What is facial fat grafting?
Facial fat grafting is a natural way to correct facial changes from aging, asymmetry, and deep lines under eyes, for example. The cheekbones can be enlarged, and the face shape made rounder with facial fat grafting. These features are commonly associated with a youthful look.
Facial fat grafting can be done together with various other procedures, such as lower eyelid surgery and face lift.
The biggest difference between facial fat grafting and facial injections is reusing the client’s own fat cells, achieving a more natural, softer, and long-lasting result.
The amount of fat required in facial fat grafting is small, often only a few spoonfuls. Thus, the fat is relatively easy to collect into a small syringe with local anesthesia even from a very thin person.
What problems can facial fat grafting help with?
- Overall changes from aging and tired look.
- Deep lines between the eyelid and cheek.
- Asymmetry, which typically shows more with age.
- Furrows and inelasticity (often done together with FRX-lasering).
Who does facial fat grafting suit?
Facial fat grafting is suitable in situations when more volume and a youthful shape is desired; with age, all of us lose facial fat.
The procedure doesn’t have an age limitation, and it is typically done to patients 30-80 years of age.
Consultation before the operation
A consultation with a plastic surgeon is crucial in evaluating if facial fat grafting is a good fit for you specifically. The appointment is used to evaluate the shape of the face, quality of skin and tissue, and thus determine whether your desired results can be achieved through facial fat grafting.
The surgeon evaluates the possible areas to take fat from as well as the amount needed. We will always be honest about the achievable results with every operation, and you will be informed of all possible consequences and risks.
The lasting of the fat transfer is discussed during the consultation as well. In the lower eyelid and central face area, approximately 90% of fat transfers and settles into the client’s own tissue. However, on lips the amount is only around 10%. The experienced surgeon takes this into account and offers other options if fat grafting is not the optimal procedure for the client.
More Information
Facial Fat Grafting – The Procedure
Most facial fat grafting procedures are performed under facial nerve block and local anesthesia. A calming premedication may be given before fat grafting.
The procedure is rarely performed under general anesthesia. If this is done, however, you must not eat or drink for six hours before surgery.
Before surgery, the surgeon makes the necessary markings on the skin with a marker while the client is standing upright.
Fat is most often collected from the abdomen or thigh, after which the fat graft is processed and injected under the skin into the areas of the face where it is needed. Sometimes, at the end of the same procedure, the surface skin is tightened with a Fraxel CO2 laser to speed up skin contraction.
The procedure takes approximately 60–90 minutes.
The small puncture wounds at the fat harvesting site are closed with dissolvable stitches. The needle-sized fat grafting openings on the face do not require stitches, as they close on their own within a few hours.
Recovering from Facial Fat Grafting
Immediately after the procedure, you may have temporary swelling, bruising, and tenderness in the treated area. You can return home once you have rested for a while in the recovery room under observation.
Unfortunately, cold compresses cannot be used after fat grafting in order to protect the blood circulation of the fat. Swelling is treated only by keeping the head elevated.
Bruising and swelling usually last for 7–14 days. Most clients return to normal life approximately one week after surgery.
Possible Risks of Facial Fat Grafting
Facial fat grafting is generally a safe procedure, and patient satisfaction is high.
However, as with all surgeries, it carries a small risk of complications, such as bleeding and wound infection. It is therefore important to follow the postoperative care instructions carefully.
A possible longer-term disadvantage may be a prolonged tendency for swelling.
In addition, in all procedures, it is possible that the final result is unsatisfactory, for example due to unevenness. In these rare situations, we will of course aim to correct the issue so that both the surgeon and the client are satisfied.
