What Is The Best Method For Restoring Volume to the Mid to Lower Face?

Fat transfer is a very safe and effective long lasting solution for midface volume loss. It can be performed under local anesthesia and is more cost effective in the long run compared to repeated filler injections. Consult with a surgeon experienced in fat transfer.  All the best.

One of the three characteristics of aging is volume depletion in the mid face and temples. Up until about ten years ago this part of the aging face was not addressed by plastic surgery and cosmetic non-surgical procedures. Since that time there has been advances in methods of restoring this lost volume with improved techniques in fat grafting and injections of "artificial" filler. Over the last 5 years there has been a veritable explosion of choices for these inject-able fillers. To break it down, somewhat concisely, If a patient has reasonable donor fat, and is having additional facial rejuvenation procedures, I will usually recommend fat grafting over the fillers, since it is the patient's own tissue, they will be healing and swollen anyway, and when it works, it produces a result that is long term. More recently there are some terrific long term inject-able agents that may rival fat in its longevity and at the same time do not require a donor site, and the post treatment down time is significantly less. Products like sculptra, radiesse, and artefill are being used more often to give long term volume restoration in the cheeks and temples. While these can be used in the OR during a facial rejuvenation procedure, they can also be administered in an office type setting. I hope this helps. 

    Whenever multiple areas of facial volume loss or depressions or folds or deep wrinkles exist, fat transfer is a very reasonable option.  No one treatment is perfect.  Many of the fillers work for a limited period of time, but, for many areas, they may not provide enough volume without being too expensive.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA