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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10 answers to “Can fat injections replace...”

A: Fat transfer can be a great way to permanently treat wrinkles

By Steven H. Williams, MD - Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Fat grafting is a nice alternative to fillers

By David Shafer, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Fat injections - Depends on the area you are treating

By Anurag Agarwal, MD - Naples Facial Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Try LiveFill - also is tightening needed?

By Brent Moelleken, MD - Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Facial fillers Juvederm Radiesse Restylane Perlane Sculptra Fat Injections

By Raffy Karamanoukian, MD - Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Fat Injections vs. Temporary Fillers

By Michael Law, MD - Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Fat transfer as a facial filler

By William Bruno, MD - Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

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... more

A: Fat is not like the fillers named!

By Robert M. Freund, MD - New York City Plastic Surgeon

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... more

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

By David Hansen, MD - Beverly Hills Dermatologic surgeon

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... more

A: I do them all the time

By Steven Wallach, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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... more

Comments

lawoman
2 posts
4 Dec 2008

please a little advise... three days ago i had lipo done on my hips and back area. i then at the same time had a fat transfer(graft) into my checks and folds od my nose area(which i really didn't have) well, after three days i still look like miss piggy.i don't even look like myself. i had full natural lips which now look thinner and corners now go downward. i have a tiny nose which now goes up in the air, have fullness in the middle of my face, i look distorted. i'm very disturbed by the results. i was told i would look normal in 4-5 days i don't see how in two days i'll look like myself. can i have the fat transfer removed? os there a procedure that can melt the fat in my face...something...anything? my PS did say he added more because alot of it will dissolve. what if it doesn't and if so how long will that take. i'm desperate to have my pretty little features back. help!!!

aliu
109 posts
1 Dec 2008

Part of the push for synthetic dermal fillers was because older methods oerefat "filling" was riddled with many risks and complications. Anything that is a permanent procedure will naturally have more risks & potential complications than something that is non-permanent or temporary. Newer techniques of fat grafting have allowed for more predictable results. That being said, fat results will never be as reliable or predictable as dermal filler results. The tradeoff being that if the fat survives, the results are permanent. The nasolabial area tends to uptake fat quite well, especially if harvested from liposuction. Additionally, should the fat be absorbed somewhat, you can always correct it a little with filler rather than having to use the entire syringe or more as before.

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