsorption is expected.  

Recovery & Results

You will be discharged from the hospital on the day of your procedure and given instructions to help you with your recovery. Expect some amount of pain, soreness and bruising at the treatment sites, which you can manage with OTC pain medication and rest.

You will need to wear a compression garment in the liposuction area for up to two weeks following surgery. Avoid massaging the treatment sites and using cold or hot compresses since this can make the transferred fat shift and worsen swelling. Swelling and bruising will gradually subside and should resolve within three weeks. The transferred fat cells will connect to the surrounding blood vessels and gradually settle. 

It can take three months for the body to remove any residual fat cells and up to nine months for the transferred fat to reach its final volume.

Want to Learn More About Facial Fat Transfer in Columbus, GA?

Facial fat transfer is one of the best alternatives to more invasive or temporary facial rejuvenation treatments. Using your body’s own fat, your surgeon can create natural-looking and permanent results on nearly any area of your face. If you are a Georgia resident interested in getting your youthful contours back, please contact our team at Chattahoochee Plastic Surgery. We are more than happy to answer all your questions.

To learn more about facial fat transfer in Columbus, GA, call Chattahoochee Plastic Surgery at (706) 494-7700 or fill out our online appointment form.