Facial Fat Transfer

Fat injections are cosmetic procedures that address the naturally occurring loss of volume in the face that leads to a hollow and elderly appearance. By replacing this lost volume using your body’s own tissue, fat transfers can be a more natural alternative to commercially available facial fillers to restore a smoother and more youthful look. Fat injections may be used to fill in hollow areas under the eyes and cheekbones, smile lines, crow’s feet, jowl lines, wrinkles, certain types of scars and even to plump thin lips. They are often used in conjunction with other rejuvenation procedures to achieve an ultimately more polished and natural look.

Method of Surgery

Fat injection procedures may be performed in our office or outpatient surgery setting and typically take about an hour to complete on their own. Local anesthesia is used both on the donor site (usually abdomen or thigh) and the site where the fat is placed. Some patients may wish to have sedation. The fat is then removed using a syringe, cannula and suction device, prepared, and injected with a cannula into the recipient site.

What to Expect

The treated area after fat injection may appear puffy and swollen for several weeks, and in some cases, may also appear bruised and/or red. Despite this, discomfort is managed with local comfort measures and over-the-counter pain medications, and patients are typically able to return to work and other normal activities quickly after treatment.

If you’re considering facial plastic surgery, consider an experienced and modern facial plastic surgeon. Contact Dr. Robert DeFatta at (715) 828-2368 for a cosmetic consultation.