Fine lines and wrinkles aren’t the only signs of aging. You might also notice a loss of facial fat 一 and the resulting baggy eyes, drooping eyelids, and a sagging browline.
A fat transfer can help restore facial volume, but at what point should you consider one? Here, Dr. Cecil Yeung of The Yeung Institute in Houston, Texas, answers that question in more detail.
Before you determine when you should consider a fat transfer, let’s explore what a fat transfer is. Sometimes called fat injections or fat grafting, this cosmetic procedure restores facial volume and helps you achieve a more refreshed, youthful appearance.
Dr. Yeung uses excess fat from one part of your body 一 obtained via liposuction from your abdomen, hips, or buttocks 一 and injects it into any areas that need more volume. Fat transfers can be, and often are, combined with surgical procedures such as facelifts.
Patients tolerate fat injections quite well because there’s no synthetic ingredients involved. The injections contain your own fat.
Fat transfers beautifully restore volume to your eye area as well as around your mouth. As a result, you appear less tired, more youthful, and more refreshed.
As with any cosmetic procedure, there isn’t a magic age in which you would benefit most from a fat transfer. The best time to get a fat transfer is determined by these key factors.
Maybe you’ve spotted a gray hair here and there. Maybe you’re not happy with a few lines around your eyes. But it’s not time to consider a fat transfer until you start to see signs of aging related to loss of volume. This includes:
If you’re bothered by sagging skin where your face used to be more full, it may be time to consider this procedure.
In order to collect the fat for your fat transfer, our team first performs liposuction. This is a two-for-one benefit as it also addresses unwanted fat elsewhere on your body. However, you need to be a good candidate for liposuction in order to go through this part of the process.
If you’re already interested in cosmetic surgery, why not schedule your fat transfer for the same time? Both facelift and blepharoplasty — a surgical procedure that improves the appearance of drooping or wrinkly eyelids — complement fat transfers for a fully customized look.
If you’re interested in multiple procedures at the same time, don’t hesitate to discuss this with Dr. Yeung during your consultation.
If you’ve already tried skin-plumping creams or even dermal fillers but aren’t completely satisfied with the results, you might consider a fat transfer. Because fat cells can survive indefinitely, the effects of a facial fat transfer don’t fade as they do with dermal fillers.
Although fat cells can survive indefinitely, you need to protect your treatment area until the graft fully adapts. You should only consider a fat graft — or any other cosmetic surgery — if you can set aside the time dedicated to your healing and recovery.
Depending on what other procedures you receive, you can expect to take a few weeks off of work while you recover.
Back to the titular question: When should you consider a fat transfer? You never have to make this decision alone. As a double-board certified facial and plastic surgeon, Dr. Yeung takes a personalized approach with all of his patients. Individualized plans focus on the procedures that help you achieve your aesthetic goals 一 and the timing for them.
At The Yeung Institute, each facial fat transfer is:
If you’re wondering if now is the right time to schedule a fat transfer, give us a call! You can also use our online form to schedule your consultation at The Yeung Institute today.
