OK to Get Fat Grafting 6 Months After Being Injected with Hyaluronic Acid?

Question

I got Juvederm in the upper cheeks, eye troughs, and nasolabial area. It is now 6 months, and I would like to consider a more permanent solution like fat grafting. Is it okay to do so?

Erez Sternberg, MD · Answer

It is perfectly okay to have fat grafting as a more permanent solution to filling of the face to replenish volume loss. I usually have my patients try fillers first to make sure they like the results and to get a feel for how much volume they will need. This is what you have already done. Now, after 6 months, much of the HA filler is already gone and you know that you were happy with the initial results. This makes you a perfect candidate for fat grafting. Fat grafting can be very long lasting or permanent but here are a few things you should know:

	1. Fat grafting will cause significant bruising and swelling for about 2 weeks when done correctly.

	2.  You will be over filled at first and look too swollen, but this will go away.

	3.  You will likely need a touch up procedure after the first fat grafting session to achieve balance and add to areas from which some of the fat absorbed.

Vivek Bansal, MD · Answer

It should be fine.  Just find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to do your work and offer other alternatives. Thank you for your question and good luck with everything.

Rodney A. Green, MD · Answer

Occasionally I have had patients where they decided that they did not want the hyaluronic acid filler (Juvaderm or Restylane) anymore for some reason. Sometimes the filler can last a very long time, much longer than is generally thought. I have had patients with Juvaderm that lasted several years in the lower eyelids for example.

	Fortunately if it is necessary to remove the hyaluronic acid this can be done very effectively, within hours often, by injecting hyaluronase. This has to be ordered specially by your doctor from a compounding pharmacy.

	It works quite dramatically.

Catherine Winslow, MD · Answer

Hello. You probably still have some Juvederm persisting. Since Juvederm can persist for over a year in some people, the best bet is to remove as much as possible with hyaluronidase. Hyaluronidase is a fast-working injectable that can help take away the persisting HA (Juvederm), allowing for more precise volumizing with fat and less "guesswork". I would recommend one or two injections spaced about a week apart, then scheduling the fat augmentation.

	Good luck!

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

It is certainly ok to inject fat grafts into areas that had juvederm or restylane.  However, you may want to wait until the fillers completely resorb so that you can add the amount of fat that you would like to place. Remember,e ven with fat grafts revisions are the norm sometimes two or three times to get it to the level that you desire.

OK to Get Fat Grafting 6 Months After Being Injected with Hyaluronic Acid?

Answers (9)

Answer: Hyaluronidase first for best results!

Answer: Hyaluronidase first for best results!

Answer: Fat grafting after fillers

Answer: Fat grafting after fillers

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Facial Fat Transfer

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

OK to Get Fat Grafting 6 Months After Being Injected with Hyaluronic Acid?

Answers (9)

Answer: Hyaluronidase first for best results!

Answer: Hyaluronidase first for best results!

Answer: Fat grafting after fillers

Answer: Fat grafting after fillers

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Facial Fat Transfer

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.