Facelift after fat transfer?

Hi ~ Fat transfer or fat grafting is a great adjunct procedure to a facelift. As we age there is both volume loss and sagging of skin. A face lift will address the sagging skin and fat transfer will help replace lost volume. It is best to wait 4-6 months after fat transfer to proceed with a facelift. This will allow for ample healing time and all swelling to resolve.

A facelift can certainly be done after a fat transfer procedure.  It is often times done at the same time as the two procedures complement each other.  A facelift removes and tightens loose skin to smoothen wrinkles and lifts sagginess of the lower face and neck.  It does not, however, restores volume loss that almost everyone has by the time they need a facelift.  Fat transfers, if done properly, can be a powerful tool to help correct hollowing around the eyes, lower eyelid bags, sagging cheeks, temporal hollowing, very deep nasolabial folds, thin lips and even weak chins.  Tightening skin with a facelift cannot do any of that.  Restoring volume will make your facelift results not only look more natural but I think last longer as the volume enhancement will help to lift your cheeks and tightening the overlying skin so your skin does not have to be tightened as much with the facelift procedure as relying solely on the elasticity of aged skin to maintain your results will result in disappointment as it will start sagging again fairly quickly.  A skin resurfacing procedure such as a deep chemical peel or laser resurfacing can help make your facelift results even better by tightening skin and stimulating more collagen production to help maintain your tighter smoother look.

How long you should wait for your case will depend on how much residual swelling or scar tissue you still may have, but the ultimate decision should be made by your surgeon after he/she examines you to see if you have healed well enough from your facelift.  I would personally have you wait at least 3 months as that is usually the minimum amount of time it takes for the fat that did not survive the transfer process to completely go away.  That way you know how much you can pull and lift with the remaining volume and transfer more fat if you need to if too much of it has gone away.

Best wishes.