How can I gain fat on my face? I used Retin-A 0.025% for 3 months last year, and has left my skin very damaged.

Question

Hi last year I used Retin-A 0.025% for 3 months, and has left my skin very damaged. It has caused a lot of my facial fat to disappear and my face now looks very thin, despite now weight, lifestyle, or dietary changes during this time. What would be the best cosmetic or surgical procedure to have for someone of my age? Personally, a fat transfer seems the best way to go as I don't like the idea of it potentially looking artificial.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

The best way to gain fat in your face is by fat transfer also called lipo injection. Ideal candidates are in good health, and have excess fat in some parts of the body and too little in other regions. Fat grafting is most often used for the face, breasts and buttocks. Typically, the transferred fat results in a significant increase in volume of the body site being treated.Fat for lipoinjection, also called fat transfer, is removed from unwanted areas of the body by a narrow blunt tip surgical instrument with side holes, called a cannula, through a small incision. The fat is then cleaned with sterile saline solution before being restored to the body. The fat is then injected into the desired area using either a smaller cannula or needle, or it may be placed directly through an incision. Since some of the fat that is transferred does not remain over time, your surgeon may inject more than is ultimately needed to achieve the desired end result. Over a few weeks, the amount of transferred fat will decrease.There is a limit of how much fat can be safely injected into one area. The amount of fat that remains over time is variable from patient to patient. For some patients, more fat or other fillers may need to be transferred in a subsequent surgery to maintain or supplement the desired results.Fat transfer procedures are performed using a local anesthetic, with or without IV sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the extent of the procedure and recommendations of your surgeon.

Alfonso Gonzalez Cepeda, MD · Answer

Retin A is a topical cream that improves the texture and tone of the epidermal layer by diminishing fine lines, enlarged pores and pigmentation in the skin. Retinol can thin the skin but it does not decrease the facial fat in your face. Normally a decrease in facial fat is due to weightloss. If you wish to restore lost volume in the face, fat grafting is an excellent option. The fat also has stem cells which can improve the texture and tone of the skin as well. It is very effective! Another option is to use hylouronic acid fillers. There are different options depending on your needs and the results can last up to 2 years. These are both safe and effective options.

Daniel P. Friedmann, MD · Answer

Given that commercially available Retin-A 0.025% penetrates relatively poorly into the second layer of skin (the dermis) and does not penetrate AT ALL into the fat below it, I can say with near certainty that the Retin-A is not the cause of your facial fat disappearance. As far as what can be used to fill lost volume in the face, fat transfer is a great option, especially if you require a lot of volume. However, synthetic fillers (if done properly) are just as good, if not better, since the length of time that they last is much more predictable.

How can I gain fat on my face? I used Retin-A 0.025% for 3 months last year, and has left my skin very damaged.

Answers (3)

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