Using Fat Grafting for Facial Enhancements

Published on: February 19, 2019

One of the factors that makes facial features look youthful is plumpness to the skin, cheeks and lips. As you get older, fat and volume are lost in the face, allowing skin to sag and the face to become more angular. Dermal fillers can temporarily add volume under the skin, but this procedure needs to be repeated to retain the results. Another longer-lasting option is fat grafting, using your own body fat to give your facial features the enhancements you desire.

How Fat Grafting is Used for Cosmetic Procedures

Inserting fat under the skin through fat grafting is used in a few different cosmetic procedures. The fat is harvested by liposuction from another area of the body (usually the thighs, buttocks or abdomen) and sterilized/purified before it is grafted into the desired area. Because it comes from your own body, there is no risk of allergic reactions or other complications that are possible with synthetic injections. Some popular fat grafting procedures include:

  • Lip enhancements
  • Cheek lifts
  • Reducing brow lines
  • Softening nasolabial folds
  • Chin enhancement
  • Filling temples
  • Improving the appearance of scars

The procedure is simple and safe, adding tiny amounts of fat through a blunt cannula into the desired areas. Often only one procedure is needed to last for many years; some areas may need additional fat grafts to achieve the look you prefer. There is little to no downtime after the procedure, only a small amount of swelling, bruising or tenderness in the treated areas that will dissipate in a few days.

Fat grafting can help the face look more youthful or add volume to thin lips or hollow scars. If you are interested in learning more about fat transfers for facial enhancements, contact a local plastic surgeon to schedule a consultation.

Posted on behalf of:
Maurice M. Khosh, MD, FACS
580 Park Avenue, Suite 1BE
New York, NY 10065
212-339-9988

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