Facial Fat Grafting and Rejuvenation
Facial Fat Grafting Facial Fat Transfer
Facial fat grafting or Facial Fat Transfer is a facial plastic surgery procedure that can reduce signs of aging by filling wrinkles and restoring volume in the face. Fat is harvested from a donor site such as the abdomen using a micro-harvesting cannula. The fat is then processed and injected into the problem areas of the face.t is a welcomed alternative for patients who are not interested more invasive surgeries such as a Facelift. or as an adjudicative procedure to enhance the results of facelift surgery and other facial cosmetic surgery procedures.
Who is a good candidate for surgery?
The ideal candidate for facial rejuvenation with facial fat grafting is a man or woman who has begun to notice a shallow appearance to the face. These changes can start as early as the early 30s. Successful fat grafting requires skin that is not too loose. Most patients are in their late 30s to 50s, but facial rejuvenation with fat grafting can be successfully performed on people well into their 60s and 70s. If you are generally healthy, have a realistic view about the results that can be achieved with facial rejuvenation with fat grafting, you may be a good candidate for the procedure.
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Who should not have Facial Fat Grafting / Facial Fat Transfer?
There are certain risks factors which may not make you a good candidate. These include, but are not limited to, being pregnant, breastfeeding, having certain active diseases and smoking. Dr. Michael Devlin will devote discuss your health and well being with regard to this surgery during your consultation.
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Areas of the Face that can be Treated
Fat can be transferred and grafted to virtually any areas of the face (or body) The best areas are those that show an age-related volume loss or wrinkling. Some of the more common uses and areas treated are:
- Loss of cheek fullness
- Hollowing in the temples
- Filling forehead lines
- Filling in tear troughs
- Hollowing around the eyes
- Filling in the cheek folds adjacent to the mouth
- Addressing “marionette” lines
- Plumping thinning lips
- Adding soft tissue volume along the jawline
- Filling in scars or contour depressions from previous facial surgery
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Is the procedure painful?
Facial Fat Grafting requires liposuction followed by re-injection of the fat cells into the face. Both harvesting of fat and injection of fat utilize micro-cannulas, which are smaller version of cannulas used in liposuction. Because the liposuctioned area is so small and the cannulas are as well, there is typically only mild pain associated with fat grafting. Patients should expect to be sore for approximately one week.
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Where are the procedures performed?
Fat grafting at Devlin Cosmetic Surgery is typically performed using oral sedation and local anesthesia in the office or out-patient facility. It can also be performed at Little Rock Surgery Center under IV Sedation or General Anesthesia.
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What is the post-operative care ?
Complete written post-operative instructions will be provided prior to your procedure. The day of the procedure you will feel sleepy from the anesthesia. The discomfort experienced from fat grafting is mild. Pain medication will be prescribed. The first follow-up appointment is typically 7 days after your procedure, however Dr. Devlin is available to see you sooner if the need arises. There is typically some amount of swelling and or bruising in the face for the first week. The amount of post treatment swelling is largely dependent on the extent of fat transfer performed. Showering with warm water is allowed on the first post procedure day. Pain medication and prophylactic antibiotics are usually prescribed and should be taken as directed. Sleeping with the head elevated will help reduce post-procedure swelling and bruising.
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How long before I see results?
Each person’s recovery will be different, but most patients will see mild swelling and bruising the first few days, which will resolve around 7-10 days after surgery. Generally, patients with injections closer to the eyes experience more bruising. The deeper the injections, the more swelling you will see. While you are still swollen and bruised, it is normal to experience numbness, tingling, or other unfamiliar sensations, which will also resolve as the swelling and bruising does. With 20-50% of the original graft surviving after being transferred, Dr. Devlin will tend to “overfill” the problematic areas. This means you might feel you look a little overly full at first, but the fat that remains after 6 months, should stay for years.To achieve full correction, it may take 2 to 3 fat grafting sessions.
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If you are interested in learning more about facial fat grafting, or to schedule a consultation,Contact Dr. Michael Devlin today at 501-227-8811
