Transfer to marionette lines and nasal-labial folds. Fat didn't stay - should I try again?

Question

Fat transfer was used in marionette lines and nasal-labial folds for my face lift 2 years ago. The fat disappeared in 2 weeks, meaning I did not get the results I'd been shown by doctor. Why does this happen? He said he did not process the fat in any special way because he gets better results leaving it natural. Should I try fat transfer ever again?

Henry Daniel Sandel IV, MD, FACS · Answer

I’m not a fan of fat transfer to the nasolabial folds and marionette lines. The fat may not fully take, as you’ve experienced. If some areas take and others don’t, the result can be lumpy, and that can be very difficult to correct without surgically removing the fat.

I would recommend a hyaluronic acid dermal filler in these areas. Fillers allow more precise control over the amount and placement, so we can soften the folds and carefully refine the contour. Small adjustments can be made to get the result just right, and hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved if needed. The result can be significantly better and more refined.

Dermal fillers are temporary and do need to be maintained, but this is usually very easy to do with treatment once or twice a year. For these areas, I think that maintenance is a worthwhile tradeoff for the control we have over the final result.

Transfer to marionette lines and nasal-labial folds. Fat didn't stay - should I try again?

Answers (1)

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