It’s safe to say that if you’ve seen social media over the past five years, you know exactly what filler is. Whether it’s in the form of lip injections or smoothing away fine lines and wrinkles around the face, dermal fillers have become the end-all-be-all for skin rejuvenation and body enhancement. That being said, we wanted to give some love to fat grafting. This lesser-known treatment has some tricks up its sleeves. The medical professionals at Yonick Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Center are here to go over some fat grafting basics for you, so you can get a better idea of what you can expect from this rejuvenating procedure.
How Does Fat Grafting Work?
Fat grafting is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves harvesting fat from one part of the body and using it as a filler to rejuvenate or enhance other features. As of late, fat grafting has become most popular with treatments like the Brazilian Butt Lift. What many of our patients don’t realize is that fat grafting can be done in small amounts and used to rejuvenate or enhance their facial features in a similar way that dermal fillers like Juvederm® and Restylane® do.
Where Can I Get Fat Grafted?
The fat you wish to transfer to the face can be harvested from anywhere on the body, although we typically recommend patients harvest fat from their midsection, buttocks, or thighs. This fat will then be purified before being put into a syringe used to treat the following:
- General facial rejuvenation
- Volumizing the cheeks
- Plumping the lips
- Restoring the under-eye area
- Defining the jawline
- Reshaping the nose
Does Fat Grafting Leave Scars?
In order to achieve your desired results, you must first have a small amount of fat harvested from the midsection, buttocks, or thighs. This is done by performing gentle liposuction, which may require very small and discrete incisions be made along the treated area. Our medical team members will do their best to ensure you do not scar following this portion of your procedure by providing you with detailed post-operative care instructions and suggesting medical-grade skincare products to help your skin heal from these surgical wounds. Most patients report little to no scarring following their fat grafting procedure.
How Long Does Fat Grafting Last?
One of the best parts about fat grafting is the results of your procedure have the potential to be permanent! Once the transferred fat settles into its new environment, about four to six months following your initial procedure, it can stay there for a lifetime. Most patients are still satisfied with the results of their fat grafting procedure 10 to 15 years following their initial treatment.
If you’re unsure whether fat grafting is right for you, we encourage you to contact us and schedule your private consultation with one of our expert medical team members today. They’ll be happy to sit down with you, listen to your concerns, and develop a personalized treatment plan to help you get the naturally youthful appearance you desire.