As we age, we lose volume in our skin and that can lead to a hollow, sunken, or older-looking appearance. When most people think about restoring facial volume, they turn to dermal fillers formulated with hyaluronic acid. But dermal fillers aren’t the only option you have if you want to increase facial volume. At Plastic Surgery Center in Sarasota, FL, we know that a facial fat transfer can be an effective long-term solution for restoring facial volume.
A facial fat transfer is essentially a fat grafting procedure that harvests a small amount of fat from other areas of the body, such as the thighs or abdomen, and then transfers that fat to the face. The fact that this procedure uses your body’s own fat is one of the biggest appeals, especially for those who may have drug allergies. But are the results of this procedure permanent?
Is a Facial Fat Transfer Permanent?
In general, you can expect the results of a facial fat transfer to last for several years – or even a lifetime. The fat that is placed in the face will remain there for many years, which will help you look younger for longer. However, it’s important to realize that the results of this procedure will be permanent in areas where fat has been grafted; it’s possible to experience volume loss in new areas of the face in the future.
Fat Transfer vs Facelift
Fat grafting procedures are unique in terms of longevity. A skin tightening procedure like a facelift is working against the effects of gravity, which is why the results usually aren’t permanent. With fat grafting, however, the fat cells that are placed in the face will remain there for a long time because fat cells are generally resistant to significant changes in tissue volume.
So, although a fat transfer and a facelift can treat many of the same concerns, a fat transfer may be preferable if you are looking for longer-lasting results in hollow areas of the face. That said, it’s common for a facelift to be combined with a fat transfer to achieve your ideal aesthetic.
Fat Transfer vs Dermal Fillers
Right now, some of the most popular aesthetic treatments in the world are dermal fillers, which inject artificial volume into the sub-dermal layers of the skin to increase skin volume and smooth away the visible signs of aging. Many people use dermal fillers because they are non-invasive and don’t have a long recovery period.
However, the major downside of a dermal filler is the fact that the results will usually only last for 12 to 24 months at a time. A fat transfer, on the other hand, can last for years and years – sometimes even over a decade – which more than makes up for the more invasive components of the procedure. This surgery is ideal for those who want low-maintenance results.
Benefits of Facial Fat Transfer
The primary benefit of this procedure is the fact that the results will last for several years. The purified fat cells that are placed into your face will integrate with existing tissue and remain at a high volume in your skin for many years to come as a permanent part of your facial anatomy. Ultimately, this means that your results will remain consistent and that you will not notice major changes in facial volume because of fat cell permanency.
In addition to providing long-lasting results, there are many other benefits to consider for this procedure. Some benefits include being an excellent solution for skin laxity, a minimally invasive procedure, and a low-risk treatment that can produce your ideal results.
Resolve Skin Laxity
Skin laxity occurs because of a combination of collagen and elastin depletion associated with aging, the effects of gravity on the skin, and the loss of fat pads in the sub-dermal layers of the skin as a result of the natural aging process. While you may be able to use artificial fillers to restore a youthful skin texture, the fact of the matter is that your facial anatomy relies on fat pads to produce natural-looking results.
By introducing fat cells back into hollow areas of the skin, you can improve the appearance of mild to moderate skin laxity, particularly wrinkles on the lower third of the face. Skin laxity in this area can be more difficult to resolve because gravity drags loose skin lower. By restoring the natural fat volume in the skin, you can accomplish more significant results for skin laxity resolution.
Minimally Invasive Technique
This procedure is considered minimally invasive, particularly compared to procedures like facelifts. Overall, the techniques required for this procedure are designed to be as minuscule as possible to lower the risk of scarring. The incisions made on donation sites will be small, and once the fat is harvested and prepared, it can usually be injected into the face via a small needle or with very tiny incisions. This also speeds up the recovery period for this procedure.
Low-Risk
Finally, this procedure is considered relatively low risk. Some other aesthetic treatments work by introducing foreign chemicals and formulas into your body to stimulate collagen production. This procedure uses your body’s own fat cells, which removes any risk of allergic reactions. Additionally, some other plastic surgery procedures will require the use of a general anesthetic, but this treatment can be done with only local anesthesia, so there are no risks associated with sedatives that might be used with other surgeries.
What Else Should You Know About Treatment?
This procedure works by taking a small amount of fat from other areas of the body, such as the thighs, buttocks, and abdomen, and then purifying these cells before they are placed into hollow areas of the face, including the cheeks and beneath the eyes. For this procedure, the amount of fat that will be harvested is usually the equivalent of about two to three teaspoons. The procedure itself will only take an hour or two to complete.
Preparation
To prepare for this procedure, you should stop smoking for at least four to six weeks before your appointment day, as this will minimize the risk of bruising and make your recovery much quicker. Like many other injectable treatments, you should speak with your provider about temporarily discontinuing blood-thinning medications and supplements for at least a week before your treatment. You may also be instructed to stop using retinoids and to avoid sunlight for about a week.
Aftercare
After your procedure, you will need to follow post-operative instructions that will help you recover from your treatment quickly. Some instructions you can expect after your facial fat transfer include avoiding touching, rubbing, or massaging the treatment area for at least three to five days after your appointment. You should sleep elevated on your back and avoid strenuous activity, including cardio exercises and lifting.
Many people return to work about a week after their appointment. This is also around the time that you can resume your normal routine, including light exercise and using skincare products that contain retinoids. However, you should continue to avoid sunlight or wear SPF when you plan to be outside for longer than 10 minutes.
How Long Will It Take for Results To Settle?
If you’ve ever had an injectable procedure, then you may be familiar with the concept of “settling”, which is the period of time it takes for an injectable product to disperse evenly into the skin and bond with the sub-dermal layers. For a fat transfer, the settling period can take about seven to 10 days for some people, so during this time you should follow all of your aftercare instructions closely to get the best results from your procedure.
After about two to three weeks, you will notice the final results of your treatment. These results may appear to improve as your skin recovers from the treatment. You may attend a follow-up appointment at this time to assess your results.
Try a Natural Volumizing Solution
If you’ve been-there-and-done-that with dermal fillers and you haven’t been satisfied with your results, then you may want to consider a facial fat transfer procedure. Although similar to a dermal filler, this procedure harvests fat from your body and places this fat in low-volume areas of your face to resolve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and hollow facial areas. The results of this procedure can be permanent. Contact us at Plastic Surgery Center in Sarasota, FL to schedule your consultation today.
