What are my options to transfer fat to the temples and sides / back of my head after atrophy of soft tissues in these areas?

Thank you for your question. Generally speaking, a facial fat transfer can restore lost volume to the temples. Filling in areas with fat injections is a safe, natural, non-allergenic way to enhance the contour of the face and restore lost volume, while often improving the quality of the skin. Another option for you would be an injectable dermal filler or collagen stimulator. I recommend scheduling an in-person consultation with an experienced, board-certified facial plastic surgeon. They will be able to review your medical history, examine your concern, and determine the best approach to help you achieve your aesthetic goals.

Without pictures we can’t make an assessment.
Facial fat transfer is tricky and is inherently somewhat unpredictable, and precise and can be unforgiving.
There are multiple variables that need to be present or lined up correctly for the procedure to be successful. Even then results are sometimes still unpredictable.
First and foremost there has to be host tissue to support the graft.
Areas that are completely devoid of subcutaneous fat or have no other substrate to graft into one not support a fat graft.
The temporal area is one of those areas. Unless you graft into the temporalis muscle there is no tissue to support the fat graft.Grafting tissue successfully requires following basic grafting principles.
This is the same whether you’re doing skin graft, bone graft or grafting branches on a fruit tree.
Grafting is grafting.
Without quality host tissue graft will not succeed.
Doing liposuction and fat transfer well on a consistent basis is a difficult procedure. results for both Liposuction and Fried transfer very immensely based on who does the procedure.
Finding the right provider is essential in both getting an assessment including a good understanding of what can and cannot be accomplished as well as delivering quality results.
Providers should understand when fat transfer will and will not work based on a clear understanding and having grafting experience.
Have you been evaluating for your condition? It sounds like perhaps you have Parry-Romberg Syndrome?
I suggest having multiple in person consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons who seem to have a lot of experience with facial fat transfer.
During consultations I recommend patients bring in facial pictures of their own face. use that as a reference when reviewing before and after pictures.
When reviewing results for fat transfer one of the most important aspect is the recognize or understand the timeframe in which the after pictures were taken.
Temptation lurks in the background and the truth is that early fat transfer results can look stunning but do not represent final results whatsoever.
Fat transfer after pictures should never be taken in less than three months from the date of procedure and preferably six months or longer.
Early pictures will always show improved volume but this does not correlate well with long-term results which is what matters.
When reviewing before and after pictures always confirm the timeframe between the procedure and when the after picture was taken.
Anybody who shows you early results should be dismissed and this is a major red flag.
“and lead us not to temptation”
An experienced provider should have no difficulty showing you at least 50 sets of before and after pictures of commonly performed procedures.
Someone who has mastered facial fat transfer should affect have hundreds or even thousands of before and after pictures.
Experience is paramount not only in using proper technique but also in making accurate assessment knowing well in advance what will work and what will not.
To find the right provider patients need to have multiple in person consultations.
Personally I’m not a fan of virtual consultations but they may work for some people.
I do not recommend people travel long distances for elective surgical procedures but there are times where there’s simply no good local talent and travel is necessary. if that’s the case commit to having in person consultations and in person follow up visits.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD