Fat Transfer: Q&A

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Can Fat Injections Replace Injectable Filler Treatments?

How successful are fat injections to the nasolabial folds of the face? Within the last two years, I have had Restylane, Perlane and Juvederm injected into the face. They worked well, but of course, don't last. A doctor suggested I try this more permanent type of injection. What is your feeling about this procedure? Is it similar to the gel fillers only with some fat removed from my body first? What is the down time and the average cost?

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nasolabial folds filler

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25 Doctor Answers | Asked by Eva S in Seattle, WA

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Fat grafts are not the best solution for nasolabial folds

Although fat transfer is revolutionizing facial and body aesthetic surgery, there are some regions were fat grafting is not as effective as other fillers on the market. One fo those regions is the nasal labial folds. Fat grafts don't seem to persist very long in this location. This could be due to a number of factors. For patients in our clinic, our recommendation is to use an HA filler like Restylane, or a 'permanant' filler like Artefill.

Fat injections to replace injectable fillers: Save Money!

If you add up all the money you spent on fillers, you probably could have paid for fat injections. When done properly, fat injections are permanent. Check out the video and link below for the proper fat injection techniques. I should add that fat has stem cells that actually recreate a more youthful skin when injected as grafts. see video

Fat Does Not Work Well for the Nasolabial Folds

In my experience, fat does not work well for the nasolabial folds. Some surgeons have had success using the Surgiwire to release the nasolabial folds and then injecting fat. Unfortunately, I have treated several patients who underwent fat augmentation in the nasolabial folds and ended up having the fat settle on either side of the fold and actually create a deeper fold.

D.J. Verret, MD

4 reviews

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

innovationsfps.com

Fat is not like the fillers named!

As the inventor of the Viafill Fat Transfer system, I have a large body of experience with fat transfer. However, I still love Juvederm and Radiesse. Each filler has its purpose. Juvederm is great for fine lines and wrinkles. It is also great for lips and nasolabial folds when small volumes of fill are necessary. The downside is the short length of action. Radiesse is great for filling deeper folds in areas like the nasolabial when small volumes are necessary. It also has the benefit of... more

Fat grafting is a nice alternative to fillers

Linda, Fat grafting is a nice alternative to fillers. It can achieve the same results as the fillers, but has the potential to last much longer and, possibly, permanently. Make sure that you go to someone with extensive experience in fat grafting, since you want to get it done correctly the first time. Basically, the fat is harvested from your abdomen or thigh with a mini-lipousuction technique. The fat is then processed (we use a centrifuge in my office) to isolate or concentrate the... more

Try LiveFill - also is tightening needed?

Fat injections are considered by most doctors to have some permanent benefit. In our practice, we have studied and presented another option which has given superior results, LiveFill. Fat injection technique involves removal of fat cells from the body via liposuction. The cells are then usually spun in a centrifuge. They are then injected through a needle back into the face. This process kills (depending on the study you read and the technique used for measuring viability) most to... more

Fat transfer can be a great way to permanently treat wrinkles

Thanks for your question. As you know injectables like Restylane and Juvederm are temporary fillers that the body resorbs over time. Fat transfer is a permanent way to perform the same job that the temporary fillers do. Fat transfer can be a good second operation for patients that have had fillers and liked the effect. The concept is to remove fat from a less desirable area (usually the abdomen or flanks) using liposuction and transfer it to an area that needs it - in your case the... more

Hyaluronic fillers beat fat injections in the face

My experience was that I could not get fat injections to last very long for the NL folds. I was also unhappy wth uneveness and bump formation in areas where the skin was thinner. I have not had these issues using any of the fillers, and the results are much more predicatble. Also, there is no need to take fat from another area (which can be quite sore!)

Fat is the perfect filler

Fat is an excellent filler. The benefits of auto-fat transfer is that it is your own body and you will not have an allergic reaction to it. It is excellent for high volume filling. There is the potential for it to be permanet, since it is transfered as a graft. The exact amount that last long term is variable and really does depend on technique and physician experience. In my experience approximately 50% survives long term in the upper face, I tgend to gett 100% take in the buttock area... more

Fat Injections vs. Temporary Fillers

A number of 'soft tissue fillers' are available for temporarily improving facial areas that have lost volume or have developed deep lines and creases. Probably the most popular fillers currently are hyaluronic acid products like Restylane and Juvederm, which can be used to plump up thin lips and to fill out nasolabial folds (lines that run from beside the nostrils to the area beside the corners of the mouth) and marionette lines (lines that run from the corners of the mouth towards... more

Michael Law, MD

17 reviews

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

michaellawmd.com

Fat injections - Depends on the area you are treating

Fat injections are excellent treatments. But so are dermal fillers. The question is: "what you are trying to treat?" If you have a crease or wrinkle engrained in the skin, you may need a filler placed in the skin to treat this. Fat is not placed in the skin layers itself, but it is placed under the skin in multiple layers. To treat an area like the nasolabial folds, if you have a sharp crease, you may be better off with a temporary dermal filler like Restylane, Juvederm,... more

Fat injections to replace injectable fillers

I think you are going to get answers all over the map on this one. Personally, I do not think that fat transfer is permanent, and I don't think it can replace the fillers that you named. I think fat transfer is best at restoring overall facial volume and not in treating any particular wrinkle or fold. As alternative treatments, you might want to look into Silikon 1000 (highest Worth It rating I have seen on this website) or the perma facial implant. more

Lawrence Kass, MD

31 reviews

Saint Petersburg Oculoplastic Surgeon

www.kassmd.com

Fat Injections instead of Injectable Filler

Fat grafting is a good alternative to dermal fillers. However, patient selection is key, and dermal fillers are still the better option for many. The nasolabial folds is one of the ares for which dermal fillers are consistently a better option. Consult with 2 - 3 surgeons in your area to understand your options.

