Fat Transfer to the Face
Many of the injectable treatments we use to treat facial aging provide stunning, but temporary results. For our patients that desire a longer-lasting injectable, we offer facial fat transfer. This procedure takes your own fat from an area with excess and transplants it into the face. It can restore lost volume, smooth out lines and wrinkles, and revitalize your facial appearance. Best of all, results last for a long time, often permanently.
Fat transfer to the face can be performed on its own in place of an injectable filler treatment. It is also commonly paired with other procedures to enhance their results. Is this treatment right for you? If you’re wondering whether or not a fat transfer surgery is the right option for you, continue on below to learn more. You may also call our Chevy Chase office to schedule your consultation with facial plastic surgeon Dr. Adam Singleton.
Facial Fat Transfer Is Versatile
Fat transfer to the face, whether fat transfer surgery for women or fat transfer treatment for men, can be used to address many aesthetic concerns. In our practice, we use a fat transfer procedure to:
- Fill in lines and wrinkles on the temple, cheeks, and lower face
- Smooth hollows under the eyes
- Improve skin texture and tone
- Restore lost facial volume
- Enhance the results from other facial procedures including facelift and blepharoplasty
A fat transfer surgery or facial fat transfer treatment is versatile and can single-handedly address many facial concerns. It can also complement other procedures, both surgical and non-surgical. From brow to chin, fat grafting can improve your aesthetic appearance.
Facial Fat Grafting in Chevy Chase & the Washington, D.C. areas: What to Expect
Fat grafting, also known as fat transfer procedure, is a minimally invasive procedure. It is performed in our office or at our off-site surgical center. Patients can return home the same day.
Understanding fat transfer surgery for women and men
There are two distinct phases in the treatment: harvest of fat and transfer of fat. These two phases are typically performed one after the other on the same day. Dr. Singleton and our experienced nursing staff at Capital Facial Plastic Surgery will work together to ensure stunning, natural-looking results from your procedure are achieved.
The first phase of a fat transfer procedure involves a simple liposuction technique to obtain fat for transfer. Many areas of the body have extra fat that we can remove including the flanks and abdomen. We can often perform the extraction for fat transfer surgery using only a local anesthetic. After the required amount of fat is extracted, it is then prepared for transfer. We then process the fat to remove impurities, water, and oil. The processed fat is placed into syringes to be transferred.
Dr. Singleton injects the prepared fat into specific facial areas. He may treat the entire face or focus the treatment on specific problem areas. We’ll talk in depth before your treatment to figure out your goals for the procedure and the best ways to achieve them.
Recovery After Fat Transfer to Face
You’ll return home the same day as your fat transfer procedure. Swelling is the biggest procedural complaint. Most patients miss about 1-2 weeks from work to give the swelling time to resolve. Do not schedule any big events or planned photos during this time. Other common side effects during healing include bruising, redness, and tenderness.
The most important thing to know about recovery from a fat transfer surgery for women or men is this: You’ll have two recovery areas; the area where the fat was extracted and the area where it was transplanted. To assist you with your healing and recovery, we will be giving you detailed instructions for caring for both areas before and after your fat transfer procedure.
Dr. Singleton encourages his patients to rest on the day of their procedure. Begin gentle walking on Day 2. Fat transfer patients often resume regular activities very quickly. Downtime after this procedure is primarily social downtime due to swelling.
Complementary Procedures
Fat transfer to the face is often paired with other facial plastic surgery procedures to help patients achieve or further enhance their desired results. Explore some of our favorite complements to this procedure:
A facelift tightens facial skin. Fat transfer surgery helps Dr. Singleton restore youthful facial contours. For example, he may place fat into the cheek area to restore volume and provide lift as he removes skin and repositions supportive tissues.
Fat grafting can fill in hollows under and around the eyes, complementing the results of an eyelid lift
Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid lift, is a surgical procedure designed to lift loose or sagging skin around the eyes. Specifically, blepharoplasty is performed on patients to address such common signs of aging as fat bags under the eyes, puffy eyelids, drooping/hanging skin over the eyes that may obstruct vision, lines and wrinkles around the lower eyelids, and sagging upper or lower eyelids. Fat grafting can fill in hollows under and around the eyes, complementing the results of an eyelid lift.
Laser rejuvenation treatments restore the quality of the skin. When paired with a fat transfer procedure to the face, significant improvement in facial appearance can occur. This combination tightens and smoothens skin while restoring lost facial volume.
