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Fat Grafting or Cheek Implants?

I am 41 years old, and was thinking of refining my lower eyelids. I also have some loss of fullness in the lower area of my face, but I have nice cheeks (only they're not as full as they used to be). I wanted to know, will fat grafting or cheek implant (or a combination of both) help?

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12 Doctor Answers | Asked by miki gold in arizona

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Fat graft vs Implants

There are several options for improving appearance of the cheeks, lower eyelid and the junction between them, known as nasojugal fold. More traditional option is implants, and they could be quite reliable, however, sometimes they create somewhat unnatural appearance, they can also migrate out of position and the surgery involved in placing them could be quite extensive. Fat grafting is another alternative. The benefit is that once the fat is... more

Cheek restoration Stemcell fat grafting

You describe a classical soft tissue atrophy of the cheek mount due to aging. If you did have prominent cheeks it means your bone stuctures are okay. In this situation I would stay away from an alloplastic(synthetic) hard cheek implant because it will give unnatural looking results and prone to complications. The best option is Adult stemcell enhanced fat grafting to replace the lost soft tissue and restore the volume. Because of the stem... more

It can depend on your thoughts and your anatomy

Some people are afraid of having implants and this an important thing to consider. I usually use implants to volumize the face when a person does not have a lot of fat to use, for example in women that are physically fit and have little body fat. After implantation, you can then use the little fat that the person has to augment the implant. I usually do this in two phases with the implant first and then fat grafting at a later date. You also have to consider that fat and implants have... more

Philip Young, MD

6 reviews

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Cheeklift or Fat Transfer

The primary aging change in the cheek area consists of a combination of deflation and descent of the cheek fat pads, creating a hollowed appearance below the lower lids and deepened nasolabial folds (oblique lines which extend from each side of the nose to the area beside the corners of the mouth). Descent of the midface/cheek fat pad can also contribute to the exaggeration of marionette lines and downturning of the corner of the mouth. This aging change is significant, but is often... more

Michael Law, MD

17 reviews

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

michaellawmd.com

Fat Grafting Versus Cheek Implants...Can You Say Wayne Newton?

Hi Sigal, There are many non-surgical treatments that can make you look younger, rested, and healthier. I would not recommend cheek implants unless you like that Wayne Newton/ Dionne Warwicke full and unnatural appearance (works well for Las Vegas strip entertainers). Fat transfer is an excellent choice, but is also a surgical procedure. Sculptra injections by an experienced well trained injector gives very good results without anesthesia, the operating room, surgical scars, or the risk... more

Michael A. Persky, MD

21 reviews

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

drpersky.com

Cheeklift

With the combination of areas that concern you, from lower eyelid aging to cheek fullness to cheek position, it is difficult to know exactly what surgery would give you the best result. The surgical plan could run the spectrum from injectables only, to lower eyelids, lower eyelids with fat repositioning, a cheeklift (minimal incision, with autologous tissue grafting to the cheek area), cheek implants of even a facelift, all depending on your anatomy and your wishes.

Fat grafting is over sold

When I offer a patient a facial aesthetic procedure I want the procedure that I offer to work in the vast majority of my patients with as little morbidity as possible. Fat grafting or injections do not fit this mold. A percentage of patients will get a good result but unfortunately a fairly high percentage will not when followed for over a year. This is due to the inability to quantify from patient to patient the exact amount of fat resorbtion that will occur from patient to patient. This... more

M. Sean Freeman, MD

9 reviews

Charlotte Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.onlyfaces.com

For temporary, use fillers, for permanent, use implants

Each procedure has both its pros and its cons. With fat grafting, the fat will usually stay in position, but whether or not all the fat grafted will survive isn’t entirely reliable. It depends largely on the skill and techniques used by the surgeon performing the procedure. Additional surgeries are possible for additional corrections. With implants, there may be the possibility of future procedures related to the implants, but the main issue with implants is that they tend to... more

Fat Grafting Versus Implants

Both procedures can produce very nice results. A consultation with a surgeon who performs both procedures is your best bet to determine which will accomplish your goals. The major advantage to the implants are that they can be easily removed and you get an immediate result with only one procedure. The down side is that they are a foreign object and can become infected. Fat transfer on the other hand is your own body's material but is very surgeon dependent and can require several... more

D.J. Verret, MD

3 reviews

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

innovationsfps.com

Fat transfer

I used to used many facial implants but some years ago I have change to the used of fat with good results. Not always is possible but is my first option

Fat grafting is very good

Dear Sigel Hillel Micro Fat Grafting is a very good procedure for facial contouring. It can be used to contour the cheeks, jawline, temples and forehead. It involves harvesting the fat from an area such as the tummy of flanks and the fat is prepared and injected in small amounts to add contour. I combine fat grafting with eyelid surgery, face surgery, and for general facial contouring. Cheek implants are an option- and in the right hands can give good results. Good Luck. With Warm... more

A photo of you here would be helpful

For early signs of aging, there are so many treatments available - as you can see from the other answers. Rather than cheek implants or fat grafting, cheek volume restoration non-surgically is nicely done with Restylane and Radiesse. What treatments would be best for you would depend on your own starting point, what exactly bothers you most, and the skill, training, talent, and experience of the doctor you choose.