When are the transplanted grafts firmly safe? Can they still be damaged?

I tell my patients that it takes about 6 weeks for the grafts to be sealed into place.  This is important for haircuts and exercise.

Any incision should be kept out of ultraviolet light until wound remodeling is complete. Most fat grafting is physically stable shortly after the procedure. The process of incorporation of those fat or stem cells into the final aesthetic product takes months.

Thank you for your question.  I would avoid sun beds after your FUE procedure for a year.  You small little scars can potentially darken in response to the UV radiation.  When outdoors, I would also encourage the use of hat once you are cleared from your surgeon.  I often ask patients not to put any chemical treatments or light based treatments for the first six weeks after FUE procedures.  I also ask that they use some spray sun protection or wear a hat after this period to help minimize the chance of the post-surgical scars from darkening.  Hope this helps.

In general fat grafts in the face are stable after 2-3 months, though in some cases it is longer before the final results. UV light is a carcinogen so I am pretty sure all plastic surgeons will advise against that.

It is common during a facelift procedure in some individuals to graft fat obtained from somewhere into areas such as the cheekbone region. Just like other type of tissue grafts such as skin grafts or bone grafts, fat grafts need circulation to survive. The body will ultimately grow capillaries that will hook up with the fat cells to nourish them. This takes time. Usually there is some early circulation at around 85. However, this is quite fragile. Excessive motion in this area and other tissue changes associated with healing can interfere with this. Smooshing your face into a pillow could do some harm. Fat that has survived 3 to 6 weeks is probably likely to survive in this region.

I would avoid UV for at least 3 weeks after surgery, and I always recommend sun and tanning bed avoidance and strict usage of sunblock for a year after surgery to prevent permanent undesirable scar healing. Regarding the grafts, it is unlikely they will be affected by UV. I would discuss your concerns with your surgeon and follow his/her post-operative instructions. I hope this helps.

Though I think that UV light (ill advised due to skin damage btw) is unlikely to effect the survival of fat grafts I'm not aware of any studies proving its safety.  Even if it has not adverse effect early sun bed exposure may always leave you wondering if the results could have been better. So, why not wait until 6-8 weeks have passed before starting.  Discuss your surgeon's feelings about this with him/her and good luck.  Enjoy your results.Jon A Perlman MD FACSCertified, Am Bd of Plastic SurgeryMember, Am. Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS)Beverly Hills, CA