As the face ages, it begins to lose volume and appear sunken. The once plump, smooth, and youthful skin no longer has a dense layer of subcutaneous fat separating it from the facial muscles. This not only causes a lack of fullness, but it can also result in more rapid development of lines and wrinkles.
Though advancements in modern technology make it possible to address volume loss in more than one way, many people prefer options designed to restore volume in as natural of a way as possible. For those individuals, facial fat grafting has proven to be a practical solution that delivers long-lasting results.
What Is Facial Fat Grafting?
Fat grafting is the retrieval of fat from one area of the body and using it to augment volume in another area of the body. In the face, this means injecting fat directly into sunken areas in a way very similar to that of dermal fillers. The result is skin that is better contoured and filled with youthful volume that naturally smoothes out unwanted lines and wrinkles.
Here at Bose Plastic Surgery, we are seeing more and more Tampa area patients who are expressing interest in facial fat grafting. Many people who would otherwise shy away from injecting foreign substances into their faces are lining up for the opportunity to restore youthfulness to their faces using their body’s own fat stores. The fat is injected directly into cheeks, lips, under-eye hollows, and the chin – all areas most affected by facial volume loss.
Is Facial Fat Grafting Right For You?
Are you bothered by a loss of volume in your face and the early signs of aging? You might choose fat grafting to:
- Augment shallow facial contours
- Fill in deep creases
- Improve the appearance of old scars
- Add volume to thin lips
Dr. Bose will meet with you one-on-one to assess the treatment area and determine whether fat grafting is the most effective solution to meet your goals. Your consultation will include an exam of the treatment area, a review of your medical history, and a discussion about your expectations for treatment.
What To Expect
Facial fat transfers are a two-part operation. First, you will be sedated. Dr. Bose will then make a small incision at the fat harvesting site. In most cases, fat is retrieved from areas of the body where it is most plentiful, such as the thighs or stomach. However, you and Dr. Bose can decide together before your surgery where best to retrieve fat stores on your own body. A tube is placed into the incision and used to break up the fat. The fat will be suctioned out of the body and prepared for reinjection into the face. Dr. Bose will very carefully inject the fat into the target treatment area, being careful to create a smooth and even appearance. From start to finish, the process typically takes approximately an hour or more.
Recovery
You will notice the benefits of your facial injection right away; however, some of the fat cells will not survive the transfer. Therefore it is reasonable to expect the final result to differ from the initial result.
Keep in mind that while the injection process is mild, the liposuction portion of the procedure is a surgical process that will require a moderate recovery period. In most cases, patients can return to work within a week or less of the procedure, although the exact recovery period will depend upon the extent of the liposuction performed.
If you think a facial fat transfer might be right for you, contact our office to schedule your consultation. We look forward to serving you soon.