The results you see 9 to 10 months after your procedure are considered permanent. However, any weight change—loss or gain—can shrink or grow those transferred fat cells, changing the proportions and appearance of your face. The treated area will also continue to lose volume over time, due to the normal aging process.
In this guide, we review the following:
- Are there long term results from facial fat transfer?
- Are fat grafting results permanent?
- What are the long term effects of fat grafting?
- Does fat transfer to cheeks last?
Are there long term results from facial fat transfer?
For patients who notice certain facial features looking flat or deflated, injectable dermal fillers and/or synthetic implants can be used to restore a fuller and more youthful appearance. In some cases, however, patients prefer a more natural alternative to facial fillers and implants. For these men and women, a facial fat transfer may be ideal. As an added benefit, the results from a fat transfer typically last much longer than cosmetic fillers, meaning patients can enjoy their enhanced new look for years or even decades to come. At VIP Plastic Surgery in Las Vegas, NV, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Khorsandi is proud to help patients achieve their desired new look – whether soft, sexy, or striking – with facial fat grafting. Read on for a closer look at what to expect after a fat transfer to the face, including how long your results may last and what you can do to maintain them over time.
WHAT IS A FAT TRANSFER TO THE FACE?
A facial fat transfer is a popular procedure designed to add or restore volume to certain facial features, smooth lines and wrinkles, and create a more attractive, more youthful look overall. Many men and women prefer a fat transfer vs. dermal fillers due to the more natural approach used with a facial fat transfer as well as its long-term results.
HOW DOES A FACIAL FAT TRANSFER WORK?
During your facial fat transfer in Las Vegas, which can typically be performed using local anesthesia and sedation, Dr. Khorsandi will remove unwanted fat from another area of the body using liposuction. The fat is then separated, purified, and prepared in syringes. Using his renowned artistry and expert precision, Dr. Khorsandi will then inject the fat cells into certain areas of the face to create the patient’s desired look. Manual massage may be performed between each layer of injections to ensure a smooth, even, natural-looking result.
WHERE ON THE FACE CAN FAT BE TRANSFERRED?
Common concerns that can be addressed with a facial fat transfer include:
- Sunken circles under the eyes
- Hollow cheeks
- Nasolabial folds
- Thin lips
- Set-back chin
- Weak jawline
HOW LONG DOES A FACIAL FAT TRANSFER LAST?
Unlike dermal fillers, which typically need to be re-injected every 12 – 18 months, a facial fat transfer can provide results that last years, decades, or even longer. However, patients considering a fat transfer procedure should keep in mind that the natural aging process will not stop, so they may notice changes to their appearance over time. Additionally, the fat cells that are transferred to the face can change in size with weight fluctuation, which may compromise or even reverse the patient’s cosmetic outcome. For this reason, it is critical that patients are committed to maintaining a stable weight after their fat transfer. This – combined with a healthy lifestyle, sun protection, and a proper skin care routine – can help preserve the results of a facial fat transfer for years to come.
Are fat grafting results permanent?
Facial fat grafting (fat transfer) is one of the fastest-growing minimally-invasive procedures on the market today. The procedure uses your own (autologous) fat minimizing the risk for allergic reaction. Patients can achieve natural-looking outcomes that outlast most other synthetic dermal fillers with almost no downtime.
Fat grafting can be used for everything from wrinkle reduction to correcting facial volume loss caused by weight loss or aging. But, is it permanent? The short answer is yes, to an extent. The procedure’s longevity can vary from patient to patient based on their area of concern and the expertise of their provider. To get a better understanding of how long your results will last, we’ll need to take a closer look at how the procedure works.
How Does Facial Fat Grafting Work?
Facial fat grafting is done in a simple, 3-step process. First, fat is harvested from the donor site (usually the abdomen, flanks, or buttocks) via microincision low suction liposuction methods. During this part of the process, it is essential to treat the harvested fat cells gently as they are sensitive to trauma.
