I had fat grafting on my face 6 months ago. I loved it but I feel like most dissolved. Would a second treatment help?

Question

How can I get that look in a way that stays for a bit longer? Would a second fat grafting increase the amount / build on it? Or would another procedure / injections be better? I loved the natural facial fat look.

Mitchel Goldman, MD · Answer

It is common to lose some of the fat that was grafted in the months following treatment. A touch-up treatment might be a good option at this point. Make sure you are working with a board-certified dermatologist who is very experienced in fat grafting, as this procedure requires different expertise and technique than filler treatments. With a qualified doctor and a subsequent touch-up (or two), you should see a very good, long-lasting result.

Ali Riza Öreroglu, MD · Answer

Each person has a different body structure with a different metabolism, for this reason, fat grafts take better on some people and not as good on some people. Additional treatments to the primary treatment can help with build up and longer lasting results.

Francis Johns, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.
Fat grafting can take a few sessions before you get to where you are happy with it.  It is common to have some fat reabsorption after each treatment. Fat grafting is a great natural option and lasts longer than fillers.

Robert M. Tornambe, MD · Answer

I appreciate your concerns, and unfortunately the amount of fat that takes and how long it lasts varies from individual to individual. Since you had a satisfying result, I recommend repeating the process and perhaps asking your surgeon to add a bit more fat this time. I usually over correct by 10% or 15% when I perform facial fat transfer as usually that much dissipates over the first 6 to 12 months. Be certain to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area to greatly increase chances for the best possible result. Good luck.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

if you do fat grafting with prp,acell,stem cell therapy and sculptra/renuva after will help you maintain. I personally like fillers long term for contouring of the face more than fat. Best, Dr. Emer.

Ahad Mahootchi, MD · Answer

There are some refinements in technique that can result in better fat survival. Ask you doc what can be done/and what you can do- to give longer lasting results.

Best of luck to you.

Ahad Mahootchi, MD

Patrick Flaharty, MD FAACS · Answer

Fat grafting can be repeated and is generally very successful. Fat grafts are living fat cells which are transplanted from one area of the body to another. Not all fat cells will survive the transfer and you will see a gradual loss of volume over the first 3 to 6 months before it stabilizes. Repeat fat grafting after 6 months adds additional viable fat cells into the area of interest building on the success of the initial procedure and improving your long term results.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Would you describe is pretty common. Facial fat transfer is probably best done as a series of treatment to slowly build up the volume until you reach the ideal.

A certain percentage of grafted fat survives in a certain percentage will dissolve.

This procedure is finicky and so much unpredictable by its very nature.

Much better to do a touch up gradually building up to the perfect final outcome and to have too much survive posting on real self how previously grafted fat can be removed.  It can be very difficult to remove previously grafted fat in the face and over grafting is a worse problem to have.

Since you were happy with the outcome simply follow up with your provider and talk to him or her about doing it twice.

There isn’t really anything you can do to make the fat survive better.

A cautious approach to facial fat transfer is very appropriate.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

Robert T. Buchanan, MD (retired) · Answer

When done properly, you should maintain about 75% of the fat grafted. Many of the physicians doing fat grafting do it as if they were doing a filler. Unfortunately, this does not work. You can place filler in larger boluses with no problem since the filler does not have to be revascularized. The fat must be placed in multiple thin lines separated by well vascularized tissue. If not, the fat away from the blood supply dies and is then absorbed. I would, therefore, suggest that you find another plastic surgeon who specializes in facial fat grafting who routinely has at least 75% take of what is placed.

Csaba L. Magassy, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

Fat grafting is a very technique dependent procedure. The method of harvesting the fat, cleaning and centrifuging the fat, then placing it in small (1cc.) syringes. Placing of the fat in very small droplets so it can be vascularized, plus combining with PRP may help in the survival of the transplanted fat...You should consider it the second time around.