Fat Transfer: Q&A

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Fat Grafting on Face

Hi I am 26 years old and about to do fat grafting to make my oval shape face more fuller. I am very worried what if my face looks asymmetry or one side looks bigger than the other side. Or as I get older the fat moves downwards. Is the procedure safe? I haven’t had any consultation yet but I was told by a friend of mind who has experienced; after care requires keeping the face upwards and not talking for 2weeks, is that correct? Best regards Jennifer

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by Jen1973 in London

Doctor Answers (15)
Community Comments (0)

Survival of fat grafts

There is a belief that survival of fat grafts is skill dependent. This is probably true, to an extent. You are still sucking living human cells through a tube and then injecting them through a needle. How many cells survive? If you use very precise measurement techniques such as matabolic uptake studies, the survival is very low indeed, often below 10%. If you look at whether the cells are broken or not, the survival is closer to 20-25% if carefullly... more

Fat injections

At your young age it is wise to be conservative and remember, you can always add more but it is difficult to remove unwanted fat. Asymmetry is better addressed by adding more to the undertreated side than removing it in an overtreated side. NOt speaking for two weeks is extreme. Fat injections can be capricious and despite the surgeon's excellent care, there are many variables in the processing, harvesting and implanting and your body's response that create the final effect. more

Fat grafting to face at an early age for contour change

Trying to change the overall shape of the face with fat grafting alone is not a wise choice at your age. Even with excellent intial placement and survival of the grafts, your subsequent weight gain and loss as well as hormonal fluctuations with pregnancy may produce unpredictable changes in the volume of the grafted areas and make some grow disproportionately to others resulting in an undesireable contour irregulariy.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Asymmetry can occur after fat grafting.

Tha fat won't move and you can talk but asymmetry can be a problem. Unless you have major depressions avoid having this done.

Toby Mayer, MD

7 reviews

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Concerns about facial fat grafting

You are right to have these concerns, all of them! This is not a procedure where totally predictable results can be promised. Fat sometimes takes 100% and sometimes not regardless of what the doctor does. It's long term look has yet to be determined too.

Facial Fat Grafting

For transferred fat to truly qualify as a 'graft' the following must happen: living tissue must be transferred to a new location, and that tissue must gain a blood supply at the new location which provides oxygen and nutrients which allow it to persist indefinitely as living tissue. We know that with appropriate instrumentation and technique this is achievable, so one of the opinions expressed in this thread that "most of the cells from fat injection are dead " is... more

Michael Law, MD

17 reviews

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

michaellawmd.com

Fat grafting for facial rejuvenation- Looking younger in a natural way!

Fat grafting or micro-fat grafting of the face has significantly improved the results of facial rejuvenation. Aging causes loss of facial volume as well as sagging of the soft tissue and skin. replenishing the lost facial volume with a patient's own fat can rejuvenate the face in a very natural and balanced way. My personal experience with facial fat grafting for my patients has been amazing, so has been the long term experience of my patients.

Fat Grafting for Younger Patients

Fat grafting is a procedure designed to restore facial volume, and is less successful for altering facial shape. As a younger patient, you should be aware that transplanted fat may change years down the road: if you gain significant weight, the fat transferred to your face may change dramatically. For some patients facial implants or injectable fillers may provide a more targeted solution- and one that can be reversed if desired down the road. Consult with an experienced... more

Roy A. David, MD

11 reviews

San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon

Fat Grafting

Fat grafting is an art and a difficult one at that. The problem is twofold: you must have the artistic vision to know where to place the fat and the technical skill to make sure that it lives after it is transferred. This is definitely a procedure where you want to go to someone with experience and a great track record. Risks include asymmetry, loss of graft and the usual surgical risks (bleeding,infection, etc). There are not any special restrictions necessary after... more

Fat transplantation is a wonderful, safe method for restoring facial symmetry.

Fat transplantation is a wonderful, safe method for restoring facial symmetry. The recovery is rapid and many patients are able to socialize within 48 hours. See link below.

Facial Fat Grafting

Using small syringes, fat is harvested from the hip, inner or outer thigh, lower back, or lower abdomen. The fat is then processed in a special centrifuge, and is then injected into the desired area. When performed properly, a large percentage of the fat transfer will stay and the face will fill out to look more youthful. In addition to making your facial structure look younger, fat injections can also improve your skin. More than a decade ago, researchers discovered that your own... more

Fat Grafting of the Face May Be Permanent

Fat grafting of the face may be permanent. When performed by an experienced cosmetic surgeon it is safe and rarely results in asymmetry. The face is normally swollen for about 3 days and vigorous exercise is avoided.

Facial Fat Transfer

The best advice I can give you is to do your homework. We have a very busy fat transfer practice and encourage all of our patients to call former patients (at least 5 -10), view lots of before and after photos (50+), and have an open discussion about expectations. Fat transfer can be an incredibly rewarding experience, however it is also very technically and artistically challenging. To keep complications to a negligible level and positive outcomes high, the surgeons... more

Amir M. Karam, MD

62 reviews

San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drkaram.com

Expectations after fat grafting in the face

These are good questions to have answered by your surgeon before you have the procedure done as some if it depends on the surgeon’s skills, technique and how much fat grafting will be done. A few thoughts regarding your specific questions: Since most faces are not perfectly symmetric and since swelling after procedures is not symmetric, expect a few weeks of asymmetry. Long term, most asymmetries after fat grafting can be treated with a touch-up injection. (My patients are... more