Once harvested, fat will immediately be processed and prepared for re-injection. Nothing is added to the fat – the fat is gently cleaned in a sterile closed system and transferred to tiny syringes for re-injection. The injection process is very important. For an optimal outcome, you’ll need precision placement with calculated amounts of fat delivered at exact depths. This requires an expert understanding of facial anatomy. The injection is performed through tiny needle sticks that don’t require any sutures.
With the right anesthesia, you will not feel the injections, and after surgery, there is essentially no pain. If you’re considering facial fat grafting procedures, I highly recommend choosing a skilled, board-certified surgeon who can produce the long-lasting results you want.
When Will I See Results?
With facial fat grafting, you will see initial results immediately. The treatment area will have become instantly fuller and plumped. Because of swelling related to the procedure, you may feel overcorrected, but this resolves fairly quickly. Over the course of 2-6 weeks, some fat cells will not obtain a blood supply and will be reabsorbed back into the body. The remaining cells will begin to mimic the surrounding fat leaving you with the long-term results you want. In some cases, more than one treatment may be needed to achieve your end-goals.
How Long Will Facial Fat Grafting Last?
As we touched on earlier in the article, results from facial fat grafting can significantly vary from person to person. The skill of your provider, the area of concern, and how your body reacts to treatment can all play a role in the longevity of your treatment. By three months we will have a very good idea of how much of the fat has survived, and those fat cells will last many years.
Facial fat grafting can be a long-term alternative to traditional dermal fillers and is far superior to dermal fillers when transferring large volumes. Many patients are happy with the outcome of their procedure for years.
While the fat cells last a long time, ongoing loss of volume in your face as part of the aging process may result in the need for additional fat grafting. Occasionally, patients will return for additional fat grafting. It is important to realize that too much fat is far worse than not enough fat. We can always add, but removing excess fat is difficult. Consequently, I am very careful to be cautious in terms of the amount of fat placed. During your initial consultation, we’ll discuss all of your options in depth, and show you many photos of patients who are at different times following their fat grafting procedure.
What are the long term effects of fat grafting?
Surgical fat transfer is defined as the movement of fat from one part of the body to another. Today, it is also known as “fat graft” and “lipomodelling”and many Boston cosmetic surgeons are able to perform this procedure.. This type of cosmetic procedure has been around since about 1898, but was used then more for injury repairs to parts of the body.
The main reason for the surgery is to aesthetically enhance certain parts of your body while removing fat from other areas (such as the tummy or thighs). The result is a more attractive overall body shape that is better proportioned and to your liking.
Even though this is a fairly common surgery, it is not without risks, and you need to know all the limitations and risks involved before you have it done. Some of the risks are less severe, but there are some long-term risks you should be aware of.
Long term, changes may occur in the shape, appearance, or texture of the area where the fat was removed or replaced. This can result from age, weight gain or loss, and other circumstances. More surgeries will have to be done if you want to maintain the body type you strive for. Each surgery that is done risks having side effects, so consider this fact in the decision process.
It is rare, but in certain cases, the transferred fat may cause injury to the skin over the site, causing tissue damage to the skin and surrounding tissue. This may result in scarring or disfigurement and need surgery to repair.
A condition known as Seroma may occur following the surgery, after a trauma to the area or vigorous exercise. Fluid may accumulate between the skin and the underlying tissue, causing swelling and shape change. Your surgeon needs to know this immediately so it can be addressed and more dire results averted.
This lipomodelling surgery is usually done today in the surgeon’s office and with local anesthesia. In some cases though, general anesthesia may be used, so pulmonary complications are always a consideration. Blood clots (pulmonary emboli) and partial collapse of the lungs can occur after general anesthesia. Should either of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and immediate additional treatment. Pulmonary emboli can be life-threatening or fatal in some circumstances.
Although rare, fat embolism syndrome can occur when fat droplets are trapped in the lungs. This is a very rare, but possibly fatal, complication of fat transfer procedures.