Fat Injections vs HA Injectable fillers

Fat Injections (fat transfer) are different from other injectable filler treatments. Fat transfer is less predictable than the HA's (hyaluronic acid fillers) you mentioned: Restylane, Perlane and Juvederm). However; the fat that survives is pretty much permanent. Fat transfer or lipoinjection is a wonderful procedure for hollowing or depressed areas caused by fat atrophy associated with the aging process and significant weight loss. It also works pretty well in the lips for... more

Fat Transfer to the Face as a Filler

Fat can be a very good filler for many different areas of the body including the face. The advantages of fat is that it is natural (your own) and is usually in plentiful supply. Fat can be a very long lasting and possibly even a permanent filler. The main problem with fat injections or fat transfer to the face is that it is unpredictable. This can very greatly with surgeon experience, technique and also the area of the face and the individual it is injected into. Another disadvantage of... more

Yes, Fat grafting can replace other filler treatments

Fat grafting is an excellent option for facial rejuvenation as an option for other fillers. Once the fat takes, it will survive just like it did before, but only in a different place, so it will behave like normal fat getting larger or smaller as you lose or gain weight. However fat grafting is very technique sensitive, and surgeons who do not pay attention to each aspect of the process may not get consitent results. Every component of the procedure from fat harvesting, to fat... more

Facial fat injection can be very successful

Facial fat grafting can be very successful when used appropriately by an experienced surgeon. Facial fat grafting can be used instead of synthetic fillers in many areas, but sometimes a combination of different fillers can be beneficial. The main advantage of fat grafting, other than it is your own tissue, is that larger volumes can be utilized than with synthetic fillers. This is particularly beneficial in the cheeks, jawline, temples, and other areas of the body... more

Fat injections to face

Fat injections to the face can give permanent results but in general the fat does not last permanently around the mouth. Fat lasts longer around the upper face because there is less motion in those locations.

Fat transfer

Injectable fillers are very convenient to use and require no recovery, they also fill lines and wrinles very well. Fat is superior filler when done right. The technique for fat transfer is different than injectable fillers. Fat is long lasting and more natural.

Fat is a wonderful filler when properly injected

Fat is a wonderful filler substance. When injected using the correct technique in the right plane it gives wonderful results. The nasolabial fold is a very tight anatomical location,other fillers could work better. Radiesse is longer acting and does well in this area. Fat is a volume filler( cheek,lips etc.) Hope that helps!

The dermal fillers do better than fat injections in the nasolabial areas

Dermal fillers do great for the nasolabial areas. Radiesse tends to last about 1 yr at a cost of $650-750 per syringe. Artefill lasts 4-5 yrs at a cost of $1000-1250 per syringe. Other fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane last only 6-9 months at a cost of $550 per syringe. Regardless of which filler you use, you will need 2-3 syringes depending on how deep the grooves are. Fat injections have been very disappointing in lasting usually 6-12 months and getting bumpy as they resolve and... more

David Hansen, MD

19 reviews

Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

www.DrDavidHansen.com

Fat transfer as a facial filler

Although fat transfer to the face (nasolabial folds) is not permanent, it does last longer than the injectable fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm,and Radiesse. Approximately 80-90% of the fat will remain viable (alive) after one year. It is possible that a patient may need a second or even third fat transfer throughout one's life to maintain the desired contour. Fat transfer seems to last longer in the cheek area as compared to the nasolabial fold area. In the long run, compared to... more

Facial fillers Juvederm Radiesse Restylane Perlane Sculptra Fat Injections

Facial fillers Juvederm Radiesse Restylane Perlane Sculptra Fat Injections Facial fillers are fast becoming the most common procedure in cosmetic surgery. The various types of fillers herein described vary in terms of mode of action, durability, safety profile, and anatomic suitability. Fat injections are also appropriate for facial augmentation but are not a curative panacea for all facial volume loss. Fat injections can be easily performed on an outpatient basis but there are specific... more

I do them all the time

Autologous fat injections are a permanent natural alternative to facial fillers. They can have similar complications like irregularities, absorption, infection, etc.. I usually tell patients that they probably will require additional fat injection treatment because fat injections are not a perfect science, and they do not take a 100%. Therefore, additional treatments are often required to get the full desired effect.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Fat injections not yet ready to replace other fillers

In spite of the fact that fat injections are done commonly, there is very little scientific evidence about the fate of the injections or a specific technique to give predictably good results. In fact, there are advocates for a wide range of injection techniques which usually means that there is not very good one among them.