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What Is Facial Fat Grafting?
Facial Fat Grafting is a commonly performed technique that aims to address the contours of the face. The surgeon harvests your body’s own fat using Liposuction and then injects it to fill different areas of your face. Fat injected into the face is considered permanent, and the results tend to be long-lasting, although some fat may be reabsorbed.
Other names for Facial Fat Grafting include:
- Autologous Fat Transfer
- Facial Fat Injections
- Autologous Fat Grafting
- Nanofat Injections
- Microfat Injections
Facial Fat Grafting is an alternative option for those who want to avoid non-surgical Volume or Wrinkle Treatments.
The procedure requires surgical experience; otherwise, there may be an increased risk of poor results due to a loss of transferred fat. Dr Hunt and Dr Maryam use purifying techniques to make sure that most of the fat cells administered into the face are retained.
Why Patients Might Consider Facial Fat Grafting?
When it comes to facial procedures, there are several options to choose from. Volume Treatments, Wrinkle Treatments, Facial Fat Transfer, and Facelift Surgery (Rhytidectomy) are all available options.
Patients might consider Facial Fat Grafting for a number of different reasons. Some of these include:
- To contour the face without foreign materials
- To address cheek and temple volume
- To target signs of facial ageing with predominant volume loss
- To address other areas of the body with Liposuction (donor areas)
Facial Fat Transfer may be performed on adult patients of any age (over 18 years).
Features of Facial Fat Grafting
There are a number of reasons why patients might consider undergoing Facial Fat Grafting, such as:
- Longevity of results – Facial Fat Grafting is surgical in nature, which means it typically provides longer-lasting results than non-surgical options.
- No foreign materials – It uses your own fat to cosmetically alter the face, without foreign materials.
- Duration – The procedure takes about 30 minutes to perform
- Recovery – It can take a few days, up to a few weeks, to recover
One of the disadvantages of facial fat transfer is that up to 30% or 40% of the fat volume might be lost within a year; however, a second treatment may be an option.
How Is Facial Fat Grafting Performed
Facial Fat Grafting is usually done under a local anaesthetic. This means that you will be awake during the procedure. It’s a one-day surgery, so you won’t spend the night at the hospital. It includes 3 main parts:
Fat Harvesting (Liposuction)
Fat Harvesting (Liposuction) – First, your surgeon will inject saline and local anaesthetic in the target (donor) areas. This numbs the sensation in these areas and loosens the fat from the overlying skin. Then, using a catheter, the fat cells will be removed from under the skin. The catheter is a hollow metallic rod connected to a suction machine. Liposuction is done to tone the donor areas – thighs, abdomen, hips, buttocks, etc. This involves small incisions and scars.
Fat Purification
Fat Purification – The harvested fat is then purified in a special machine. Debris, blood, and water are removed from the fat samples. The result is pure fat cells that are better able to retain their volume.
Facial Injections
Facial Injections – The purified fat is then injected into the areas of the face using a needle. Dr Hunt or Dr Maryam will target the areas with marked volume loss while being mindful of facial symmetry and proportions.
Recovery After Facial Fat Grafting
Recovery after Facial Fat Grafting is generally not too demanding. The Liposuction part of the procedure takes the highest toll on the body, requiring rest and mild painkillers.
You will experience some swelling, bruising, and pain in both the donor and recipient areas. These will peak in 3 to 4 days and then gradually fade out over the coming 3 to 4 weeks. By 6 weeks, you should be fully recovered.
When recovering from Facial Fat Grafting, you should be careful not to forcefully rub your face or press the treated areas. This can ruin the results. Moreover, make sure you wear a compression garment over the donor areas (the Liposuction donor area). Compression garments help reduce swelling and prevent seroma formation. Also, ensure that you avoid smoking and vaping throughout recovery.
