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Facelift After Fat Grafting?

asked 1 year ago by Susie Q1113440 in San Diego
Latest answer by Sam Naficy, MD
Question viewed 517 times
Tags: combination

I Had Fat Grafting 5 Weeks Ago. Now I Would Like Deep Plane Face Lift to Lift my Jowls & I am 52 years old & although I love the fat grafting I had about 5 weeks ago, the fat grafting did not lift my face. I have some slight jowling, nasolabial folds,and drooping of the mid-face. I am planning on getting a deep plane face lift by a differnt facial plastic surgeon who is local. I flew to a different town to get the fat grafting. The local facial plastic surgeon doesn't do fat grafting & indicated that facelift would not hurt the fat grafting. However, I wanted to confirm this.

20 answers to Facelift After Fat Grafting?

Staging face lift after fat grafting

It is perfectly fine to stage face lift after fat grafting. Ideally, one would want to avoid elevating the tissues in planes where fat has been grafted, especially as soon 5 weeks post-op.

Sam Naficy, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Ok to have a face lift after fat transfer?

I typically fill in the cheeks and facial hollows using fillers or cheek implants because IMHO they have proven more reliable over the past 20 years. No, fat grafting or transfer can't and won't lift the skin as increasing the fat increases the volume and gravity pulls heavy things down, not up. Having said all of that, the deep plane face lift will undermine the skin a short distance from the front of each ear before going below the deeper SMAS layer... more

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Fat grafting after facelift

The key is to make sure the newly injected fat has developed a good circulation and is stable in volume, before doing the facelift operation. Usually, after 3-4 months, the grafts are in good shape....so I'd would recommend waiting at least that time interval before your next surgery. Best wishes,

Thomas Fiala, MD
Altamonte Springs Plastic Surgeon

Facelift and Fat Grafting

I often perform facelift surgery along with fat grafting to the face. There are many benefits to combining these two procedures together as they compiment each other markedly and can lead to dramatic and very natural appearing results. In some cases where patients are extremely gaunt, the two procedures can be staged. In these instances, I prefer to perform the facelift first and then perform the fat grafting 3-6 months later. This will all depend on where the fat was... more

Jacob D. Steiger, MD
Boca Raton Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift after fat grafts

You should wait 3-4 months after the fat grafts to have a facelift because after that time what fat is going to last will stay there are the rest will be mostly gone.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Wait 6 months after Fat Grafting before Facelift-You may need additional Fat Grafting

One thing most Plastic Surgeons agree on is that some of the injected fat does dissolve after grafting. This process takes at least 6 months to become fully evident. If a per centage of the fat that has been injected into your face does dissolve you may well need additional fat grafting to achieve the look that you desire. It makes sense, in my opinion, and I would recommend to my patients, to wait at least 6 months to see how the fat grafted areas look. If you need further fat... more

Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

www.drseckel.com

Facelift After Fat Grafting

Susie, you are not going to have a problem with having a facelift now. Most surgeons would wait 3 months to see the result stabilize from your fat grafting, however, doing it now will not have that much of an effect. The Facelift will certainly add to the rejuvenation of your face. Most Plastic Surgeons combine fat grafting with face-lifting in the same setting to achieve a more natural facial rejuvenation. Without seeing your pictures it is hard to comment on the need for a... more

Paul Vitenas, Jr., MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Facelift after fat grafting

First I would wait at least 3-6 months before undergoing a faceilift after fat grafting. Second, a deep plane facelift usually treats the upper third of the face and often does not acceptable treat the jowls and neck.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Acceptable to have facelift after fat grafting

It is acceptable to have a facelift after fat grafting. The facelift procedure will probably not affect the fat grafting that much. It really depends upon what layer the fat has been placed in the face. If the fat has been placed in the layer of dissection plane, then undergoing a facelift some of the fat grafts may get resorbed.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Face lift will not hurt the fat graft

I am a plastic surgeon that does a lot of both procedures. The fat graftin will make your facelift look better. I am not sure about a deep plane. I cheek suspension and plication in a vertical /horizontal direction, will move your jowls up and lateral. The cheeks suspension after a fat graft, will round up your cheeks well and also improve the excess around your lips.

