POSTED UNDER Facial Fat Transfer REVIEWS
32 Year Old - Asymmetric Fat Loss to Face with Malar Crescent - 2 sessions of fat (32 cc and 15cc year later) - Cincinnati, OH
ORIGINAL POST
I am going in a few weeks to Cincinnati to meet...
WORTH IT$5,500
I am going in a few weeks to Cincinnati to meet with well respected facial plastic surgeon Dr. Donath. I have in previous reviews, reported on my use and temporary satisfaction with, Voluma and juvederm xc to fix my facial insecurities, but sadly after paying for THREE $800 syringes of Voluma ($2400), and 1 $600 syringe of Juvederm... I am left with only about half a year of results. The fillers went away far too quickly for what my budget can handle. The Voluma did not last 2 years... not even 1 year!
I feel fat transfer will allow me more cc units for less lost per unit. I also think the fat will last longer as my Dr is using innovative micro fat transfer techniques, and I also like the idea of removing fat from an area I don't want it. I am very optimistic. I will post another update after my initial consulatation Sept 8, 2016.
My hope is to not only get the "bad side" of my face to be more congruent with the "good side", but the to go a level more and make both enhance together in symmetry. I have Cherokee heritage and I have never had good full cheeks, always flat. So I want to correct the bad side of my face, and also get convexity to my face like a young Betty Grable or Lauren Conrad.
I feel fat transfer will allow me more cc units for less lost per unit. I also think the fat will last longer as my Dr is using innovative micro fat transfer techniques, and I also like the idea of removing fat from an area I don't want it. I am very optimistic. I will post another update after my initial consulatation Sept 8, 2016.
My hope is to not only get the "bad side" of my face to be more congruent with the "good side", but the to go a level more and make both enhance together in symmetry. I have Cherokee heritage and I have never had good full cheeks, always flat. So I want to correct the bad side of my face, and also get convexity to my face like a young Betty Grable or Lauren Conrad.
kittycatz's provider
UPDATED FROM kittycatz
4 months pre
Parked in Traffic for over 3 hours - missed consulation
This morning I got my rental car and excited anticipated the drive to Cinci for the appointment I made 3 months ago. To my utter disappointment, despite leaving 4 hours early for travel, I got stuck in traffic literally PARKED for 3 hours due to a hazardous material spill that closed both North and Southbound 75. I have rescheduled for the next earliest time they could see me, October 10th, so no update until then. Bummer!!!
Replies (5)
September 12, 2016
I'm sorry that you missed your appointment, but he is by far worth the wait
September 24, 2016
I am so sorry that you missed your appointment but he is worth the wait. On a positive note, the extra time will allow any remaining filler to dissolve before the consult.
UPDATED FROM kittycatz
3 months pre
Consultation Day finally!
I finally was able to meet Dr. Donath and go over with him what I saw as problems, and what solutions there are for these problems. I can do 1, 2, or 3 "quadrants" of the face. Each quadrant is $2500 approx. So I need a good amount in the midface.. that is for sure, and that is definitely what I am going forward with to address. But a tiny bit in the eye socket area ( another quadrant)? Maybe. A bit to fill in the nasolabial lines (yet another quadrant)? Eh? I feel like the midface volume he will be adding will lift help that. I'm conflicted if I will do 1, 2, or 3 areas....???
As of writing this, I am leaning toward considering doing two areas. The midface, and the eye socket areas. This is because even though my eyes are not too bad yet, I feel they will lose fat in the next several years. Also, I have one eyelid that is slightly uneven, and he said he can fix that with fat transfer.
So I paid my $1000 down payment today and I have booked this for January 25, which will allow me a renewed face in time for my 33rd birthday in February. Also, this way I can tell my work I'm taking time off for my birthday, which will be true.
As of writing this, I am leaning toward considering doing two areas. The midface, and the eye socket areas. This is because even though my eyes are not too bad yet, I feel they will lose fat in the next several years. Also, I have one eyelid that is slightly uneven, and he said he can fix that with fat transfer.
So I paid my $1000 down payment today and I have booked this for January 25, which will allow me a renewed face in time for my 33rd birthday in February. Also, this way I can tell my work I'm taking time off for my birthday, which will be true.
Replies (17)
October 12, 2016
Wow, that pricing is ridiculous. You can get the entire face done in Korea a country that pioneered fat transfer for $2300 or in Sweden where D to the J got his done for a similar price. Freedomh20 off of here went to Dr. Shapiro and she had her entire face done plus tca peel for $4700. For something that isn't considered a sure thing I would really get some other opinions.
October 12, 2016
"Quadrants" is used when there are four parts. I assume here it means horizontal slices sections through the x axis.
October 12, 2016
Maybe the forehead is the 4th quadrant? But That one was not mentioned for me. Good question!
October 17, 2016
I can't wait to see your results! I have been planning on going to Dr. Donath for a while. I don't live in the Cinci area, but I have family there, so I've been trying to coordinate having an appointment when I'm in town visiting (it's a 6ish hour drive). I had an appointment a few months ago, but had to cancel, and I'm hoping to reschedule for when I'm in town for Thanksgiving.
Anyway, I first came across your profile last year when I was researching having Restylane in my nasolabial folds. You and I are the same age, and seem to have the same exact facial "problem areas" that bother us! So anyway, your review was what led me to have my nasolabial folds done. I've been considering a fat transfer too, because it takes so much filler to fix the folds, and it doesn't last! I was happy with my results, but now I'm back to square one!
