Facial fat transfer has emerged as an increasingly popular procedure for patients experiencing the “hollowed out” appearance that can occur as the result of the aging process, and for enhancing specific areas of the face, such as the cheekbones or lips, offering a fuller, plumper contour that can subtract years from your appearance.
Unlike other contouring procedures, facial fat transfer relies on your body’s own fat cells, moving them from one area of the body, such as the thighs, hips, abdomen, or buttocks, and implanting them in areas of the face to create new contours. Because the fat cells used during the procedure are your won, the facial fat transfer procedure does not have the same risk of allergic reaction that other contour procedures carry.
The procedure itself is relatively simple, and can be performed in your clinician’s office, usually in about an hour. During the facial fat transfer procedure, fat cells are harvested from one area of the body using a needle or very thin tube. The cells are cleaned and separated from other material, then injected into the face. Only local anesthesia is used, and most patients report no pain during the procedure.
Afterward, there may be slight bruising or swelling in the injection sites, but once resolved, the results of your procedure will be visible right away, and usually last for several years in most individuals. Most individuals undergoing facial fat transfer are able to resume their regular routine within a day or two of the procedure.
