By now we all know that time waits for no one, and gravity doesn’t either. Taking back time, and regaining control of your appearance, is another story.
Losing elasticity, density, and volume in the face is a hallmark of natural aging, but fat transfer puts you back in the driver’s seat. Get ready to mobilize your body’s own resources to turn back the clock.
How do natural fat injections work for facial rejuvenation?
Think of natural fat injections like Robin Hood; taking from rich areas of excess, and reassigning valuable fat resources to where they’re really needed. From flab to fab. Facial fat transfer is a rejuvenating cosmetic procedure that moves fat from where you don’t want it, over to where you really do.
Fat transfer to the face addresses common signs of aging like skin laxity, volume loss, wrinkles, and skin thinning. By transferring fat from unwanted areas on the body to targeted areas of the face, our expert surgeons can lift sagging skin, soften lines, and restore lost volume—resulting in a more youthful and natural appearance.
Common treatment areas for facial fat injection include areas like the cheeks, temples, and lips. This procedure can also help smooth creases around the mouth and restore fullness to under-eye hollows.
The facial fat transfer procedure involves a multi-step process:
- Fat extraction: A small amount of fat is removed from areas such as the flanks, abdomen, or thighs (most of us don’t mind losing a bit of fat from these areas!)
- Processing: The harvested fat is processed, refined, and purified following extraction.
- Injection: The processed fat is carefully reintroduced into specific facial areas; a homecoming of sorts, to where it’s truly wanted.
Did you know: beyond volume enhancement, fat transfer may also improve overall skin quality by introducing healthy stem cells, increasing skin thickness and vitality.
Facial fat transfer vs. Botox® and dermal fillers
While all injectables can make you look younger and more fresh, their agendas differ; like secret agents with different missions. Facial fat transfer shares similarities with injectable fillers in the way it can restore fullness, add back lost volume, and result in a more youthful appearance. But make no mistake – fat transfer is playing the long game!
Here’s how facial fat transfer compared to other injectable treatments in some key aspects:
- Most injectable treatments, including neuromodulators like Botox, are quick procedures with zero downtime or recovery needed.
- Neuromodulators like Botox are intended to relax the muscles causing folds and wrinkles, while fillers and fat transfer restore lost volume and help reshape the face.
- Facial fat is longer-lasting than most dermal fillers, so facial fat injections results can be maintained as long as the patient doesn’t lose an excessive amount of weight.
- Facial fat transfer can enhance areas such as the temples, cheeks, and lips, similar to dermal fillers.
- However, the consistency of transferred fat differs from synthetic fillers, leading to distinct outcomes; the natural properties of fat tissue have a unique effect on facial contours.
- Injections with fat won’t add moisture in the same way that hyaluronic acid fillers do, or relax the muscles causing creases and folds like neuromodulators do.
- Facial fat transfer is generally less effective for sculpting the jawline or the chin compared to some dermal fillers, but can effectively contour with distinct results.
We recommend treatments that are thoughtfully tailored to each patient, and may suggest a combination of fat transfer, fat grafting and restoring injectables to meet your goals and optimize your results.
Facial fat injections are versatile and can be part of a comprehensive plan
When using fat transfer to turn flab to fab, we may recommend these injections as a standalone treatment, or in combination with a facelift or other treatments for comprehensive facial rejuvenation. Facial fat grafting can serve as a longer-lasting alternative to hyaluronic acid fillers and can often be done under local anesthesia. The primary advantage of this approach is its ability to provide natural-looking results by using the patient’s own tissue to enhance facial contours and combat signs of aging. Our team of expert injectors understand your unique facial symmetry and contours to suggest a customized plan that’s unique to you.
How long will the results of facial fat transfer last?
This is the million-dollar question, and often the first one we hear. Facial fat transfer provides longer-lasting results than most injectables. Outcomes can be permanent, but timelines vary for each patient. The amount of fat that gets reabsorbed following treatment varies, with some fat absorption occurring in the first 3-4 months before permanent results are obvious. Maintaining a healthy weight is helpful for maintaining your results; if you lose weight off your body, you’ll likely also lose fat on your face, and some fat is naturally reabsorbed. Ask your specialist any questions you have about what to expect and we’ll be happy to map out realistic expectations for your treatment.
Ready to put your best face forward?
Your true FORM awaits. Check out this gallery of real patient facial fat transfer results to envision what’s possible for you. Why not have yours be our next success story? Connect with us to book your consultation and get started.
