What is a fat grafting?
Fat grafting and injections use your own body fat to enhance your positive features and improve your facial contours. This technique replaces dermal fillers and provides a long lasting result. The procedure is ideal for those who wish to add volume to the cheeks, hide deep nasal folds or even soften a depression caused by scars.
Harvesting fat is done through an experimentally tested process and the fat is injected in a unique manner and pattern designed for the best viability and most beautiful result.
What do I need to know about facial fat grafting?
Fat injections can be used to add volume to thin lips, give more volume to cheeks, improve tear troughs (dents under the eyes), or add volume to soften wrinkles and scars. Since your own fat is used the chances of adverse reactions is minimal. A good amount of the grafted fat survives just like your normal cells.
What to expect during the facial fat grafting procedure?
The fat grafting procedure is performed in the office. No incisions are necessary during the procedure. To safely provide you with the best results, Dr. D’Souza will inject your face and donor site with a special numbing solution. The fat will be removed from your abdomen or thigh using a tube called a cannula hooked up to a syringe. The fat is then spun in a centrifuge to remove oils and any other non-fat materials. The resulting fat is a very smooth, refined texture. The fat will then be injected in pre-planned areas of the face. Overall the procedure can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
What to expect after the facial fat grafting procedure?
After the fat grafting procedure you will be asked wash your face normally the next day. No surgical dressings will be placed following the procedure. Any discomfort will be controlled with an over the counter oral pain medication.
How long will the results last?
The results will last for more than a decade, although some of the fat cells will reabsorb back into the body and you may need a touch up in a few months.
If you would like more information about our facial fat grafting procedure, please reach out to our Carlsbad plastic surgery office for a consultation. Iconic Plastic Surgery proudly serves Carlsbad, Vista, Oceanside and areas north of San Diego, CA.
