I've heard about a procedure where my body fat can be transferred or injected on my under eye area for dark circles and hollowness. Is this safe, and will results be permanent?
Answer: We avoid fat injections to the under eye areas The lower eyelid skin is very delicate. It is also very thin. Any irregularity shows through. One of our most common reason for performing revision lower eyelid surgery is palpable and visible lumpiness from prior fat injections. Many of the revisions are minor. Often, however, there are uncorrectable problems from gristly fat located in many planes of tissue. The reason for this is in the biology. Fat injections cells are harvested by liposuction. the fat cells are then usually spun in a centrifuge and then injected back in. During this process, most cells die. The number is debatable, depending on whether the viability is judged by microscopic examination of the cells (ie trypan blue exclusion method), or by metabolic methods, measuring the cellular machinery. However, the number of live cells is in my opinion between 3% and 25%. The rest are dead. As the dead cells are eaten away, an inflammatory reaction develops characterized by macrophages (large white blood cells), chronic inflammation and coalescence of fatty cysts, or dead liquid fat. We have presented and published our results on the histology of fat injection specimens. We have found the belief that volume existing at 6 months after fat injection technique consists of live cells to be false. Rather, the bulk that remains consists of all the cellular elements above, still very actively eating away and walling off the dead cells and fatty cysts. The bottom line is that intense cellular changes continue to occur with fat injection, usually characterized by further loss of fullness, even at 1 1/2 years after injection. This does not mean that there are not many happy patients out there with fat injections to the lower eyelids. There are especially when the technique is conservatievly performed in highly skilled hands. Just be cautious before injecting fat into the lower eyelids.
Helpful 38 people found this helpful
Answer: We avoid fat injections to the under eye areas The lower eyelid skin is very delicate. It is also very thin. Any irregularity shows through. One of our most common reason for performing revision lower eyelid surgery is palpable and visible lumpiness from prior fat injections. Many of the revisions are minor. Often, however, there are uncorrectable problems from gristly fat located in many planes of tissue. The reason for this is in the biology. Fat injections cells are harvested by liposuction. the fat cells are then usually spun in a centrifuge and then injected back in. During this process, most cells die. The number is debatable, depending on whether the viability is judged by microscopic examination of the cells (ie trypan blue exclusion method), or by metabolic methods, measuring the cellular machinery. However, the number of live cells is in my opinion between 3% and 25%. The rest are dead. As the dead cells are eaten away, an inflammatory reaction develops characterized by macrophages (large white blood cells), chronic inflammation and coalescence of fatty cysts, or dead liquid fat. We have presented and published our results on the histology of fat injection specimens. We have found the belief that volume existing at 6 months after fat injection technique consists of live cells to be false. Rather, the bulk that remains consists of all the cellular elements above, still very actively eating away and walling off the dead cells and fatty cysts. The bottom line is that intense cellular changes continue to occur with fat injection, usually characterized by further loss of fullness, even at 1 1/2 years after injection. This does not mean that there are not many happy patients out there with fat injections to the lower eyelids. There are especially when the technique is conservatievly performed in highly skilled hands. Just be cautious before injecting fat into the lower eyelids.
Helpful 38 people found this helpful
Answer: Safe and Permanent Hello, this procedure can be performed under local anesthesia in the office similar to a filler experience. Your surgeon should be conservative under the eyes (especially compared to other parts of the face) but the fat that survives will be permanent.
Helpful 4 people found this helpful
Answer: Safe and Permanent Hello, this procedure can be performed under local anesthesia in the office similar to a filler experience. Your surgeon should be conservative under the eyes (especially compared to other parts of the face) but the fat that survives will be permanent.
Helpful 4 people found this helpful
August 21, 2019
Answer: Fat transfer to eyelids Thank you for the question. I have noticed from seeing many patients who have had fat transfer that there is a very high dissatisfaction rate for the procedure. Most of the time the fat gets resorbed, or even worse it becomes lumpy. I have noticed this even in the hands of experienced surgeons. It is very much a hit or miss procedure so I advise against it.
Helpful 15 people found this helpful
August 21, 2019
Answer: Fat transfer to eyelids Thank you for the question. I have noticed from seeing many patients who have had fat transfer that there is a very high dissatisfaction rate for the procedure. Most of the time the fat gets resorbed, or even worse it becomes lumpy. I have noticed this even in the hands of experienced surgeons. It is very much a hit or miss procedure so I advise against it.
Helpful 15 people found this helpful
May 25, 2019
Answer: Fat transfer for under eyes Hi, thank you for this question, and this is one of the most consistently asked questions in our practice. Unlike fillers, fat is a living cell-adipocytes. When we remove fat from one part of the body, we are cutting off the circulation to these cells and they will die unless they receive new blood supply. When we place these fat to a new place, we are expecting new source of blood supply to grow. Once they do, the fat cells will survive and they will last for a very long time. So it is crucial that the techniques used to harvest fat, purification, and placement of fat in the new location all increase the possibility of fat survival. When these techniques are used, fat grafting is very consistent a wonderful method to volumize with a natural and long lasting result.
Helpful 9 people found this helpful
May 25, 2019
Answer: Fat transfer for under eyes Hi, thank you for this question, and this is one of the most consistently asked questions in our practice. Unlike fillers, fat is a living cell-adipocytes. When we remove fat from one part of the body, we are cutting off the circulation to these cells and they will die unless they receive new blood supply. When we place these fat to a new place, we are expecting new source of blood supply to grow. Once they do, the fat cells will survive and they will last for a very long time. So it is crucial that the techniques used to harvest fat, purification, and placement of fat in the new location all increase the possibility of fat survival. When these techniques are used, fat grafting is very consistent a wonderful method to volumize with a natural and long lasting result.
Helpful 9 people found this helpful
August 26, 2020
Answer: Fat Transfer for Under Eye Hollows Fat grafting to the area of the lower eyelids does work if done correctly. It can also be permanent. Caution must be exercised to avoid over filling, and to avoid serious complications such as loss of vision.
Helpful 5 people found this helpful
August 26, 2020
Answer: Fat Transfer for Under Eye Hollows Fat grafting to the area of the lower eyelids does work if done correctly. It can also be permanent. Caution must be exercised to avoid over filling, and to avoid serious complications such as loss of vision.
Helpful 5 people found this helpful
January 13, 2019
Answer: I've heard about a procedure where my body fat can be transferred or injected on my under eye area for dark circles and hollowne This is a very effective treatment when properly performed. The results are very long lasting although the face will, naturally, continue to age over time. I have been performing fat grafts to the under eye area for 25 years and have seen many outstanding and long-lasting results. Make sure you seek out a board certified plastic surgeon with a lot of experience performing this procedure.
Helpful 6 people found this helpful
January 13, 2019
Answer: I've heard about a procedure where my body fat can be transferred or injected on my under eye area for dark circles and hollowne This is a very effective treatment when properly performed. The results are very long lasting although the face will, naturally, continue to age over time. I have been performing fat grafts to the under eye area for 25 years and have seen many outstanding and long-lasting results. Make sure you seek out a board certified plastic surgeon with a lot of experience performing this procedure.
Helpful 6 people found this helpful
