Structural fat grafting is a procedure in which small amounts (less than 0.1 cc at a time) of fat are carefully microinjected in a series of discrete layers to gradually 'build' new soft tissue structure. As there is space between each microinjection, new blood vessels are able to grow into the grafted fat,... more
What's the difference between Pearl Fat Grafting and Fat grafting?
I had Pearl Fat grafting in my lower eyes because I had a Blepharplasty done 2 yrs ago and the doctor took too much fat out. Now he made me hollow in both eyes. So I found a Doctor who does the Pearl Fat Grafting.
I thought the Pearl Fat would be a better choice than the Fat graft. Fat was taken from my lower stomach area and was placed into my lower eyelids from the inside the eyes. Now my eyes look puffy. It's 3 month now and I hope to lose some more puffiness.
I don't like how I look now. Also, I have post hyperpigmentation too. The doctor said I had it before surgery but it was very faded. If you look at the top photo you can see it very faded. So now it got darker after surgery. The doctor said it will go away in a few months. This picture is day of surgery (top) and six weeks later (bottom). I'm 3 months now and I still look the same. I'm not happy. I know the doctor is going to tell me I have to wait longer.
5 answers to “What's the difference between Pearl...”
A: There are several problems with Pearl Fat Grafting
Babyjoe, Three months is early on in the healing process and the "puffiness" will probably get better. I am not a fan of Pearl Fat Grafting. Pearl Fat Grafting has been advocated by certain specialists. The technique involves inserting small "pearls" of fat as grafts into... more
A: Pearl fat grafting uses multiple small pieces of fat, composite fat grafting uses one larger piece
Babyjoe, Pearl fat grafting uses multiple (usually 3) small pieces of fat to plump the hollow eye caused by previous blepharoplasty. Composite fat grafting uses a custom formed whole piece of fat to fit into the hollow deformity. Both work well, and some favor the pearl method because they believe the... more
A: Wait longer, revision or open procedure might be needed
They are both the same. Injection of microfat around the eye, is a very technical procedure. The key is always to place the fat deep enough to acheive the volume augmentation with no surface irregularities. You will have to wait a little longer, maybe close to 6 months. If you still have the same problem, a... more
A: Fat grafting vs Pearl fat grafting
Fat grafting is the procedure. Pearl fat grafting in a technique. Fat grafting can be accomplished using injections (closed technique), or surgical transfer (open technique) of pieces of fat with or without skin (dermis). These pieces can vary small to large. The pearl grafting technique uses an open... more
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465 posts
28 Mar 2009
You should get some resty or juvederm under the graft to smooth the contour until the fat settles in and you know how much is going to stay before you do anything else.... This will help with the shadow as well.... I had resty in my eye hollow and it lasted for several years..I loved it... Fat has a much longer recovering and swelling..The resty is a day or so,,and you can get touchup to get it perfectly smooth Technique is important and my doc uses ice and lidocaine to constrict vessels before the injection.. I don't know if the lidocaine would effect your fat grafting or not it may keep some of it from surviving,,,But it sounds like you wouldn't mind losing some of the fat.... Might be just what you need to even things out... I'm not a doctor but it makes sense that it would be the least invasive thing you could do.... Ask your doc about using a vibrator I smoothed a resty lump in my naso fold once using my neutrogena vibrating cleanser with the pad removed it has a smooth surface and is the perfect size... Or you can steal your wife or girlfriends bullet..LOL Good luck
unregistered guest
1 May 2009
Joe, the pearl fat grafting took care of your hollow orbits but this type of procedure won't fix the hollowness of the upper cheek bone (tear through). So once it's settled you can opt to have either fat grafting or a temporary filler to the tear through area which will blend the pearl fat grafts into the cheek area to give a nice even contour. Unfortunately hollowness of the orbit and hollowness of the tear through cannot be treated with the same technique so you have to take different approaches to fix each one. But your result is good as the fat has taken really well. The doctor should just have made you aware that it wouldn't fix the tear throughs and that you need to treat them in a separate procedure. Good luck.
unregistered guest
6 May 2009
I'd recommend juvederm or restylane as awalk said above.