Fat Transfer to the Cheeks Longevity?

I have lost a lot of volume in the buccal area, below my cheekbones--Abraham Lincoln style. Does fat transfer last well in this area?

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9 Doctor Answers | Asked by kittymeowmeow in los angelos

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Longevity of fat injections

Fat injection grafts are aspirated through a syringe, centrifuged and then injected. Is it any wonder most of the cells are dead when they are first injected into the patient? The reason survival of fat is so unpredictable is that you cannot tell which of the fat cells are alive and which are dead. So when different groups of cells are analyzed under a microscope with various staining techniques, there are some areas where the viability is high (up to 50%), and other areas where is is... more

Fat Transfer to the Cheeks

Reatment of facial aging changes with fat grafting must be carefully individualized to match each patient's aesthetic needs and desires. I always examine and assess how each aesthetic area or 'unit' of the face contributes to an individual's overall appearance: the brows and eyelids, the cheeks or 'midface', the lower face and chin, and the neck. An individualized surgical plan is then developed which addresses each patient's specific concerns and... more

Michael Law, MD

17 reviews

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

michaellawmd.com

Fat Transfer can be Unpredictable

This is a question I hear often in my practice. As a general rule of thumb, fat is unpredictable and your body may choose to reabsorb it within 3 months time. I prefer to use Sculptra or injectable fillers for the cheeks because they are predictable in terms of duration and placement. Fat also requires harvesting and sedation. With Sculptra and you can fill the area gradually- over time- for a softer, more natural look. Best of luck, Dr. Clevens more

Ross A. Clevens, MD

25 reviews

Melbourne Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drclevens.com

Fat Transfer longevity is hard to predict

I am not a fan of injecting fat into cheeks for cheek fullness. Longevity is difficult to predict. It is difficult to achieve symmetry by injecting fat into the cheeks. Even if symmetry is accomplished, the fat may resorb in an asymmetrical manner requiring subsequent fat injections to fill-in the resorbed defects. I prefer injecting long lasting fillers--much easier to accomplish the desired results.

Fat transfer

Fat transfer can be an excellent approach to the problem. There should be enough fat in other areas to supply the donor fat. One excellent technique is the FAMI technique, where the fat is placed alongside the facial muscles to provide adequate blood supply & hence longevity of the transferred fat.. I usually do 1-3 sessions, & the results are stable for 2-5 years.

Khaled El-Hoshy, MD

Detroit Dermatologic Surgeon

www.elhoshy.com

Fat grafting as a long term solution for cheek hollows

Fat injection is a technique which has yet to be perfected. It is not a risk free procedure but it does have the potential to yield excellent results. If and when the fat cells survive the results can be long-lived. There are reports of fat grafts living well over a decade. The problem is the diffiucult in predicting graft survival.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Fat injections can last for many years

Of all dermatologic cosmetic procedures I perform, I have found that the results from fat injections, also called fat transfer, are the most capricious and unpredictable. Most patients undergo a series of injections. Some surgeons use the fat harvested and then frozen to reinject the same patient monthly. Other surgeons remove the fat each visit and reinject the fresh fat into the desired area immediately. I have seen some patients derive a good response after the first treatment while... more

Fat Transfer is unpredictable but excellent results are possible

Fat Transfer to the face is unpredictable, but excellent long term results are possible (especially in the cheeks). Fat can be harvested from several different areas and processed in a number of ways. Since a large volume may be necessary, temporary fillers are often not cost effective for the cheek area.

Longevity of fat grafting

Basically, once the fat has been harvested and is in a syringe, it is dying on the vine for lack of blood flow into and out of it. Once it has been processed (no one knows the best ay to do this) it is injected into an area where the blood vessels must reconnect over the next few days in order to bring the fat back to life and "take." If it does not take, it will be reabsorbed by the body over 3 months. So, what's there at 3 months is relatively permanent. Because of... more