Can ice packs on the face after Facial Fat Transfer freeze the grafts causing them to be reabsorbed?

Question

A doc on realself stated that the ice packs too the face can freeze the grafts. If this happens, is it possible to kill the grafts causing reabsorption? Can this still happen at 3 to 6 months post op? How stable are fat transfer 3 to 6 months post op?

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Ice packs immediately to the area grafted can lead to freezing of the grafts and eventual loss.  3-6 months after the surgery the grafts are healed and ice packs to the area do not have a negative affect on them.Earl Stephenson, Jr, MD,DDS, FACS

John J. Martin, Jr., MD · Answer

If is hard to imagine that you would be able to actually freeze the injected fat with an ice pack.  And by 3-6 months post-op this fat is vascularized so even if you cool it down, it shouldn't die.  Most people ice for 20-30 minutes at a time, so there should be no damage to the fat from the ice.

Jan Zemplenyi, MD · Answer

The fat cells have a good blood supply after three to six months after a fat transfer.  Speak to your surgeon before trying to reduce your fat grafts yourself.  You are asking a question about trying to kill living tissue with ice, which comes with serious risks.

Can ice packs on the face after Facial Fat Transfer freeze the grafts causing them to be reabsorbed?

Answers (3)