How Soon After a Full Face Fat Graft Can I Safely Get my Touch-up?

asked 1 year ago by Jennifer5160
Latest answer by Nima Shemirani, MD
Question viewed 517 times
Tags: face, touch up

Hello, Had a full face fat graft about 5 weeks ago. Doctor built a nice foundation, but I see that i did not quite get the fullness that I wanted in certain areas. Looking to do a touch up at a little after 3 months from date of first procedure. Possibly 4 months. Is this too soon? Is there any harm in doing it at 3-4 months? thank you!

9 answers to How Soon After a Full Face Fat Graft Can I Safely Get my Touch-up?

Fat transfer touch ups

I agree with Dr. Lam. Fat transfers can change over time and can be sensitive to weight gain and loss. I would give it at least 6 months before doing more, unless at 6 months you are still very sunken in and hollow. Talk to your plastic surgeon about it, but in general you will notice more changes and more volume as time goes on. Best, Nima Shemirani

Nima Shemirani, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Personally I believe fat grafts take 12 to 18 months for full expression

If you watch the accompanying video, you will see that I have come up with a unique way of understanding quality fat transfers. If done well, they get blood supply and get better over a period of a year to two. This is very similar to the trajectory of a hair transplant. When the hair graft gains blood supply it begins to improve and improve. That is what I see with my fat transfers but this is not always the case with physicians who cannot get fat to stay.... more

Samuel Lam, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.lamfacialplastics.com

Wait at least 4 months

I think 3 months is too soon. What I tell my patients after microfat injection is that what they see at 4 months, should be permanent. If there are some deficits after that,then we will schedule another injection. They are aware before the first injection that they may require several injections.

Jennifer Keagle, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Secondary fat transfer.

I normally wait three to six months between fat transfer secessions to be able to more accurately judge the result of the first procedure. However, there is no reason, physiologically, that you need to wait that long so you may certainly have it repeated at 3-4 months.

Paul Vitenas, Jr., MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.drvitenas.com

Facial fat transfer

There is no harm in repeating the fat injection any time after the 1st procedure. My routine is to wait at least a month to see the sort of final result of the 1st injection. So in your case 4 months is definitely okay.

Khaled El-Hoshy, MD
Detroit Dermatologic Surgeon

Fat injection and secondary procedures

If your swelling decreases further and if some fat recipient areas lose more fat, then you may wish to wait longer so that secondary procedures will address all the areas of your concern once more fat disappears. However, if the focal area of depressions is significant, you can do repeat injections in three to four months after the procedure.

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

How long to wait for second phase of fat transfer

Dear Jennifer, I would recommend you to wait at least 4 months post op to have the second set of fat grafting. By then most of swelling has subsided and new transferred fat can survive. Talk to your surgeon as well to see what his criteria are for second phase of fat grafting. I usually mix Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) with fat to help fat survival during fat transfer procedure.

Kevin Sadati, DO
Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

Timing of Fat Transfer to Face Touch Up

Hi Jennifer, Best to wait at least 5 to 6 months after fat transfer to the face before having a touch up. At 5 to 6 months, the fat that is present will likely be permanent. Good luck and be well. Dr. P

Michael A. Persky, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

How long to wait before having a fat grafting touch-up

At only 5 weeks since surgery you would still have quite a ways to go before seeing your final results. I always tell my fat grafting patients to expect their facial swelling to improve over the course of about 6 months. Then from about 6 months to 18 months after the grafting procedure, the fat grafts that have survived will then "blossom" as their new blood supply takes hold. Certaily some patient benefit from a touch-up, but I would suggest waiting at least 1... more