ALMI Procedure - More reliable than standard fat grafting?

Yes, ALMI (Autologous Lipocyte Micronized Injection) generally offers a higher fat survival rate compared to traditional fat grafting due to its advanced processing of fat and stem cells. This leads to better integration and more predictable results. Volume can vary but typically 20cc or less is used for facial areas.

Regarding smokers or vapers, results can indeed be diminished, as smoking affects blood flow and healing. As for placement, lower eyelids require caution due to the delicate nature of the area, but an experienced provider can guide you on safe options.

The process of fat grafting is complex with a significant number of variables to take into consideration.
In a nutshell quality results are based on the patients individual candidacy for the procedure combined with the skill and experience of the provider.
Fancy Names or special equipment have nothing to do with quality outcomes.
DON’T BUY THE HYPE.
Fat transfer does not require fancy equipment.
Those who invent marketing terms to sell the procedures should be avoided!!!
Facial fat transfer is by its very nature, somewhat imprecise, unpredictable, and potentially unforgiving if people don’t like the outcome.
It’s certainly possible to get quality results and there are certainly plastic surgeons who do good work with this treatment.
In comparison to other augmentation techniques, like the use of fillers, it is simply not easy or straightforward.
Fillers on the other hand are highly predictable Very precise and quite forgiving if patients don’t like the outcome.
You may or may not be a good candidate for transfer.
Generally speaking, there isn’t all that much people can do regarding their own candidacy.
What patients do have control over is provider selection.
Considering the complexity of the procedure it goes to follow that there’s going to be a wide range of different degrees of skill and experience among providers offering this treatment.
Perhaps one of the most important things to remember when reviewing fat transfer results is that early fat transfer results can look very impressive but early fat transfer results do not represent final long-term outcomes.
There are plenty of patients who were thrilled two weeks after the procedure then left Disappointed at six months when the results were either not as good or simply don’t show.
Finding the right provider is generally the most important variable from the patient’s perspective.
To do that I suggest patient schedule multiple in person consultations with board-certified plastic surgeons, who seem to have lots and lots of experience doing quality facial or body fat transfer.
I’m assuming you are referring to facial fat transfer based on the volumes you describe.
I find body fat transfer to be a very different type of procedure and with bodywork that transfer becomes much much more predictable and consistent.
During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before and after pictures of previous patients who had similar facial characteristics to your own.
An experienced provider should have no difficulty showing you with the before and after pictures of at least 50 previous patients.
Being shown a handful of previous selected patients, representing the best results of a providers career may be insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results look like in the hands of each provider, what your results are likely to look like or how many of these procedures they’ve actually done.
Like I mentioned earlier, never assume that after pictures were taken 3 to 6 months or longer after the procedure when results are considered final.
Always confirm.
There’s no correct number of consultations needed to find the right provider.
The more consultations you scheduled the more likely you are to find the better provider for your needs.
Provider selection is key. You’ll be reminded of the outcome every time you look in the mirror for the rest of your life.
Best,
Matt Hagstrom, MD