Facial Fat Grafting

As we get older, fat on the body gradually becomes more centralized. Unfortunately, fat deposits on the face shrink, and the amount of fat located on the abdomen increases. For this reason, mature individuals often notice that they look thinner in the face than they used to. These changes occur even when you gain weight and can be made worse with weight loss.

The way facial fat is structured changes over time, too. When we’re young, fat pads in the cheeks, temples, forehead, and orbital region provide uniform support for the face. As we age, these fat pads slowly slide downwards; in some cases, they also start to clump together. This can create hollows around the eyes and under the cheeks. It can also contribute to the presence of jowls and submental fullness (a “double chin”). In areas where fat distribution is sparse, wrinkles and creases can also appear because there is no longer enough fat to fill out existing skin. It can also make excess skin more noticeable.

That’s where facial fat grafting (also known as autologous fat transfer or autologous fat grafting) comes in. Facial fat grafting is an outpatient procedure performed by removing unwanted fat cells from one part of the body and transferring them to the face.

The facial plastic surgery procedure can help you look slimmer in one area while ensuring an increase in facial volume and a more youthful appearance overall.

Another benefit of facial fat transfer is that fatty tissue often contains stem cells, and the growth factors within these cells can increase collagen production. This makes the skin in treated areas firmer, smoother, and more supple. Fat transfer can also be an excellent choice for patients who are allergic to hyaluronic acid or other dermal fillers.

Facial fat grafting can be used on its own, or it can be combined with a facelift, neck lift, or eyelid surgery. Patients who show signs of advanced skin laxity or sagging skin often benefit greatly from combining procedures. When you come in for a consultation, Dr. Wilson will examine your facial structure and help you develop a personalized treatment plan that meets your needs.

Ideal candidates for fat transfer must be in good overall health and be current non-smoker.

If you’re looking for facial fat transfer to restore volume in your face, you must also have a healthy percentage of body fat. Very thin individuals may not have enough fat to safely harvest for injection. If this is the case, Dr. Wilson will recommend you use dermal fillers instead, especially Sculptra®, to treat wrinkles, hollows, and creases.

As a national trainer for Galderma, Dr. Wilson frequently uses injectable dermal fillers (like Juvéderm® and Restylane®) for volume enhancement. However, while these treatments are safe, convenient, and completely noninvasive, some patients desire a longer-lasting solution for facial hollows and wrinkles. Facial fat grafting provides this solution by permanently redistributing fat deposits.

To perform a fat transfer to the face, Harvard-educated plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Wilson will first administer local anesthesia to ensure your comfort. He then uses liposuction to remove fat from the patient’s body. Patients can choose to have grafted fat removed from an area of the body that they want slimmer, including the abdomen, flanks, back, or thighs.

Once Dr. Wilson has removed your unwanted fat, he processes it in a centrifuge. This purifies the fat without damaging it, readying it for injection into the face. After the harvested fat has been injected into your facial hollows and creases, it will integrate with existing fat cells and become a permanent part of your facial anatomy. How much injected fat you need will depend on your desired results.

Most patients feel better just three to five days after having this fat injection procedure. Symptoms of residual swelling and bruising in and around the donor site, as well as at the injection site, can last for two to three weeks.

Most patients take about one week off of work after their fat transfer and then use makeup to cover any remaining bruises.

As for results, you’ll see some initial changes immediately, but most of the noticeable results won’t show up until the swelling and bruising have diminished.