Fat Transfer: Q&A

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Does Analogous Fat Transfer Lead to Sagging Facial Skin?

Once the injected fat dissipates, will the skin then sag? It stands to reason that delicate facial skin can remain stretched out after the injections are reabsorbed. Typically, what percentage of the transferred fat will remain permanently?

16 Doctor Answers | Asked by NoPlasticFlower in New York
+4

Facial skin will not sag with fat grafting

With fat grafting, blood vessels from the injection site and blood vessels in the fat must re-establish blood flow via arteries and veins to survive and “take”. When this happens, final results can be permanent. However if you’re looking for a temporary solution, you may want to consider dermal fillers, as the results of fat grafting can be difficult to predict. Regardless of the option chosen, the face does not swell enough from the procedure to permanently... more
+3

Fat Transfer takes a step forward

Fat transfer is more than volume replacement. Fat Transfer also brings stems cells that rejuvenate the skin.  The key to good fat transfer is 1- lots of live cells at the time of injection. Viafill system is much better than the alternatives. 2- Good technique with small pearls of fat that get better blood supply and eliminate the lumpiness. Viafill is great for this as well.
+3

Fat transfer is one filler that can produce long term results

The facial skin would fall back to its origin prior to the fat transfer or be better than before. When liposuction is done on the neck underneath the chin, the skin actually retracts via collagen formation and contraction. The skin seems to get sucked back and up, rather than falling. Fat transfer is a graft. Some fat cells actually live so don’t imagine that all will be digested, but the cells that do go away don’t leave an empty cavity that allows the skin to fall away. The... more

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+3

Fat injections and facial skin sagging

This is the big question, how much fat survives. My theory has been that no more fat can survive than you start out with initially. Our studies have shown that 75+% of fat injections are dead. Other metabolic studies show up to 96% of injected fat is dead. People talk about stem cells somehow creating new fat, but the number of stem cells is minimal in normal fat injection specimens. I am told by my colleagues at UCLA who have published in this area that in order to harvest stem cells... more
+2

Fat grafting and the deflated beachball of age

Since fat grafting adds volume, it does not create saggy skin. Rather the opposite is true, it adds volume and 'inflates' the saggy skin. We often remark that the aging face is like a deflated beach ball, but the youthful face is full and round like an inflated beach ball. Essentially, the fat transfer procedure harvests fat from one part of the body where an excess exists and then places it in another part of the body where the additional bulk is used for cosmetic and aesthetic purposes.... more
+2

Unlikely for fat transfer to cause sagging skin to get worse

It is unlikely that a fat transfer will cause the skin in that area to sag later in life. The skin will sag due to the effects of gravity and aging, not due to the volume restoration that you can achieve with fat transfer. You may require more than one session of fat transfer as a certain percentage of the fat cells will not survive. That percentage depends on the technique and can be as high as 50% not survivng in some studies. Especially in the face, with its robust blood supply, the... more
+1

Fat transfer survival

Dear NoPlasticFlower, The amount of take on a fat graft procedure varies widely.  There are certain techniques that lead to higher yields, as well as patient factors.  The acceptance of fat as normal tissue can range from 20-75% depending on the patient and technique.  You are best to go to an experienced fat transfer surgeon for more accurate results and photos.  As far as sagging, this doesnt happen.  It is almost like blowing up a balloon that is partially... more
+1

Skin response to facial fat grafting

There is just not enough facial volume augmentation to result in skin stretching if and when the fat graft resorbs.
+1

Fat transfer should not lead to sagging skin

While not all of the injected fat survives during a fat transfer procedure, the facial skin doesn't become overstretched and lead to more sagging. If the procedure is performed well, the skin should appear less saggy do the replaced volume.  It's hard to comment on how how much fat survives during a transfer procedure. Gentle handling of the fat grafts during the procedure helps to ensure maximal survival. Also, careful 3-dimensional placement within the facial soft... more
+1

Sagging skin after fat transfer

There is a lot of post operative swelling after fat transfer but I have not seen any increase in facial sagging.  The fat seems to have the opposite effect of improving the tone of the overlying skin.  This assumes, that the transfer is done properly so that the fat tissue that is transfered survives. Lisa Lynn Sowder, M.D.
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Comments (1)

Clearly none of these doctors know what they're talking about. OF COURSE THE FACE SAGS IF THE FAT GOES AWAY. I am living proof. Had fat with a facelift approx 5 months ago. Guess what? The fat is completely gone on one side and I have a face that looks like a pancake. How many of these docs do this to their own faces? NONE. If you have mature sagging skin and get a facelift with fat-you will no doubt lose the fat and go back to where you were. A SAGGING FACE. Don't do fat. If you have a facelift, leave out the fat. It's a waste of time and nothing more than a money maker for these docs. Do filler-at least you're not left with lumps everywhere.

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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.

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