RE: Problems with fat transfer?

i had fat transfer with a full facelift and necklift. I was very volume depleted in my lower face. The fat looks good along the jawline. It's the only area on my face that looks decent. There is one are where the fat completely disappeared though and that's right in front down by my chin. So it looks like someone scooped it out. Watch out for fat in the lower face. It can make things look heavy and unbalanced. Have you done filler first to see how it will look? Fat doesn't last-they tell you it does but it DOESN"T Be prepared to keep doing it. Think about filler over fat. It's more predictable.

Thanks.Yes,I was told that the fat is permanent.Good to know that it does dissappear over time.

"Some" of it disappears...some doesn't.  What is "permanent" is the lumps and those require surgery to remove...and of course the scar that goes with it.  There is no way to predict with FT what fat will remain or not.  So you usually end up with one side of your face looking quite different that the other & then you're stuck trying to add additional fat to even it out & put yourself at risk for even more lumping and distortion.  It's really a mess.  A nightmare that never really ends. With fills, what you see ...is what you get.  After a day or two of redness...you're good to go.  Almost zero downtime.  It doesn't lump and it's easily removed if you don't happen to like the look.  Or you just wait and it goes away on its own.  I had temporary Restylane fills done over a 5 year period and I looked great...never a problem.  I found that with each fill, it lasted longer and longer & I needed much less fill each time.  I got to the point I only needed a touchup once a year & only used one tube (about $500 a tube).  I can't believe I let that unethical PS talk me into dreaded FT.  A horrible mistake that I will apparently pay for for the rest of my life.  That is what is "permanent" after FT.   After the intial cost of the the FT ($3500 with anesthesia) I've spent over $30,000 trying to get back to myself & I'm not done.  I'm still hiding behind sunglasses.  I look 10 years older.  Not to mention the time wasted on countless doctors appointments over 2 years trying to find a fix.  I could have had a whole lot of Restylane for that price, looked great in the interim, and the only lost time would have been one appt per year.   After all the attempts to remove the FT, I will likely end up needing a full face lift...an invasive surgery I was trying to avoid in the first place.   Please stay away from FT, its a never ending nightmare.  Just read the reviews by women who have been thru this.  It's simply not worth the risk. 

So,after reading all of the negative results from fat transfer I think I'm going to try a filler instead.Can anyone tell me which filler is better for lower face and jawline?

Cody3...seems every doc has his/her own favorites that they prefer to work with for different areas.  The only name I can remember is restylane, but I've also had another type or 2, just can't recall the names now.  Some types go deeper under the skin for better support rather than more surface fixes that restylane is used for.  I would go to at least 2 docs for consults about the different products and the pros & cons of each...unless you have a good recommendation from someone you know.  Keep posting here at realself for doc recommendations in your area and I sure someone will have a recommendation for you.  Keep in mind you may go thru a couple of docs in the beginning.  Big difference in how they inject.  The first couple of docs I went to, their injections were pretty painful.  Tolerable, but painful.  Gratefully it was over pretty quick.  I am sort of a wimp with pain so I wanted to find someone who had a better method.  So I tried my dermatologist next.  As it turns out she was the best of the 3.  She had me take a valium or 2 first, waited about 20-30 minutes...and I barely felt a thing.  Plus I liked her placement better.  I did have to have my husband drive me home afterwards because of the valium, so that is sort of a hassle,  but hey it sure made a big difference in the experience for me.  My point is, you may have to shop for just the right person at first.  After that, it's a piece of cake.  Good luck to you...I'm so relieved you are trying this rather than FT.  Trust me, you are dodging a bullet with this decision.  Wish I had found this site first before my dreadful decision to do FT.  I'd be in a much better place today.   

Thank You for your help.Sooo glad that I found this site and the helpful people.I will not do fat grafting!

Radiesse is popular in the jaw area. You need to think about a couple of things when you do filler. Some last longer than others. I had Radiesses years ago and it never went away. Stayed for years and years. Others Dr's will tell can be dissolved with enzymes if you don't like them. If anyone wants to do hyaluronidaise (enzymes to dissolve filler), run the other way . It damages your natural tissue and takes years to rebuild. Every doctor is different and they'll all tell you they are the best. Look at the some of the celebs that you think had good results. You can certainly google and see who did their work. I think as a female, some of the best filler I've had was done by Dr Jessica Wu in Los Angeles. She has an artistic eye. Anyone can inject-but they really need to know how its going to respond. THe moron who did my restylane about a year and change ago RUINED my skin-he put in too much. And more is not better. One of my friends swears by Jodie at Dr Garth Fisher's office. It just all depends on your research and luck. Your skin will have a lot to do with it too. Don't go for price or specials or Dr's who are not PS or Derm's Nowaday anyone can take a weekend course in how to do filler. Good Luck!!!

