Tear trough area lump after fat transfer

I had fat transfer done in April 2008, and after two weeks, a visible lump formed on my right cheek and a larger bulge on my left side, but it's visible only when I'm smiling and laughing. Since then I seeked the advice of 5 other doctors, all unwilling to touch my face, all telling me different times (from 6 months to 3 years) to wait it off. What can I do besides waiting for months or years "to see" if it will go away? Can I get a proactive approach to a solution instead? Thank you so much.

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9 answers to “Tear trough area lump after fat transfer”

A: You may need a revision.

By David Shafer, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

With fat grafting or any procedure, it is possible for you to develop "lumps," especially if you are being injected by an inexperienced injector. However, now that you have a lump it is best to wait some time before jumping into additional operations or procedures. These additional procedures are not without... more

A: Very difficult to give you a quick answer

By Sirish Maddali, MD - Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

As the other doctors have mentioned, this could be a cyst, scar, hardened fat, etc. Fat transfer in the lower eyelid area can have great results, but can be very difficult to correct. It is wise to wait at least a year to see how this lump "matures." It should be treated based on how superficial and how deep... more

A: Plan to wait one year!

By Julius W. Few, MD - Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Contour irregularities after lower eyelid and/or cheeck fat injection can be very difficult to correct. There are a number of variable that affect this difficulty, including what level the fat was injected. If the fat was injected very close to the skin surface, this is more difficult. As I... more

A: Fat Grafting Lumps When Smiling

By Michael A. Persky, MD - Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Hi Femme Fatale, Sorry to hear that you are suffering from fat graft complications. Most importantly you should continue following the advice of qualified and experienced fat transfer surgeons. Accent XL is a non-invasive method of sculpting fat. It may be possible to smooth your... more

A: Revisional lower eyelid surgery

By Brent Moelleken, MD - Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

There is nothing wrong with waiting until a problem is stable, and at that time reassess critically to see if any revision surgery needs to be done. Usually this timepoint is some time after six months. Fat injection fat can sometimes be aspirated with a very fine liposuction canula. In my... more

A: Sounds like a cyst or irregular placement of injections

By Robert M. Freund, MD - New York City Plastic Surgeon

Fat should have the same texture and softness as the underlying fat. This is different than other fillers which are typically harder, and appear harder when you smile. Your description of seeing the lumps only when you smile suggests that the material is harder than the surrounding tissue. This could be... more

A: It is best to takes a stepwise approach

By Amir M. Karam, MD - San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon

Without examining you or looking at a photo, it is hard to give you sound advice. But, the first step is to find an experienced fat transfer surgeon who performs many treatments around the eyes. As a general conservative approach, the first step is often direct micro-aspiration during the early phases (i.e.... more

A: There are things you can do to improve fat transfer lump

By Philip Young, MD - Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

There are things you can do to improve it. Waiting is one option. But you have to tailor the option to the desire of the patient. One option is to inject steroids, but you have to be aware of the risks of this. The next option is to actually make an incision to take out the fat. Although this will leave a... more

A: There may be options

By Steven Wallach, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Without examining you, I can not specifically comment on your case. This could be the fat itself or scar tissue. However, direct excision of the lump may be possible. One colleague even reported that if it is smalle enough, he will often "pinch" it with surgical tweezers and it helps break it up.

Comments

Lara Anjotone
unregistered guest

8 Dec 2008

I 'had' the same problem and the original poster, for also about six months. I had fat grafting to the under eyelid that turned lumpy (and uneven). I went back to the doctor to have the lumps removed and now he has performed a full blepharoplasty. I have not found any information about others that have had to get a blepharoplasty to remove a bad fat transfer. I am now very nervous that I have messed up my eyes. I am only 39 and did not have sagging or wrinkles under my eyes...only hollows.

sheritwin
1 post
10 Dec 2008

I have had the same problem for three months with a fat transfer I had in my chin. I have hard, lumpy balls forming in my chin. I had one of them drained 3 times and it seems to be getting better but I am forming a really big one on the other side of my chin and it is limiting movement in my jaw and I look deformed. I am taking antiinflammitory medicine but they do not work. I had one injection of cortisone which really helped for 24 hours but this is not the permanent solution. Does anybody out there know what I should do? My surgeon wants desperately to help but he does not know what to do because it is the first time this has happend to one of his patients.

View 3 replies

awalk
465 posts
28 Mar 2009

I am curious about this too. It seems to be a common problem and I am considering Fat Grafting... Aside from massage what techniques are available to help with or prevent lumps without destroying the fats survival rate... Ultrasound RF Electro therapy..The little ones that take batteries from the chiropracter What do they use to break up gallstones.... What can someone do to help prevent lumps or break them up if they occur?

michhy
24 posts
29 Mar 2009

excision works to remove these lumps

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