In this guide, we review the following:
- How long does fat transfer to cheeks last?
- Can cheek implants lift face?
- Is cheek implants better than fat grafting?
- Can fat transfer lift the face?
How long does fat transfer to cheeks last?
In a fat transfer procedure, the fat grafting process involves 3 main steps:
Collection
First, fat from the donor sites must be collected in a way that keeps most of the cells alive and unharmed. Like a typical liposuction procedure, fat cells are extracted with a thin cannula, except with Fat Transfer procedures, suction and pressure is applied very slowly and gently, to protect the cells.
Process
Next, the fat is processed to separate the good, living cells from all the other parts extracted. At Belcara Health, our surgeons use a centrifugation process in which the cells are spun at a high speed – proven to be the most effective method of eliminating unwanted excess fluids and dead cells.
Fat injection
Then, your surgeon will apply the purified fat to the areas targeted for enhancement. Again, the technique, experience, and skill of the surgeon are critical to the success of your results. Fat cells must be injected with low pressure and in small amounts so that they can connect with the surrounding tissues and establish a blood supply quickly.
Fat transfer surgeons often slightly overfill the targeted area because it is normal for a certain percentage of cells to not survive.
Fat transfer recovery
It is important to protect the fat cells after they have been injected by minimizing swelling. This is also critical to a speedy recovery from a fat transfer surgery.
For fat transfer breast augmentations and body fat grafting procedures, supportive garments should be worn for at least four weeks.
For facial fat transfer procedures, we recommend patients sleep on their back with their heads elevated. Cool compresses and anti-inflammatory medications are also very helpful in the prevention of swelling.
It is critical that each step of the fat transfer procedure is performed with great care. The board-certified plastic surgeons at Belcara Health have the experience, expertise, and artistic talent to help you achieve a naturally enhanced, more youthful appearance.
How much does a fat transfer cost?
A fat transfer in Baltimore cost varies, depending on the patient and procedure at hand. Fat transfer procedures begin at $8,000. It is important to note that this is a general estimate only
How long does a fat transfer last?
Once the fat transfer procedure is done you can expect that after about six months, the fat cells remaining should be enduringly established and last a lifetime. It is important to remember that time does march on and you will continue to age. You may want to consider additional treatments to continue looking youthful.
Can cheek implants lift face?
A person may be genetically predisposed to a certain facial shape, and the cheekbones may not be as prominent a structure as one prefers. Others may have perfectly normal or even attractive cheeks, though over time the malar fat pads can begin to slip from their high location to a less desirable, lower position on the face. Trauma or disease can deform the structure of the cheek, and may affect tissues as deep as the bone. Each of these issues can be addressed by Dr. Batniji. When a patient is dissatisfied with the midsection of his or her face, there are two main procedures that can significantly alter this area: a cheek lift, otherwise known as a mid-face lift, and cheek implants, also referred to cheek augmentation. There are a number of ways each cosmetic procedure can be performed, which may produce different effects that can be customized to fit a patient’s desires.
CHEEK LIFT
A cheek lift can be thought of as comparable to a facelift, though it specifically focuses on the mid-section of the face, which is the area from below the eyes to the upper lip. The idea is to relocate the tissues of the face to improve existing contours, and restore fullness to the cheeks. Typically, a cheek lift can also dramatically improve the fine lines around the eyes as well as the nasolabial folds of the mouth, which are sometimes called “parentheses lines” because of the way they border the mouth with unwanted curvature of the skin. Alongside a cheek lift, Dr. Batniji can administer cosmetic injections to plump the newly lifted tissues. There are a number of available options, though some popular medical-grade materials are fat injections, Sculptra, Juvederm, or Juvederm Voluma. The combination of these procedures can provide both a better position and an improved form of mid-face tissues.
CHEEK IMPLANTS
Cheek augmentation surgery is often performed with the use of an implant to permanently restore or create the appearance of high, well-defined cheekbones. The implant consists of a semi-soft material that is safe for this use. The implant will first be inserted, then fixed into place to ensure there will be no movement with normal facial expressions. Cheek implants are available in different shapes and sizes so the doctor can create the best mid-face curvature possible, unique to each patient’s own anatomy. Facial fillers may be used as an alternative to implants for enhancing the cheek contours.
Is cheek implants better than fat grafting?
For centuries, high cheekbones have been recognized as one of the most defining traits to a youthful appearance. From Hepburn (either one) to Hadid (either one), this notable characteristic is also a shared feature of beauty’s most notable icons. We equate full, high cheeks with youth and beauty because when one’s facial structure has the greatest width from ear to ear, and narrows at the chin (i.e. an upside down triangle), it is most aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. However, with age the cheeks begin to hollow, causing the jaw to become the widest point from end-to-end, and the “triangle of youth” begins to flip. Unfortunately, this loss of volume and elasticity in the cheeks is extremely common. Fortunately, cheek implants are a quick fix to sagging, restoring volume and the facial contours of your youth. Three basic types of facial contouring implants are available: silicone rubber, fat, and bone. Below, we provide a brief description of each.
