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POSTED UNDER Facial Fat Transfer Reviews

46 Years Old Wanted to Add Fullness Back to my Face and Lips That I Have Lost over Time and Weight Loss - Dallas, TX

UPDATED FROM Jewel46
2 months post

Almost 2 months post fat transfer

$4,600
Well I am almost 2 months post fat transfer procedure and wanted to give an update. I did the fat transfer to fill out my face and help with the tired and sunken look I was experiencing. Most of my post procedure comments revolved around my lips because they were so BIG. The rest of my face didn't really look much different compared to my lips, so I didn't talk much about those areas. I can say now that my lips are almost back to their original size. I have very minimal change to my lips. I would like them a slight bit fuller ( go figure) but they look better now then when they were HUGE and crooked. The rest of my face looks slightly better. I would say the change is minimal and wish I had bit more fullness overall. I go back next month to see the dr and maybe I will be able to tell more of a difference with their before and after pics. I am still not sure the change is enough to outweigh the cost and go through the entire experience, but I am waiting for the 3 month appt to really make my final decision. I have to say I would not want to be overfilled, so I think there is a fine line as to how much fat to add. It is not an exact science or outcome. It was too expensive to take extra fat out and store it ( not in my budget). I would have to go thru the entire procedure again to have more fat added.

Jewel46's provider

David G. Genecov, MD (in memoriam)

David G. Genecov, MD (in memoriam)

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Overall rating
Doctor's bedside manner
Answered my questions
After care follow-up
Time spent with me
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The Dr seemed great. The office has been very nice overall. I had my procedure done 4 days ago and have to admit , it was more painful then I expected. When I was done I knew I would be swollen and messed up looking. I thought everything looked ok except my lips were freakishly large. The Dr said they would be swollen but 4 days out and I can't tell that they are going down at all. I hope my face doesn't absorb too much of the fat elsewhere because it will not be much different then before, but my lips look HUGE. I will upload pictures as soon as I can but wonder if anyone else has had this experience? I have read that the lips absorb a lot of the fat and that they will go down some, but not seeing any evidence of that happening as of yet. My family burst out laughing when they see me and these lips! They can't help themselves. I did have a lot of pain in my lips the night after and next day after fat grafting. That was on Friday and I had the procedure on Thursday. I expected the office to call and see how I was doing and was going to talk to them then about the pain but they never called. I usually don't need to take pain meds much after the surgeries I have had ( gall bladder, hysterectomy, etc.) but my lips were really hurting me. I called the office around 3:30 pm and got the exchange service. I talked with the PA right away and sent her pictures from my phone. She said everything looked ok and to keep taking highest dose of pain meds and ice them. I had been icing them but starting using lip balm because they started cracking due to how large they were and the swelling. They peeled like crazy and the lip balm helped tremendously. Nothing else has hurt terribly just tenderness. I wake up everyday hoping they will go down but it is not happening. PLEASE tell me that they are going to shrink. I am so embarrassed and have to go in public to a school meeting tonight. I go back for the follow up on Thursday and can't wait to ask the talk to the Dr about this issue.

Replies (20)

