Fat Transfer

Fat transfer (also known as grafting) uses a patient’s own fat cells to restore volume and shape to the face, reversing the deflation that occurs with aging. Over time, the loss of fat and the breakdown of muscles affect facial appearance, leading to sunken eyes, deep cheeks, and folds in the skin. Fat accentuation provides the same results as dermal fillers to restore facial volume and contour, resulting in a more youthful appearance. This procedure, however, uses a patient’s own cells instead of synthetic fillers. And unlike facelift procedures, fat transfer does not require surgical incisions or scarring.

Fat transfer is a minimally invasive procedure and involves using liposuction to harvest fat cells from other parts of the body, such as the stomach, thighs, or flanks. After being cleansed and purified, the fat cells are injected into targeted facial areas to restore volume and smooth out wrinkles.

Fat transfers can plump and restore lips and skin to fill in wrinkles, nasolabial folds, laugh lines, and any other depressions on the face, such as acne scars.

The best candidates for facial fat transfer are those who have experienced facial changes due to aging, such as:
• Circles beneath the eyes

• A deepening of the tear trough beneath the yes

• Sunken eyes or temples

• A deepening of the folds above the upper lip

• Divots or depressions on the surface of the skin

• Wrinkles or lines around the mouth, eyes, or between the eyebrows

Facial fat transfer is minimally invasive, therefore carries less risk than some other surgical procedures, such as a full facelift. But, like any surgical procedure, there is some level of risk, which includes excessive bleeding, negative reaction to anesthesia, and post-operative infection.