Can Massaging Cheeks After Fat Injection Reverse the Effects?

Hi A,

You should discuss massage and your dissatisfaction with your fat transfer physician.  Be patient and hopefully over the next few months you will be pleased with the results.  At 5 to 6 months after your procedure, the fat that is still present will be permanent.  If you are still unhappy at that point then micro liposuction can be attempted.  As Dr. Val Lambros (Laguna Beach, CA excellent plastic surgeon) has said, "The number one operation that fat transfer doctors perform is fat transfer, the number two operation that they do is put in more fat, and their third is removing excess fat!"

Good luck and be well.

Dr. P

I would definitely WAIT at least 1 full month, before doing anything. After that, there are several options to deal with any result that you are not happy with. For now, I strongly advise waiting.

You are still bruised and swallen, there will be a lot of change in the next few weeks.

Massage now may displace the fat to other areas that you may not like, and even may drop down to form jowles, then you will need a face lift.

Talk with your surgeon ASAP and see what are your options. Depending on the plane where the fat was put, your surgeon may do some liposuction.

Sometimes massaging the fat will help the body take the fat away.  IMHO, your face appears broad laterally after the fat transfer.  I stopped using fat injections, many years ago, in favor of more reliable fillers (Perlane, Radiesse) and Cheek Implants.

You are obviously still bruised and swollen. It is impossible to evaluate your result 2.5 weeks after surgery. Massaging will not eliminate the grafted fat, but may cause problems. Follow your surgeon's instructions.