Palm Springs Fat Transfer doctors
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Amir M. Karam, MD
San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon
4765 Carmel Mountain Road 201, San Diego |
13 answers | |
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Timothy Jochen, MD
Palm Springs Dermatologic Surgeon
42-600 Mirage Road Building A-1, Rancho Mirage |
3 answers | |
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Anita Patel, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
465 N Roxbury Dr Suite 1001 , Beverly Hills |
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Michael Sundine, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon
1640 Newport Blvd #450, Costa Mesa |
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Suzanne M. Quardt, MD
Palm Springs Plastic Surgeon
35800 Bob Hope Drive Suite 225, Rancho Mirage |
Recent Answers
I had a transconjectival upper and lower blepharoplasthy three years ago. This left a lot of loose skin and hollowness under my eyes, and uneven upper eyelids. So : I had (6 months ago) bilateral lower skin pinch (the left side has very bad scar even 6 months later) and upper left additional blepharoplasthy to make the upper eyelids even on both sides; I also had at the same time upper and lower fat injections (3cc each) on both eyes. Now the upper eyelids do look just a little better than before, but the lower right is still hollow – 6 months today after the fat injections. The surgeon tells me to wait a year, that the fat will grow its blood vessels and it will fill the hollow part. I am very skeptical about that.. Any input will be appreciated…
In my 10-plus years of experience in the cosmetic field, I have never really experienced an amazing result with fat transfers. Fat transfers are less than ideal for under eye treatment for two main reasons. First, because fat will be absorbed by your body, it is unpredictable and can lead to over-correction leaving the eyes looking puffy. Secondly, because it can be lumpy. Overcorrection and lumpiness cannot be minimized after a fat transfer. Fat transfers are also extremely tedious and require a lot of prep (fat harvest) which is expensive and time consuming. I typically recommend patients try a hyaluronic acid for under the eyes. My personal recommendation is typically Restylane since it is a wonderful “filler” rather than plumper that is slowly absorbed in the skin. Restylane is a lot smoother and should there be a need to remove the filler we can simply use hyaluronidase to melt away the hyaluronic acid. Restylane will last six months minimum under the eye and is non-invasive.
Is it ever the standard of care to harvest fat for fat grafting and not inject at the same session? My doctor wants to freeze the fat and inject it in two months.
There is mixed evidence about frozen fat and its viability. If you have fat harvested properly (high percentage of viable grafts), you should get it transferred right then. You really should not need to go back and add more fat later.
How much do fat injections typically cost for face treatments?
Fat transfer (fat grafting/injections) is one of the most technically and artistically challenging procedures in facial rejuvenation. It is also one of the most rewarding if done well. The results will leave the face fresh looking, healthy, and fundamentally naturally rejuvenated. In order to get it right, the surgeon needs to make sure the fat grafts are living by the time they harvest them and isolate them. Next, the way it is injected will also determine if the grafts will take a permanent residence in the injected area. These aspects are technical and if anything is done incorrectly here the grafts won't make it. This is the technical aspect of the procedure. The artistic part comes from making sure things look natural and enhanced in the correct way. As a result of the demanding nature of the procedure, the cost will vary with a trend toward great expense to have a surgeon with a proven long-term track record. Cost will also vary based on areas treated. For example, the cost of injecting fat under the eyes only is less expensive than injecting it throughout the whole face. One word of advice... when it comes to fat transfer DO NOT price shop. Since the results are permanent, if it is not done right, the consequences can be very difficult to correct.
