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Cosmetic enhancement is the art of symmetry and balance. Sometimes, nature gives us too much bulk in some areas and not enough in other areas. A skilled surgeon can bring these two extremes into harmony through the science of fat transfer, also known as fat grafting.

Fat grafting is the process by which fat is removed from one portion of the body via liposuction, then liquefied by a process of straining and spinning, and finally surgically added to the body elsewhere. Traditionally, this process was used to fill out irregularities in the skin’s surface during procedures such as natural breast augmentation and Brazilian butt lifts. Now, however, fat grafting is becoming more and more important to facial plastic surgery.

Fat grafting is also used for facial reconstructive surgery and is now frequently used in other cosmetic facial plastic surgery techniques.

FACIAL FAT GRAFTING APPLICATIONS

Fat grafting can be used as an alternative to more traditional facial implants, with the added benefit of removing fat from less desirable locations. Using this technique, a surgeon can create a more natural facial profile, rebuild facial deformations, and repair tissue damage. Imperfections such as radiation damage from cancer treatment, birth defects, and damage resulting from prior surgery or trauma can now be treated with fat from a patient’s own body.

Facial fat grafting can also be used to augment the results of a facelift, which is becoming an increasingly popular technique used by plastic surgeons. According to a study in which 300 members of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons were polled, 85% of the surgeons polled used fat grafting during facelifts.

According to the study, these surgeons found that injecting fat from the patient’s body resulted in a more rounded and fuller appearance in the face. This result is especially beneficial when performing a facelift to improve upon cheeks that appear gaunt or sunken.

SUPPLEMENTING FACIAL RECONSTRUCTION SURGERY

In recent years, fat transfer has become a valuable tool in restoring facial structure and splendor. There are many reasons why patients may need to bring harmony back to their appearance. These causes include Parry-Romberg syndrome and other such deformities.

Traditional reconstructive surgery employs the flap technique to address the loss of tissue in a given area. Two flaps of skin are skillfully joined to cover the affected facial feature, smoothing it over for aesthetic enhancement. Some grafting techniques transplant skin from other body areas for application to the face if there is insufficient material on the face itself.

Regardless of the flap technique required to achieve facial reconstruction, fat grafting can aid the procedure. By supplementing skin with lipids, your surgeon can round out your look and bring volume to gaunt, slack areas of the face.

Fat transfer has proven wonderfully effective for patients who have undergone cancer removal from the head and neck. Healthy fat cells can be removed from one body region and placed delicately in the area where problematic lumps have been removed.

SKIN REJUVENATION

On the topic of cancer treatment, fat grafting offers a helpful set of benefits to those battling the condition. Radiation sessions can take their toll on skin health. Peeling, thinning, and darkening are pretty common in cancer survivors due to the potency of radiation treatment.

Fat grafting can alleviate some of the symptoms mentioned above. Your doctor uses purified adipose tissue from elsewhere on your body to rejuvenate and replenish your natural glow.

A LIFTING EFFECT

One of the residual benefits of fat transfer to the face is its ability to create a lifting dynamic to sagging features. Cheeks, brows, and other subtle structures can significantly boost their profile with a minimal amount of injected fat.

Grafting is an excellent supplement to surgery because the two disciplines address your various needs. Surgery removes ptotic (dropping) tissue and erases redundant skin. Meanwhile, fat transfer bolsters your natural contours, propping up your ideal lines and curves. 

The right fat transfer approach can diminish nasolabial folds, crow’s feet, perioral lines, and other unwanted creases either with or without the need for a more invasive procedure.

AN EVER-EVOLVING TECHNIQUE

One certainty when it comes to fat grafting is re-absorption. Your body will process some of the cells transferred to the desired area and eliminate them naturally and gradually. However, medical science is advancing every day to minimize the loss of transferred fat and maximize your results.

Experts are constantly finding new ways to salvage healthy cells and nurture them as they are transplanted to facial contours. The study of stem cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) continues to raise questions and illuminate opportunities in the field of fat grafting.

Please be advised that you should not trust fad techniques or quick fixes regarding your health. Experimental procedures are just that: experimental. More research is required regarding the effectiveness and safety of stem cell therapy and PRP treatments. You are nobody’s test subject. It would help if you only embarked on a procedural strategy after its benefits have been well proven and deemed applicable to your case.

The process of maneuvering healthcare advances can be complicated, which is why you require an innovative leader in the field of cosmetic surgery to explore your best options. Enhancement is marvelous, but safety is a must. The right fat transfer procedure can bring your appearance from the here and now to the bright future that awaits you.

AN INCREASINGLY POPULAR TECHNIQUE

Fat grafting is one of many tools that a plastic surgeon can implement. Whether used for cosmetic purposes or medical purposes, one thing is certain: fat grafting is becoming increasingly popular and essential to facial plastic surgery.

If you would like more information on facial plastic surgery techniques or considering the procedure, reach out to Dr. Binder, a leading plastic surgeon, and innovator in the field. Call (310) 858-6749 or contact us online to schedule your consultation.