Facial creases are one of the earliest signs of aging. They make a person look old, upset, tired, or worried. Lines on the face are not exactly something that can be worn well, so it only makes sense to get rid of them. There are many non-surgical procedures that can help you achieve the right look, but for the most part, these involve the use of synthetic chemicals. Fat grafting, on the other hand, is about as natural as it gets. Fat is taken from parts of the body where it is not needed and then it is injected back into the face to restore volume, smoothness, and the appearance of youth.

How It Works

First off, you need to be the right candidate for fat transfer injections, but the good news is that almost all of us have excess fat somewhere in the body. It can be from the outer thigh, from the abdomen, or pretty much any site from the body where your doctor might feel like fat can be harvested. Also, the fat removed, in this case for use in the face, will not be as much as you might think in volume. The fat is sucked out of the body in a procedure that is close to liposuction, then the fat is purified and prepped to be reintroduced back into your face.

The results are almost instant and address a number of conditions, like hollowness, deep acne scarring, crow’s feet, laugh lines, and other blemishes on the face. The fat from your own body is used, so there is no chance of adverse reactions like allergies. While the effect will last a long time, it is not a permanent fix, so you might want to get it done a few times over the span of years.

Preparing for a Fat Transfer

The entire procedure should not take more than 30 minutes or so, but usually not more than an hour. In most cases, fat transfers require little preparation, as the methods used are minimally invasive. Liposuction will be done, so local anesthesia will be used, especially if the volume of fat to be extracted is large.

Once the fat is removed, a few tests will be run on it that include medical evaluation. The harvested fat will then be purified. It is done to ensure that the fat is uniform in texture as well as free from any impurities. This is done by running it through a centrifuge. The injection will then be applied to various points to form a grid. Minute volumes will be injected multiple times to make sure the fat cells are evenly spread.

The results are almost immediate, but the area may look like it is a little too big at first. That is because of the swelling that comes with the procedure. In a few days, it will reduce significantly, leaving you with the results you expected.

Learn More

Fat transfer treatments are among the most successful and natural ways of lifting and smoothing facial skin. Dr. Carl Lentz, an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, will be available to explain the process in greater detail during a consultation. To arrange your consultation, contact us today.