There have also been rare cases of fat transfer where related fat necrosis causes significant facial dysmorphia (deformity or change of shape of the body part) and psychological distress.
Less Severe and Usually Correctable Side Effects of Fat Injections
Very dire side effects to lipomodeling are fairly rare, and most side effects are more minor and can be corrected. One thing you should realize (as your cosmetic surgeon will explain) is that after the initial procedure, you may need other procedures in future months or years to maintain the appearance you desire. So this may not be a one-time surgery.
The transferred fat will lose some of its original volume over time. This will change the overall shape and appearance of the area, and more treatments will be needed to correct it. If you gain weight, the fat may increase in mass and create an undesirable look. So it becomes obvious that more treatment may be needed to maintain the look you want.
Firmness, lumpiness, or asymmetry may occur also. If some of the fat does not survive the transfer, it may actually “die” and become firm and cause discomfort. Cysts may form at the transfer site and require a procedure to remove.
A symmetrical body appearance unfortunately may not result from a fat transfer procedure. There are factors such as skin tone, fatty deposits, bony prominence, and muscle tone that may cause a normal asymmetry in certain body features. It actually may not be possible to achieve or maintain exact symmetry following a fat transfer.
Most of these occurrences can be corrected, but more surgery will be needed. Most patients have these procedures done to help regain their self-confidence and esteem. All the benefits of even these shorter-term risks should be discussed at length with your plastic surgeon, so you can evaluate the procedure accurately. Try to work with experienced cosmetic doctors that are familiar with the lipomodelling or fat injection procedure. By choosing correctly, your cosmetic surgeon will provide you with the body you desire, and always strive to reduce or eliminate complications.
What Are the Usual Results of Fat Injections, Fat Grafting, or Lipomodelling?
Although overall, fat injections are a minimally invasive procedure, your cosmetic surgeon will be cautious to avoid any unexpected damage to the donor and recipient sites to always minimize the preoperative risk and complications. This procedure is common today and becoming easier to do while producing your specific desired results.
Discuss the procedure thoroughly with your Wellesley or Boston cosmetic surgeon, but also find out the following:
- What is your surgeon’s background and training regarding lipomodelling, fat injection, or fat grafting?
- Are they on the specialist register for plastic surgery?
- What sort of follow up should you expect if things do go wrong?
- How many of these surgeries have they performed?
- Their patient satisfaction rates, if available.
Does fat transfer to cheeks last?
Facial plastic surgery isn’t the only way to improve your appearance for years to come. Facial fat grafting, also known as facial fat transfer, is a service that smooths skin and defines features with long-lasting volume. In fact, the outcome of this popular technique is essentially permanent.
What Happens During Facial Fat Transfer?
Facial fat transfer is similar to facial fillers in some ways. But instead of using synthetic gels to add volume to your face, this procedure injects your own purified fat into areas that need a boost.
There’s little chance of allergic reaction when using your own transferred fat. Fat is also an incredibly rich source of stem cells. Stem cells can stimulate collagen for ongoing rejuvenation.
This multistep technique involves liposuction to remove excess fat from one area of the body. So it has the added benefit of slimming and shaping any troublesome spots on your figure.
What To Expect After Facial Fat Grafting
Not all of the transferred fat will survive. However, the fat that makes it through the healing process will live on in the treatment area. The results you see after about nine months are pretty much permanent. However, weight changes and aging can still impact your facial appearance.
On the other hand, dermal fillers typically last a matter of months. Repeat injections are needed to see a continuous improvement. So, fat transfer is usually more cost-effective than fillers over time.
Simple Ways To Maintain Your New Look
Facial fat grafting results are long-lasting. You can maximize the benefits of your procedure with a few simple steps, including following all of the post-procedure care instructions we provide. These instructions may include limiting strenuous activity and not placing pressure on the treated areas during the healing process. Steps like these can help protect your outcome.