2011 Fat Transfer - I Look the Same in 2015! Exceptional Long-term Results Thanks to a Great Cosmetic Surgeon (And Good Health)

Hey there your pics look great but I too was wondering if you had any before and afters where you're not smiling? It's easier to judge improvements when there's no expression on the face.

The before and after pictures that I posted were taken by Iowa Plastic Surgery for their records (my patient file) in 2011 (before) and early 2012 (after).
I posted a picture showing a front and side view with a slight smile taken last month. I don't have any pictures without any smile and I am not one to have my picture taken (or to take selfies) often - I hope this will suffice. I have not had any work done since 2011.

I even looked at my work badge and drivers license pictures and have a slight smile in both.

No worries no need to go out of your way. The pics you do have look wonderful. You look like you're in your early 30s now and the results are wonderful.

Thank you! The credit goes to Dr Van Raalte. If you or someone you know is looking for a good cosmetic surgeon, his talents go far beyond fat grafting.

Good to know. Please can you add some more photos? I would love to see the result in different lighting if possible.

Hi, in my Sept 11 response I provided my google plus url which shows pics of me one before when my children were young and the rest after the fat transfer.

I'm going to do it on the 7th so I hope all goes good

I don't know how to post NY pictures before and after ?

My pictures

I just learned how to put profile picture but after the fat transfer I don't know how to post more??

Hi, Tamara! Your cosmetic surgery is coming up soon. I wish you the best. Just remember that you will look a bit like a train wreck for the first 2 to 3 weeks depending on how badly you tend to bruise and swell. In general, I bruise and swell so badly that we joke about it. You can't see the results until the swelling goes down and the viable fat settles (I had duck lips for a few months). You will have some idea of how much fat will remain at about the 6th month. But everyone's body chemistry is different. Let me know how your surgery goes and if you have questions that I can respond to.
Regarding posting the after picture, I believe I added mine by going to my profile and adding another picture with comment.

Thank you so much I feel way better! Wow 6 month's long ways to go huh. Ttyl and ty again

Thank you so much! : )

Thank you, Nancy!

Thank you! I am considering a retouch and this time including the troughs below my lower eye lids. They are starting to hollow since I will soon be 48. I hope the retouch results are as good as the initial results - it all depends on your body chemistry and metabolism. Personally, I am not a fan of injecting anything but my own fat into my face. I am really not a fan of fillers. Again, thank you for the compliment!

Hi Renee, other than the eyes why do the retouch to the rest of the face? Has the fat started to diminish 3 years later?

The fat has not diminished but I have continued to age and have areas where i have a few wrinkles today that I didn't have 4 years ago. I now have a few crows feet around my eyes when I smile big and one wrinkle between my upper lip and nose on the right side of my mouth that shows from time to time (not sure what the criteria is for it to show up?). I have read several blogs on the Internet where many have to have several fat transfers to get the results they want. I was lucky and healthy enough that my initial fat transfer was enough for 4 years and honestly, I could wait longer but I am healthy now. Who knows what my health will be like when I turn 50 which was when I figured I would do something more to defy aging. Health affects the results (viable transferred fat and healing). The retouch is only to these areas, not my entire face.

1. I am 5'4" and weigh 122 so did not have a lot of fat. A little was taken from lower abdomen and my sides, but most was taken from my flanks (back). 2. I was not told how cc's of fat was transplanted. 3. He did my entire face and lips minus under my eyes. 4. Initially there were a few little lumps around my mouth that I massaged until they disappeared. I have always had fairly flawless skin so there wasn't a notable improvement. You are welcome, let me know if you have any other questions.

Just one question that I jumbled in with a bunch of others so it was easy to miss. Since you had the nasal lines done as well how much fst would you say you retained there?

i would say overall i retained 70-75%. I don't have any areas where the fat did not survive since 2011. I have no areas that are uneven that I did not have before (naturally). I have not had any work done to my face since 2011. The August 2015 picture shows a smile with very few nasal lines. My results are extraordinary - thank goodness. But bear in mind, I am very healthy, active, and don't drink or smoke. I really think that has a lot to do with my results. I fluctuate up to 5 lbs and I have noticed that when I am up 5 lbs, my face feels plump and I have a bit of a tingling sensation. I find that interesting. I am happy to answer any questions that you have.

You are so beautiful and you look much younger than mid 40s. Personally im gonna do a fat transfer to my face so i get the my overall round face back. U give me hope that i can get fat transfer to my face w/o looking like a chipmunk lol i just want my pre weight gain baby face back, although my medium sized cheek implants has improved ALOt i feel like a fat transfer would complete the look i want. Thanks for posting a 4 year review

Btw did he put fat in your lips or just around ur mouth area?

Thank you! I liked the idea that it was my own fat and that if it survived it would be long-term. I will tell you that I swell and bruise badly - it's just the way my body is. So it took longer for the swelling and bruising to subside than it does for most. No fault of Dr Van Raalte. He had me come in frequently following the procedure to make sure I was healing properly and there were no issues. I mentioned a few lumps around my mouth that I massaged until they disappeared but they were not visible. Fat was transferred into my lips and they are still plump today. My family teased me that I had duck lips until the swelling went down. The fat in your face does fluctuate with the fat in your body - so if my weight goes up, my face plumps. If my weight goes down, I have less fat in my face. It's interesting to acknowledge that the transferred fat is not face fat - it's flank fat, tummy fat, and hip fat. The identity of the fat does not change - ever. I hope that you get the results that you want. It takes a few months for your face to heal. At the six month mark you will have some idea whether the fat will survive. I felt like the 1 year mark gave me a more confident idea of how much fat survived. It takes time. It's hard to be patient - but you have to be. Good luck!!

Thank you.
Absolutely, I would never go to another cosmetic surgeon. My trust is in Dr. Van Raalte of Iowa Plastic Surgery, Davenport IA.

Thanks will look him up.