Luis A. Vinas, MD
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

Too Soon Too Deep

Dear Susie, All you need base on what you describing is a mini face lift with more fat grafting. Deep plane might be to invassive for your case. I would recommend you to wait a few more weeks to allow swelling and inflammation to subside prior to having a second procedure. best of luck.

Kevin Sadati, DO
Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift after Fat Grafting

A facelift will not comromise the results of your fat grafting, but I suggest you wait another 6-9 weeks. Many surgeons will do both procedures during the same operation.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift surgery after facial fat grafting

Hi Susie Q3440 in Oregon, 5 weeks is still too early for another facial procedure. Typically, 6 months is allowed after facial fat grafting before further plastic surgery is considered. Face lift surgery and fat injections treat different aspects of facial aging, and are complimentary. Most face lift surgeons will inject fat at the same time of the face lift to enhance the cosmetic results. Fat transfer is a good option to rejuvenate the face without traditional facial plastic... more

Houtan Chaboki, MD
Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.potomacplasticsurgery.com

Wait on Facelift

In my opinion you could have saved yourself time and expense by finding a Plastic Surgeon(most PS do this) who performs both procedures. I would have suggested both simultaneously. The volume of fat needed during a facelift may have been less. The second option would have to been to perform the facelift first. Give this operation time to settle and heal then have fat grafting. Now that you have had fat grafting I would ad advise you to wait 3-6 months. Good Luck... more

Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

I did my first fat graft & facelift combo about 20 years ago!

I presented my findings at Dr. Carlsen's meeting in Toronto around 1992, so I have a long experience with these techniques. Usually the fat grafting is done at the same time as a facelift, and I always combine it with laser resurfacing. These are complicated procedures, so you need to go to someone who has experience, because the more you do at the same time, the more that can go wrong. I strongly agree with the wise surgeons who recommend that you wait- don't get a... more

Claudio DeLorenzi, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Facelift and fat grafting

Facelift and fat grafting often compliment one another and rejuvenate the face in different ways. Grafting restores the volume lost around the lip and chin. The lift controls the neck and jowl. We combine the procedures very frequently though it does require planning. We would suggest that you wait three to six months after your fat grafting to allow the result to settle in, and then complete the lift. The tissues will be softer, the grafts blended in, and your surgeon can complete the lift... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Facelift After Fat Grafting

Sure but why not consider a mini face lift? See 3 boarded surgeons in your area. BTW wait for 6 weeks after grafting just to be safe. Best to you from MIAMI Dr. Darryl J. Blinski, 305 598 0091

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Fat grafting is one of the best techniques for revitalizing the face but you should wait at least 6 month before your face lift

While I almost always combine fat grafting of the face at the same time as the Face lift, brow lift and eye surgery if indicated, you can get a great result with having them done at separate times. However it takes about 6 months for the fat grafts and the face settle so that you can determine the real end result. When you talk to your next surgeon make sure you cover all the areas of your face that concern you so that you can get the best results.

Carl W. "Rick" Lentz III, MD
Daytona Beach Plastic Surgeon

Slow down!

Dear Susie 5 weeks after a fat grafting is nothing. Yes you will be able to have a facelift after fat grafting. However, I would strongly recommend that you wait at least 6 months after the fat grafting before you have the facelift. This will allow your face lift surgeon to perform a more accurate and tailored procedure. You are still profoundly swollen from the fat grafting procedure.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Take your time after "fat grafting" to do any form of lift.

Although you are pleased with the fat grafting at five weeks, this does not give you any idea of how much persistence you will get from the fat grafting. If you are one of the too many patients who has poor durability, you may wish to have a different style of procedure done when you are ready for additional facial work. I would give it at least four months so you have some idea how well the effect of the fat grafting persists. Dr. Mayl Fort Lauderdale more