What is your opinion on fat grafting during a facelift?

During your #consultation, your skin texture and elasticity, as well as your underlying skin structure and your facial bone structure will be evaluated. Based on this evaluation, your board certified plastic surgeons will create a custom surgical plan, detailing specific techniques and recommendations to meet your goals. In doing so, he or she should be sure to have a full understanding of what results you expect. If you are not a #candidate, your surgeon can make other suggestions to address your concerns and objectives.It is possible to #combine #surgeries. In fact, I commonly recommend other procedures to go accompany a facelift, such as blepharoplasty or a midface (cheek) lift, to name a few. The combination of multiple of facial procedures may create an optimal result. The best procedure approach will be discussed in greater detail during your one-on-one #consultation. I invite you to visit PacificCenterPlasticSurgery.com to view a complete list of surgeries commonly performed. It is extremely important to seek a board certified plastic surgeon highly trained with your desired procedures. I also encourage you to look at before and after photos of the surgeons actual patients. Also, reading patient reviews of those who have had combined surgeries will be beneficial. Gathering all of this information will help you make a well-informed decision.

Fat grafting has been a boon for my facelift patients. It helps by augmenting those areas that may be deficient with age and helps me achieve a more natural result without having to go to other fillers. In addition it has the added benefit of bringing stem cells to the area to help rejuvenate the existing tissue. 

Fat grafting is often an integral part of the procedure. It can be very effective in treating a flattened mid-face or cheek area and correcting the groove underneath the lower eyelid. When performed properly, it should be smooth and symmetrical.

Fat grafting is an essential component of a modified facelift if done
appropriately by using a “Lift” and “Fill” facelift with central facial fat compartment
augmentation to reshape the central face and outer deep layer SMAS elevation. This should be done
in the hands of a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with expertise in facial rejuvenation and who understands
the science of aging.

  I think that fat grafting during faelift surgery is a wonderful option for patients who require additional facial volume.  Of course, fat grafting is only one method of achieving such results but in my hands it is a very useful adjunctive procedure which may be combined with blepharoplasty and facelift surgery.

Thanks for sharing your concerns with us.i agree with the fat transfer. Usually i use it as a complement of facelift using the fat from the chin. Also we can use it as a treatment to look younger.Best regards,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

Except in very young patients with abnormal skin laxity, fat grafting should be part of every facelift.  A good facelift resuspends the ligamentous structure of the face and takes up loose skin.  Facial aging in the early twenties begins with volume loss in the upper third of the face, around the eyes and around the mouth.  By the time there is skin and neck laxity to warrant a facelift, this volume loss is extensive.  My personal preference is to perform a deep plane composite facelift with fat grafting for volume replacement.  I hope this helps!All the best,Rian A. Maercks M.D.

Hi... thank you for the question.. In my practice i have done facelift with fat graft, if the fat is well prepare and infected with the correct technique no lumps or bumps should appear, and yes with direct view is more certain. 

The answer is sometimes addition of volume is a good idea, and sometimes it isn't; a well performed facelift should be a self-volumizing procedure with repositioning of the SMAS.  In my opinion, fat grafting is the least consistent way to add facial volume.  My preference is to utilize Sculptra for gradual stimulation of collagen production or Voluma for a more instant effect.  Below is a link to a patient who underwent facelift, resurfacing, and Sculptra injections.

Fat grafting is frequently done at the same time as facelifting.   It is especially helpful for patients who have lost volume with aging, and have a thinner face.  Just lifting in these cases may help the appearance, but you can still look hollow.  Adding some fat helps to restore the lost volume, and the facelift will look much better.  When done correctly, small amounts of fat are placed into many layers of the skin.  Therefore it is unusual to see lumps.  The skin in the lower lids is very thin, so if fat is placed there, it has to be done very precisely to prevent any irregularities.