About Facial Fat Grafting
There are numerous options that can restore the contours and volume of your face, but facial fat grafting is growing in popularity because of its natural results and long lasting benefits. Loss of volume, most commonly due to aging, tends to be more pronounced around the cheeks, jawline, and eyes. Facial fat grafting is used to correct the most common signs of aging and restores plumpness that is lost over time due to aging. By taking fat from your body, plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Bensimon can artfully re-inject the fat into the needed areas of your face for beautiful, lasting results. To learn more about facial fat grafting, contact Dr. Richard Bensimon in Portland, OR to schedule a consultation.
Facial Fat Grafting Reviews
Ideal Candidates
Facial fat grafting is a great option if you want to add natural-looking volume to specific areas of your face. A facial fat transfer can fill in wrinkles, smile lines, Crow's feet, and laugh lines but can also add volume to the cheeks the jawline, the sub-malar and peri-orbital hollows (area under cheeks and around eyes), temporal hollows and upper eyelids. Fat can also be used to improve the hollowed or sunken areas of your face due to volume loss from aging. You can also add volume to your lips for a more youthful appearance. Fat transfer is a good choice if you want your results to be long lasting as dermal fillers typically need to be repeated every six months to a year to maintain the results. To be a good candidate for facial fat grafting, you should areas of fat on your body to harvest the fat from. Common areas for fat retrieval include, abdomen, hips and flanks.
Surgical Technique
Three different Fat Grafting products are created when removing fat for facial contouring. Micro Fat, SNIF and Nano Fat. Micro Fat is the larger particulate fat for placement deep in the face. SNIF (Sharp Needle Intradermal Fat) is a safe and effective alternative to classic resorbable dermal fillers that are placed in the superficial layers of the skin. Nano fat (created after processing the harvested fat into a liquid material rich in stem cells) has been observed to have regenerative properties that promote overall improvement to the skin. Nano fat can be injected superficially or micro-needled into the skin. This is especially helpful to treat the dark spots from sun damage and improve the crepey skin of the neck and chest. Facial fat grafting is a two-part procedure that includes harvesting and placing the fat in the needed contours of the face. For a comfortable patient experience, Dr. Bensimon typically uses awake or MATFAS anesthesia. To begin, Dr. Bensimon will perform liposuction to remove fat, which will come from your hips, abdomen, or flanks. Once the fat is harvested, it is processed and then prepared for injection. Based on your treatment plan, fat may be injected into your cheeks, jawline, upper or lower eyelids to treatment sunken eyes, as well as to fill in wrinkles, lines and enhance the lips.
What to Expect
After your facial fat transfer, you can expect to be discharged within an hour. You may go home with a dressing over the harvest site. At the time of your consult Dr Bensimon will review the details of your procedure and post- procedure care. You should plan to take 1 – 2 weeks for your recovery. Initially, you may experience minor discomfort with bruising and swelling in the liposuction site(s) and fat grafted areas of your face. You may notice improvement right away, but it will take several weeks before you will be able to see your final results.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does facial fat grafting cost?
The cost for a fat graft will include the liposuction to remove fat and will vary based on how much volume is being added. After a thorough assessment, Dr. Bensimon will determine how much fat is needed to create the desired volume and will prepare a customized treatment plan. Dr Bensimon offers financing options to help make your procedure affordable.
Should I get a dermal filler or fat transfer?
Dermal fillers (like Juvéderm, Restylane, Radiesse or Sculptra) can improve the appearance of lines and contours but often need to be repeated every 6-12 months. A fat transfer looks more natural and is much longer lasting. The harvested fat is your own so there is no concern for reaction and your own fat is rich in stem cells that have a very nice effect when for skin rejuvenation when injected into your face.
Can facial fat grafting be combined with another procedure?
Facial fat grafting can be combined with a facelift, BensiPeel and with any body contouring procedure like Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL) or Neck Liposuction. A fat transfer can add volume that helps to improve the balance and proportion of your face which enhances the surgical results of a facelift, neck lift, eyelid surgery or chin augmentation. Dr. Bensimon will develop a treatment plan during your consultation to help you reach your aesthetic goals.
How long does facial fat grafting take?
The procedure time for a facial fat transfer will vary, depending on how much fat is being removed, as well as the volume needed to attain the desired result. The typical full face fat grafting procedure takes 2.5- 3 hours. Once your treatment plan is created during your consultation, Dr. Bensimon will review the time it will take for your procedure and recovery. Dr. Bensimon takes his time carefully grafting thin layers of fat with innovative techniques so your results look beautiful and natural.
Which areas of the face can be improved with fat grafting?
Facial fat grafting can be used in a number of locations on the face to add volume or fill in wrinkles. Fat grafting is designed to augment or enhance the mid-face or cheeks so that this area appears fuller and lifted without having to undergo surgery. In addition, it can also be used as a long lasting natural lip filler. You may also consider a fat transfer to fill the hollow or sunken areas in your upper or lower eyelids. Temporal hollows can be filled to soften the harsh effects of facial volume loss. The jawline and chin can also be contoured to reestablish the contours of youth. Dr. Bensimon will create your customized treatment plan to address one or more areas of your face based on your aesthetic goals. In contrast to dermal fillers, full facial volumizing can be performed during fat grafting to the face as there are usually no limits to the amount of fat that can be harvested to treat multiple areas of the face.
How to IMprove a Sunken Face
Fat transfer procedures are a brilliant way to increase volume, smooth out lines, and accentuate your beautiful profile. If you desire a younger, glowing appearance with little downtime, we encourage you to learn more about facial fat grafting with Dr Bensimon. Facial Fat Grafting is a good option for women and men wanting a natural enhancement with long lasting results. Call our Portland, OR office today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Bensimon for this innovative procedure.