Two months after fat grafting, results have completely gone. Can I have fillers now?

Your results with fat grafting is not uncommon in the cosmetic world. Fat injections are so unpredictable and you look like a duck or pillbury's doughboy for 2-3 weeks before you look human again in many cases, then when it is gone at 3-6 months , you start over again. I'm joking slightly but there is a lot of truth in it also. If you gain weight after fat injections, those fat injected areas get bigger also and not evenly.  When fat dies, and most of it will, the fat resorbs uneveningly as well.  We have all had great successes with fat grafting but it is not the norm for anyone. Typically fat injections are done in small amounts every 3-4 months for several sessions. And don't let anyone fool you into getting stem cell facelifts, etc... We are still years away from being able to manipulate stem cells to any great degree where they can be useful. But someday we all hope it happens.

Unfortunately, you have joined the swelling ranks of many people who have had unsuccessful fat procedures. I have had wonderful results on occasion with fat transfers but more often your circumstance is the norm. A surgeon has to be a realist and if the results are not there abandon the procedure except in extreme cases where very large volumes are required and even then results are erratic. Go back to synthetic fillers which are reliable but not long lasting. Simplicity may more valuable with no downtime.

Unfortunately, your experience bears out the disappointing experience that many of us have had with fat grafting. Although there continues to be a great deal of hype surrounding it, fat grafting is certainly nothing new and has been around for decades. In fact, I stopped performing it twenty years ago when newer and more advanced fillers and volumizing agents began to appear on the scene. Certainly nowadays, with all the natural, more advanced fillers and volumizing agents that are FDA approved and available off the shelf, there is not much justification for fat grafting in my opinion, which involves two invasive procedures, one to withdraw the fat from the hips, buttocks or abdomen, and the other, using large bore cannulas, to reinject it into the face--a process that often leads to quite a bit of post-procedural swelling and distortion that may last up to a couple of weeks..We once thought that using one's own fat was likely to result in long-lasting, if not permanent results. Clearly your experience, like so many others, indicates that this is not the case. Furthermore, the injected fat, if it does remain viable, may be subject to future weight gain or loss, which can lead to undesirable cosmetic effects. Likewise, if there are age-related changes in the regions around the fat grafts in the future, what might have appeared fine when first injected may then appear odd or displeasing. For these reasons, off the shelf, natural, hyaluronic acid products or calcium-based fillers have replaced fat entirely in my treatment regimens. So long as there is no current swelling or residual edema from your prior fat treatments, it is probably OK to go ahead with the use of fillers, but I would strongly urge consultation with a board certified aesthetic physician with experience and expertise in the field before doing so.

Fat Grafting durability depends on different variables, metabolism and overall health. Some people have faster metabolism and fat grafting lasts less time...if you are losing weight or exercising intensively this changes your metabolism and may make fat grafting not last. Maintaing a stable weight is important when fat grafting. You can add dermal fillers to regiment i would wait 2-3 months when swelling completely subsides

Unfortunately your experience with fat grafting is very common which is why we rarely perform it anymore in my office.  While some people have long lasting results, the procedure is unpredictable and given the safe and long lasting fillers we now have at our disposal, for many patients I believe they are the best option.  You can certainly have fillers at this time but research the doctor you choose to make sure they are an injection expert, board certified, etc since there is a delicate art and science to filling the face and results vary widely based on the experience of the injector.  You should be able to have a nice result but the doctor should explain where they plan to place the filler, which filler will suit your needs best,  and what results you can expect to seeBest of luck..

If you feel that the fat transfer didn't work, then at two months you can probably have facial fillers with other products.

You may undergo filler injections at this time after your previous fat grafting procedure. I reserve fat grafting for patients that need tremendous amount of volume which may be cost prohibitive using fillers.  You would need to be examined in person for exact recommendations.

Fat grafting would not " mess up" whatever filler is left in your face. If you had filler several more than 3 months ago, then the effect could be dissipitating.  Also, note that fat grafting does not always take.  It is better to wait until all the filler has resolved before grafting so the surgeon can have a true idea of what really needs filling.  You could have fillers now.  The fullness you achieved could partially have reflected swelling post-procedure.

Some people love fat grafting but the truth is that we have no idea who is and is not a good candidate. This is why patients are totally overfilled and then we cross our fingers and hope that 50% of it lasts for the coming months. Fillers are a lot more predictable which is why I've always encouraged those over fat grafting. Yes, you can have fillers at this point in time. "This answer has been solicited without seeing this patient and
cannot be held as true medical advice, but only opinion. Seek in-person
treatment with a trained medical professional for appropriate care."