While changes in skin elasticity are often blamed for the cosmetic effects of facial aging, the loss of facial fat also plays a significant role in the formation of wrinkles, loose skin, and facial hollows.
Dermal fillers can be a great temporary restoration for lost facial volume, but they aren’t suitable for everyone. Patients often prefer the long-lasting results and more natural feel and look offered by facial fat grafting. At Eyelid & Facial Plastic Surgery Associates, Dr. Malena Amato offers facial fat transfer to help restore the full, youthful facial contours of her Austin, TX patients.
What is Facial Fat Grafting?
Facial fat grafting, also known as autologous fat transplantation or lipoinjection, can fill in features of the face using fat cells extracted from other parts of the body. Patients will usually request having the fat removed from their belly, back, or thighs, as this approach has the added benefit of shaping other common problem areas. Once the fat has been harvested, it is processed in a device called a centrifuge.
The centrifuge spins the fat at an accelerated rate, separating adipose tissue from unwanted components that aren’t suitable for injections, essentially purifying the fat before reinjection. Finally, the purified fat is reinjected into the areas of the face where facial fat loss is most apparent. Once the fat cells are injected, the body will reestablish a blood supply and naturally integrate with the patient’s existing tissue to keep the fat cells alive in their new home.
What Are Some of the Benefits of Facial Fat Grafting?
As previously mentioned, with age comes the natural loss of fat tissue in the face, which can worsen the look of crow’s feet, frown lines, hollow cheekbones, and other unwanted creases. Facial Fat Grafting can help restore the youthful, radiant contours of the face while achieving a more natural look and feel. The results will have a more lasting effect due to using the patient’s own fat instead of chemicals. Through Facial Fat Grafting, the patient may notice a significant improvement in skin texture, tone, elasticity, and wrinkle reduction in certain areas, particularly around the mouth and eyes.
What to Expect
Facial Fat Grafting typically requires some post-procedure recovery. Any discomfort can be effectively managed with pain relievers provided by Dr. Amato, but most pain will usually dissipate with the first 24 hours. Visible swelling and bruising may occur for about one to two weeks after the fat transfer. Patients can expect their face to settle into its final shape throughout two to three months, though results may continue to improve for up to a year. Dr. Amato generally recommends her patients take two weeks off from work after having this procedure.
Dr. Amato provides a friendly, compassionate, and conscientious environment at her office in Austin, TX. For more information about facial fat grafting in Austin, TX, please contact our office here.