When I see Dr. Donath, I'm planning on having Restylane in my under eye area. I had it done last year with a doctor in my city, and while it looked ok, I've realized I need to go to someone who is an expert in that specific area since it's not very forgiving! And at least that area seems to hold filler for well over a year. But, I was also planning on asking him for a consult for a fat transfer somewhere down the line. It's definitely worth the money if it's done correctly and is going to last. I'll be 33 in March, so maybe I will gift myself a renewed face too!! :)
Anyway, just wanted to say that I'm excited for you, and if you ever want to chat about it, I'm here!
Anyway, I first came across your profile last year when I was researching having Restylane in my nasolabial folds. You and I are the same age, and seem to have the same exact facial "problem areas" that bother us! So anyway, your review was what led me to have my nasolabial folds done. I've been considering a fat transfer too, because it takes so much filler to fix the folds, and it doesn't last! I was happy with my results, but now I'm back to square one!
When I see Dr. Donath, I'm planning on having Restylane in my under eye area. I had it done last year with a doctor in my city, and while it looked ok, I've realized I need to go to someone who is an expert in that specific area since it's not very forgiving! And at least that area seems to hold filler for well over a year. But, I was also planning on asking him for a consult for a fat transfer somewhere down the line. It's definitely worth the money if it's done correctly and is going to last. I'll be 33 in March, so maybe I will gift myself a renewed face too!! :)
Anyway, just wanted to say that I'm excited for you, and if you ever want to chat about it, I'm here!
November 20, 2016
Seems overpriced especially since it doesn't last
November 20, 2016
It lasts in some people but not others. Fat is unpredictable so charging so much for a procedure that doesn't give you predictable or guaranteed results makes me question the ethics of this surgeon. The younger you are the more likely it is to take and last. Theres a gentleman on here named "HenryLV" I believe who is young and had fat transfer done for 2k in Las Vegas and it has lasted. Here is a direct quote from Dr. Donaths website.
"Q-How long do the results of fat transfer/fat injection last?"
"A-While the results of fat transfer can vary from patient to patient, most patients see a truly remarkable effect for years, if not permanently. As much as 40-70% of the fat transferred appears to last indefinitely"
Again if it varies from patient to patient and is unpredictable than charging so much because you think you're more skillful than others when performing what is considered a routine procedure and only takes at maximum an hour to do is unwarranted and unethical in my opinion.
In addition when looking at the fat transfer pics on his website you'll notice that some of the ladies posted under fat transfer pics are also under the "facelift" pics. He did not say tat these fat transfer ladies also had face lifts which is misleading. One last note when viewing photos of fat transfer its important to see how long after the fat transfer the photos were taken. Dr. Donaths website doesn't indiciate how long post procedure the photos were taken? Everyone looks great in the beginning because of swelling. Make sure if youre considering this procedure to find photos of patients who have had fat transfer alone and not in combination with other procedures such as face lifts or fillers and also make sure you know how long after the post-op photos were taken. Again don't be mislead by false marketing complains. Every surgeon on here is also a salesman. Above all else it's important to find an ethical surgeon who will help you if things go wrong and not try to continue to make money off of problems he/she may have created. A lot of people want instant gratification and that can be troublesome a few months down the line if that fat doesnt stay or a few years down the line if the fat begins to lump, cause your face to droop because of the density of it, etc... Remember you're not placing facial fat into your face you're placing stomach, back of knees, love handles, etc.. fat into your face which typically is denser and weighs much more than facial fat so as you age and lose collagen it may not age like the rest of your face and it may cause certain parts of your face to grow and then droop. All of these things which surgeons conveniently overlook to tell patients must be taken into consideration.
"Q-How long do the results of fat transfer/fat injection last?"
"A-While the results of fat transfer can vary from patient to patient, most patients see a truly remarkable effect for years, if not permanently. As much as 40-70% of the fat transferred appears to last indefinitely"
Again if it varies from patient to patient and is unpredictable than charging so much because you think you're more skillful than others when performing what is considered a routine procedure and only takes at maximum an hour to do is unwarranted and unethical in my opinion.
In addition when looking at the fat transfer pics on his website you'll notice that some of the ladies posted under fat transfer pics are also under the "facelift" pics. He did not say tat these fat transfer ladies also had face lifts which is misleading. One last note when viewing photos of fat transfer its important to see how long after the fat transfer the photos were taken. Dr. Donaths website doesn't indiciate how long post procedure the photos were taken? Everyone looks great in the beginning because of swelling. Make sure if youre considering this procedure to find photos of patients who have had fat transfer alone and not in combination with other procedures such as face lifts or fillers and also make sure you know how long after the post-op photos were taken. Again don't be mislead by false marketing complains. Every surgeon on here is also a salesman. Above all else it's important to find an ethical surgeon who will help you if things go wrong and not try to continue to make money off of problems he/she may have created. A lot of people want instant gratification and that can be troublesome a few months down the line if that fat doesnt stay or a few years down the line if the fat begins to lump, cause your face to droop because of the density of it, etc... Remember you're not placing facial fat into your face you're placing stomach, back of knees, love handles, etc.. fat into your face which typically is denser and weighs much more than facial fat so as you age and lose collagen it may not age like the rest of your face and it may cause certain parts of your face to grow and then droop. All of these things which surgeons conveniently overlook to tell patients must be taken into consideration.
November 20, 2016
I agree with Soren on everything he said but I'd also add that if you do decide on a surgeon for fat transfer don't do multiple areas at once. Just do one area as a test to see if the fat stays. That way you're not out a bunch of money and feel disappointed.
Replies (45)