Facial Fat Transfer

What is Facial Fat Transfer?

Facial fat transfer, also known as fat grafting or fat transplantation, is a cosmetic procedure that involves harvesting fat from one area of the body where there is a surplus of fat and injecting it into sunken areas. Fat from donors may also be used. The fat is very unlikely to be rejected by the body and the procedure may be more successful than treatments with artificial implants.

What is Facial Fat Transfer used for?

Facial fat transfer is used to fill sunken areas of the face including:

• The area underneath the eyes
• Cheek augmentation
• Chin augmentation
• Fill the nasolabial folds

What types of Facial Fat Transfer are there?

The fat can be obtained from various sources:

• Autologous fat transfer means that the fat is harvested from the patient's body, typically from the lower abdomen, buttocks, thighs or calves
• Fat grafting from a donor
• Fat grafting from an animal (typically bovine fat, but the patient needs to be tested to ensure they are not allergic)

Due to the fact that only small amounts of fat are needed for a facial fat transfer, the autologous fat transfer is preferred.

What are the advantages of Facial Fat Transfer over other similar treatments?

• Will not cause irritation in the patient, unlike artificial implants that may have this risk
• May tighten the skin and reduce wrinkles as well
• Durable results, especially in the case of autologous fat transfer, unlike many dermal fillers which are quickly absorbed in the body

How is the Facial Fat Transfer performed?

The numbing of the areas that give and receive fat is necessary. The fat is extracted from the patient or donor's body employing a syringe or a cannula that is usually used during liposuction. The obtained fat is injected into the target regions of the face. The injections are applied under the skin or even intramuscularly.

Fat excision is also possible to ensure the quality of the fat is preserved, but this involves incisions and may result in scarring. In this case, the recipient area is also accessed through one or several incisiond. Surgeons typically insert up to 50 percent more fat than needed during the initial treatment, as between 20 and 60 percent of the fat is absorbed in the body.

What is the recovery like?

The recovery involves bruising, puffiness and irritation. The patient can perform regular activities, without engaging in physically demanding activities, up to three weeks after the procedure. The typical recovery time is up to four weeks.

What will the results be like?

The results depend on the technique used and the area that is treated. Up to 80 percent of the injected fat may remain in place after the treatment. Research has proven that the results of autologous fat transfer are more durable, as the fat is less likely to dissolve. However, with aging, the fat is slowly absorbed by the body. Typical results last up to eight years.

What are the risks of Facial Fat Transfer?

• Excessive bleeding
• Hematoma
• Damage to the nerves
• Accumulation of fluid

In rare cases, the procedure may lead to embolism, which can result if a fat enters the blood flow and circulates freely, being able to reach the vital organs.

Disclaimer: This information is intended only as an introduction to this procedure. This information should not be used to determine whether you will have the procedure performed nor does it guarantee results of your elective surgery. Further details regarding surgical standards and procedures should be discussed with your physician.