Silicone Implants: Similar to a breast implant, an artificial cheek implant is made of silicone, with a variety of sizes available to be best fit each patient’s needs. Unlike a breast implant, however, a cheek implant is solid, so there is no chance of rupture. Silicone affect is isolated to the cheekbones, and small inner corner of the eye. The implant is placed at the cheekbone, atop the periostium and just beneath the eye, through the inside of the mouth. As a result there should be no noticeable scar or stitches. The tissues around the bone encapsulate the implant and hold it in place. A silicone implant may give fullness to a deflated under eye as well, but the perfect result may require refinement with use of Juvenderm filler. A silicone implant is permanent, so the greatest risks to using silicone implants is that precise placement of the implant may not occur or the sizing is not right. It can easy to go overboard, or do too little, so choosing a surgeon with a strong aesthetic sense for balance and proportion is critical when having this procedure.
Fat Transfer: A fat transfer is the more natural option for cheek implantation. It provides the same result as a silicone implant, but with significantly less risk of improper placement because fat is easier to shape and contour once implanted. Under this approach to the cheek implant procedure, fat is harvested the patient’s flank, or “love handles,” by way of “mini-liposuction.” Tiny globules of fat are retrieved and the fluid it from it is removed, or spun, until the fat itself is pure. The fat is then injected into the area along the cheekbone; one tiny dose at a time. This approach give the surgeon greater ability to achieve precise placement and proportion for the patient. Fat implantation at the cheek can also address other areas in need of rejuvenation, such as the nasolabial folds around the mouth, under eye, upper and lower lip, chin and jaw. All of which can be performed at the same time. For this reason a fat transfer is often the preferred option because of its efficiency in addressing multiple areas of the face in one sitting. The entire fat transfer cheek implant procedure can be performed in the office, under local anesthetic, with an enhanced oral sedative, in under two hours. Fat transfers can last from 3-4 years, but eventually the body reabsorbs the fat. For those patients who prefer a less permanent, more natural option, a fat transfer is for you.
Bone Implants And Fillers: Bone transfers can still be performed, but they are significantly less common. This option is typically not used because it’s very invasive, requiring a bone graft from another part of the body. Meanwhile, fillers can be used to refine lines and wrinkles about the face, but they will not restore volume to cheeks. For optimal results, a filler should be used as a compliment to the cheek implant.
Can fat transfer lift the face?
The fight against aging will be a lifelong battle, and there’s perhaps no more difficult battlefield than the one that happens on the face. As you grow older, you lose important structural proteins and subcutaneous fat that once made your skin smooth and the contours of your face healthy and full. This can leave your skin more susceptible to wrinkles, sagging skin, fine lines, and hollow points around the eyes and cheekbones.
Fortunately, you have some options in your arsenal to restore your youthful radiance. At her central Austin office, Dr. Malena Amato finds the most effective weapon you have to fight back against aging is a procedure called facial fat grafting.
Here are five things that everyone should know about facial fat grafting.
1. WHAT TO EXPECT
The most important thing to know before going into surgery is understanding the procedure itself and how it will ultimately serve you. To perform a facial fat transfer, Dr. Amato first uses liposuction to remove fat from a secondary location on the body. Patients usually request to have fat removed from their belly, back, or thighs, as this approach provides the added benefits of shaping and slimming common problem areas.
The harvested fat is then injected into the areas of your face in which you’d like to alter facial contours, add more volume, and tighten your skin. When your recovery is complete, the cells that survive the transfer become permanent in their new location.
2. A FACIAL FAT TRANSFER CAN BE USEFUL FOR SAGGING SKIN
The lower third part of the face is where you’ll experience the most severe sagging skin because of the significant collagen loss. A facial fat transfer can be used to avoid surgery when treating mild sagging skin by restoring essential skin volume.
3. LESS INVASIVE THAN FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY
While facial fat grafting is a surgery, it’s a relatively minor one. In some situations, a facial fat graft may be the best and least invasive course of action. Incisions at the donor and transfer sites will be tiny. The device used to harvest fat cells, and the needle used to re-inject are both small, making the fat transfer less invasive than many other facial cosmetic procedures. This also means less painful recovery time for you so that you can get back to living your life right away.
4. LESS RISK THAN OTHER PROCEDURES
One of the added benefits of facial fat grafting is that it uses your body’s own fat cells to boost volume and restore your youthful appearance. Because it doesn’t use foreign devices such as implants or chemical products that could cause a minor risk of an allergic reaction, facial fat grafting may pose fewer risks for sensitive patients wanting to restore facial volume.
5. WHAT TO EXPECT DURING RECOVERY
Dr. Amato provides a safe, compassionate, conscientious follow-up care plan to all of her patients. Immediately after your surgery, you may notice that your face looks fuller than you’d expected. This is a normal and temporary part of having a facial fat transfer. Some of the facial fullness is caused by swelling, which will subside after recovery.