Botox® relaxes facial muscles that cause wrinkles. It works best around the eyes and on the forehead. Pair with a facial fat transfer procedure to rejuvenate the entire face.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fat Transfer to the Face
Fat transfer to the face is a rejuvenating treatment that uses your own fat cells in place of synthetic fillers. It is common to have questions if you’re considering the procedure; get in touch with our clinic so we can answer them.
Fat transfer to the face, also known as a fat transfer face lift or fat transfer surgery (for women and men), is a versatile treatment that addresses multiple cosmetic issues concerning the face. It restores lost facial volume, improves skin tone and texture, smooths hollows under the eyes, and fills in wrinkles and lines on the lower face, cheeks, and temple. It also enhances the results from blepharoplasty, facelift, and other facial procedures.
Examination of fat transfer to face before and after photos will show beautiful, natural-looking results.
Fat transfer to the face harvests fat from areas of the body that have excess fat. These donor sites include the abdomen and the flanks a.k.a. love handles; thanks to the fat in these areas being in considerable abundance even in slim men and women. The fat here also tends to be “tougher” than the fat in other areas, which is thought to contribute to the enduring nature of the face fat transfer results.
The fat transfer face lift, whether it’s a fat transfer surgery for women or a fat transfer procedure for men, only needs to harvest between 20 and 80 cc of fat from the donor site(s), so it doesn’t leave visible signs that fat was extracted. In contrast, liposuction of the flank harvests as much as 600 cc of fat.
Patient comfort is a priority at Capital Facial Plastic Surgery. We use local anesthetics and sedation, if needed, to ensure a comfortable surgical treatment.
Recovery time from a fat transfer procedure usually lasts anywhere between two and three weeks.
To aid in your healing, it’s important to remember that you’ll have two recovery areas from your fat transfer procedure: the fat extraction site and the facial areas where the fat was transplanted into. Both areas will see minor to moderate bruising, swelling, tenderness, and redness. These will gradually subside during the healing and recovery period.
Some patients report feeling minor discomfort during recovery. This can be easily managed with pain medication. We’ll discuss your options for over-the-counter and prescription pain relief.
Patients typically return home the same day as the procedure and are often physically ready to return to work and resume regular activities after a few days. Patients may miss one to two weeks of work due to swelling. As with any surgical procedure, take it easy during the recovery period and give your body sufficient time to heal.
Many of our patients will enjoy lasting, life-long results from their face fat transfer procedure. Of course, this varies from patient to patient. Some fat resorption is normal, and typically occurs in the first few months after the procedure. Once fat becomes established, it often remains for many years. This is our most permanent option for restoring facial volume.
Fat transfer to the face or fat transfer surgery offers patients a few distinct benefits over dermal fillers. The results tend to be longer-lasting, often by several years. Additionally, fat grafting uses your own cells thus eliminating the risk of a bad reaction. But dermal fillers have benefits too. Before you choose between these options, come in for a consultation and we’ll weigh the pros and cons together.
Many of our patients are good candidates for a face fat transfer procedure. Ideally, patients must be in good overall health. You’ll also need a little excess fat. Most people have plenty of extra fat, but patients that are underweight or very thin may not have sufficient fat for this procedure.
How much this type of procedure costs is one of the biggest concerns of a lot of patients. Typically, the cost of fat transfer to the face ranges from $2,500 to $7,000 depending on the area(s) needing treatment. To know for sure how much a fat transfer surgery will cost you, consult Dr. Singleton at Capital Facial Plastic Surgery.
Fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon Dr. Singleton offers the best fat transfer face lift at the Capital Facial Plastic Surgery clinic. We are located at 2 Wisconsin Cir #820, Chevy Chase, Maryland. We also serve the Washington, D.C. Metro area.
Schedule a Consultation
If you have any questions about a procedure or wish to schedule a consultation with Dr. Singleton, please contact our office.
Schedule a Consultation
If you have any questions about a procedure or wish to schedule a consultation with Dr. Singleton, please contact our office.
Talk to a licensed and experienced facial plastic surgeon
If you’re ready to restore your youthful glow through a fat transfer procedure, please feel free to call Capital Facial Plastic Surgery at (240) 630-8175 to schedule a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Singleton. You may also click here to schedule your appointment. Whatever your facial skin concerns, you can rest assured that Capital Facial Plastic Surgery will help you address your issues, and assist you in achieving your aesthetic goals.