Have you thought about a Lip Lift ? Looking at your pics from 15 yrs ago a lip lift might be the best way to get back to what you had. I haven't had one yet but some of the members on realself have had some pretty good results.
Lip lifts are awesome ... if you don't scar easily. If you scar dark, it can be a pain.
I've looked into FT and might get it done, but the storing fat part is a little scary once I looked into it. The fat storage is not anything special, just your fat in a freezer. One doctor joked and said, I could just as well take it home and put it in my freezer. If there is some human error happening , your fat could get mixed up with someone else's. As well, the fat is no longer viable as it is no longer living tissue, so this could add complications like hard lumps or simply that it will not become graft to the rest of your living tissue. I'm still on the fence about getting it done. So costly, and not certain if the fat will stay. I really would like some fat in the anterior cheeks and temples. Viola xoxo said she used Deer Antler Velvet and her fat seemed to stay.
Sometimes you have to do a touch up. A very good surgeon told me (reputable) that if a doc tells you more than 30-40% last...then he's not telling the truth. I had it done a few time...and have some in the bank. So that's not bad...When it come s to fat...make sure your doctor has the experience. Good luck..yeah...the money for anything is insane...they make like $1000. an hour...but the good ones deserve it.
My doc said fat would absorb, wish he would have put a little more in so I would have a bit more fullness. Everyone is different so he did't want to overfill. I just didn't have the money to bank the fat for touch ups! Unfortunately ...
do they charge as much for touch ups? My surgery was very expensive.
I had to take fat out anyway...so win win. I had to do it a few times, though...fat injection that is. Then I banked it. I like and respect my doctor...Jeffery Ptak in Scottsdale. We have to know when to cut and when to use other means...like laser or fat. I've never done botox or filler other than my fat. Will I? I may...I am very frightened about using other fillers...but I may end up doing just that. I am a very allergic person...gluten, dairy egg,soy, peanut and shellfish...no kidding...off over 20 years. I'm wondering about Juvaderm or Restalyn?
It was too expensive to bank my fa,t so it will be a one time shot for me. If I would have had the funds I would have done that for touch ups. I have never had filler either, but thinking of it for the tear troughs. My doc didn't do fat around the eye area. He thought adding to cheeks would help the eye area but it needs some filler in my opinion.
BY 'banking" your fat, I presume that they're freezing it? That's not really a good approach since today they're using freezing to KILL fat (think CoolSpa) The "Father of Fat" Sydney Coleman in NYC used to advise patients to ice their face after fat grafting but now strictly advises against it. He's got the highest retention rate in the country I believe because it's his techniques that most of these Drs use (the Coleman technique)
Good info to know . Appreciate the input
I've had both and they last maybe 9 months or so . . . start diminishing in maybe six-ish. Pricey, too, for noticeable result.
Do you know how much fat he injected? I'm a month out with only 5 ccs of fat & don't see any difference at all
I can't remember how many cc's overall. He added it to my lips, nasal folds, cheeks, a little to the corners of my chin. I don't see a beg transformation but a minor improvement. Where was your fat added? 5 cc's doesn't sound like much though. I would love to see pictures.
UPDATED FROM Jewel46
16 days post

Newest picture 2 weeks after procedure

Here is the latest.

Replies (12)

I'm glad to see you're okay w the results so far. I'm 46 and having the fat transfer and lower lift on 2/18. It didn't look like you had a lot of bruising. We have similar faces so it's interesting to see your afterwards.
I had very little bruising. I hope you share your pics so I can see how it turns out.
I definitely will.
Your lips look GREAT stop massaging them or you'll kill all the fat cause after all not every fat cell survive
The doc said not to message too much. I am not really messaging anymore just rubbing spots to even out. Thanks for the advice
Beautiful! Very sexy lips!
Thank you! I am still trying to get used to them but really appreciate the compliment. My husband and kids have not been very complimentary about it. I think they are not used to the change,
Very nice result, you look good & your lips are pretty. They aren't too big, you just aren't used to them. I think they look natural. So many women are plumping their lips these days, so no need to feel self conscious.
Thank you for the encouraging words! I think they are growing on me. I will post another picture soon to show latest progress. My concern is looking fake or having that duck look to my mouth.. I think the rest of my face looks better. My family has not really said "it looks really good" or any positive comments so I think I'm feeling like maybe it doesn't look better. Family doesn't like change so maybe that's why they are not that positive about it?
There's no picture.
I'm looking into having this done.
UPDATED FROM Jewel46
16 days post

Newest picture 2 weeks after procedure

Replies (6)

I think your lips are looking good :)
Thank you! I am trying to get used to them. I was expecting them be a little more conservative. I have heard the lips go down a lot though, so maybe I will be glad they are so full when it is all said and done.
Very pretty! The doctor did a great job.
Thank you!
look very nice
Thank you!
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