Not happy with fat transfer to the face. How long should I wait before getting a different treatment to address it?

Question

Hi Doctors, 30M here. I'm 3 months post facial fat transfer, and I'm not happy with the result. My face was a bit narrow and deflated. My surgeon and I agreed on the plan to put 10cc on each cheek to give me a baby face. But after healing, my face is puffy, bulkier and wider. This makes my face more muscular, which is not what I wanted. Do I need to wait for more time before I get any treatment to get rid of the fat? Will waiting longer make it difficult to remove/reduce the fat graft?

David Samimi, MD · Answer

Sorry to hear you did not obtain your desired grafting result. A lot of emotional and financial energy is spent on these treatments so it can be pretty depressing when things don't go as you expect. My specific thoughts on your case:1) Fat evolves significantly over the first year. I would hold off on making any changes so that you aren't trying to hit a moving target. In my experience things look a lot better months 6-12.2) I rarely do fat grafting to the cheeks alone. As we age upper third of the face, temples and brows deflates at a rate even higher than that of the centra face (cheeks). After waiting time for the fat to settle, pay attention to the temples and brows and consider augmenting w volume there to improve the overall harmony and aesthetic of the face, and not just the isolated cheek. 
Best of luck on your aesthetic journey!

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

This needs an in-person evaluation. A combination of 5/FU steroids, lasers, microneedling/prp and radiofrequency can give improvement. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Tim Neavin, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Photos will be helpful to address your concerns adequately.  I generally do not like to inject just the cheeks because it can make the cheeks appear too prominent.  The best technique for facial transfer is to blend cheeks with the temple as well as the pre-auricular area and jawline.  Otherwise, you can end up with a peanut head.  All of the swelling should be down by now.,  It is possible you do not need fat removed, perhaps you just need it blended properly to make the face look more balanced.

Not happy with fat transfer to the face. How long should I wait before getting a different treatment to address it?

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Everything you need to know about Facial Fat Transfer

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Not happy with fat transfer to the face. How long should I wait before getting a different treatment to address it?

Answers (3)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Facial Fat Transfer

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.