Facial Fat Grafting in Chester NJ
Do you look more deflated, sad, or tired than you feel? Facial Fat Transfer (a.k.a. autologous fat grafting) is a commonly performed procedure to increase the volume in certain areas of the face that may make you look more youthful, confident, or well-rested.
In the last decade, many patients are experiencing “filler fatigue”. After repeated treatments with dermal or hyaluronic acid fillers the face may start to appear puffy or unnatural. Fat transfer may be a good solution for patients to avoid “filler fatigue”. Not only does fat grafting improve the volume and contour of the face, but it also improves the overlying quality of the skin due to the many stem cells and nutrients within our body’s own natural fat.
In fact, these stem cells and nutrients within our body’s fat are so effective at improving skin quality that sometimes we filter out the larger fat cells altogether and inject the skin with the remaining fluid. This technique is called “nanofat” and is an excellent choice for patients hoping to rejuvenate the skin of the face and neck. Many patients choose nanofat to improve the quality of the thin and more easily wrinkled skin around the eyes and the mouth, or areas of scarring, hair loss, or other skin damage. Studies also show nanofat is very powerful in treating hair loss and thinning.
Fat transfer may be performed in the office or in an operating room setting. During the procedure the fat will be harvested through a tiny incision in the belly button or thigh. The fat will then be purified and processed so that an even layer of only the best components are injected. The fat is then injected carefully and slowly in a customized plan designed for each individual face.
Dr Urban most commonly performs fat transfer to the temples, under eyes, mid-face, cheeks, nose, chin, and areas surrounding the mouth. To learn more about fat transfer visit our blog or schedule consultation here.
Fat Transfer FAQs
Patients of any age are candidates for fat transfer as long as they are in good health. Because we lose volume in certain areas of the face as we age, fat transfer is more commonly performed as patients get older.
The average fat transfer takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour.
Fat transfer may be performed in the office under “local” anesthesia or numbing medicine, under sedation in the operating room, or under general anesthesia particularly if combined with other procedures.
The average cost of fat transfer is $3,000-$5,000.
Each individual heals differently and swelling and bruising after fat transfer are variable. Patients resume light activity immediately after the procedure (depending on anesthesia), and most patients return to work or school in 4-6 days. We recommend patients wait 2-3 weeks to resume heavy exercise.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Each individual experience will vary. Please call or schedule a consultation for a personalized evaluation.