Perhaps its moderation that is the key factor in any of these products.  Rather than going in the first time and having an "overfill" all at one go...its better to try less product and see how your skin responds.  I agree with RedRoxie on that.  Try focusing on one problem area..then move on from there if all goes well.  You'll be testing your choice of doctor as well as the product.  Some seem to have a better idea of the look you are going for than others...and are better at it getting you there.  Not all injectors are created equal.  Moderation is how I started with the temp fills & I never had an issue or regrets.  Nothing, of course, is ever totally risk free, but being prudent in your approach will certainly increase your odds.  And temp fills have far less risk than FT.  Way less.  Moderation takes a bit more patience than I think most of us have when we are looking for that magic bullet to make things better.  Just human nature.  So just take your time when you first approach this,  & I think you will be a whole lot happier in the long run. :-)  

Thank You very much.My appt.for the fat transfer is in 5 days but I am definitely changing it to a filler appt.Now I know to ask for Radiesse.Thanks again.

I.m not sure you should decide on a filler before your PS has a chance to see you and discuss the various options with you.  Everyone's needs are different depending on what your area of concern is.  Go in with an open mind, and ask lots of questions about the fillers he uses and recommends.  Look at the photos of the work he's done on others.  If possible you may want to consider getting a 2nd opinion before you commit.  Just a suggestion..

Had problems with the stomach area where it was taken from is still very painful after a month and the swelling keeps coming back. It also appears to be dissolving, as at first was nice and full. I was reading that they put the fat in a centrifuge but my doctor did not do that.

I also had FT in 2011, I now have roping that just showed up. The FT is gone and the scars of roping is left. My skin looks bad now. I wish a hundred times I did not do this. Will the roping ever go away? I do not trust my doctor who lied from day one. I don't know who to turn to with this problem. FT is a JOKE. Don't do it.

I didn't mention this is on my face under my eye and down my cheek across to my nose. When it is really noticed is dependent on shadows. At that point it is shocking. Also it is only on one side of my face. It showed up in the last month or so. I think when all the fat disappeared I ended up with this strange scarring. NOT one time did the doctor tell about this. I looked at all the paper they give you on the day of surgery and it was mentioned that could happen, but not likely. I wish I had taken the time to read everything first. They know what they are doing by giving you all this stuff at the wrong time.

I recommend people not do this. I have a thin face and it is back with the scarring. If anyone knows how to fix this I would appreciate any comments. It cost close to $5000.00. I couldn't afford to do anything else at this point unless I know for sure it will fix the bad job. I have a feeling I am stuck with this and I work in the public eye. All I wanted was a refreshed , not tired look since I am in my mid 50s. I never wanted to look like someone else. I am not vain. I just didn't want to look tired.

A tiny bit stayed. Around my cheekbone which gives me a prehistoric person look. And of course that made my cheeks even more sunken in looking. So disappointed!

Ms Sorry...yes I have that same "roping"...or what I describe as a raised line of fat that looks like a thin tube.  My "rope" runs from the corner of my inner eye...down along the side of my nose.  Most overhead lighting makes it more obvious or direct sunlight.  It's just gross.  I've been told by a few plastic surgeons that it is caused by the way the fat is injected.  For a lot of people, some areas will get raised and not go away.  Its basically a tube-shaped soft lump...that is likely to be permanent.  I had my FT over two years ago and its still there.  Its odd, but sometimes it will seem to disappear for a day...then come back the next.  And if I lose weight it is somewhat less noticeable.  But since I am already quite thin, I can't really lose anymore weight without risk to my health.  I've been advised to leave it alone as any attempt to fix it might make it worse.  I've had to just learn to accept it...and just try to avoid certain lighting situations as much as possible...and I wear sunglasses a lot more than I used to.  I've had some success fixing my overall FT disaster with eye surgery...but other issues are just beyond a fix.  Like you, I was told verbally by the doctor that FT was a no-risk procedure...and would simply "freshen" up my look.  He told me the worst that could happen is that it would just absorb in to my skin and go away.  The big lie.

Ms Sorry...the FT that stayed around your cheekbone may be able to be removed with microlipo.  I have that on the cheekbone too, just on one side, but I'm too terrified to risk another procedure.  But I know a few gals here...have had some success with microlipo.  Only problem is their particular doc is no longer doing revisions.  He was just  overwhelmed by patients looking for a repair...so he quit doing it.  Wish I could help you with that, but I don't have anyone I can personally recommend right now who does microlipo for FT. 

We all know what you're going through. Sorry you're dealing with it. I'm hoping someone files a class action one of these days against the butchers that continue to do this to people. Or better yet-how about we get to inject our doctors? I have a slu of appts set to find out how i can repair some of the damage. These docs ought to be ashamed of themselves

I had fat transfer done Sept 2012. It was placed above my upper lip and between my eyes. I felt like Daffy Duck for many weeks but it did abosorb over time and most of the fat transfer disolves. The areas the fat was taken from (my abdomen) was more painful than the areas they injected the fat into. It has been 5 months since the fat transfer and much of it is gone. I do not think it is worth the money or risk. I think your face will get better each day. I know it is hard to be patient...but it will get better.