Face
Facial Fat Transfers
As a transgender woman, you can consider this procedure to benefit in the same way any person can. Fat injections are cosmetic procedures that address the naturally occurring loss of volume in the face that lead 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 scar 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.
Fat grafting is especially innovative because it uses your own natural tissue to enhance and beautify and the results are much long lasting than temporary dermal fillers.
Method of Surgery
Fat injection procedures may be performed in our office or at an 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. Patients are typically able to return to work and other normal activities quickly after treatment.
Face Lift
Facial feminization facelift can enhance your facial aesthetic, especially if you are over the age of 40 and after other facial reshaping procedures may have left behind some excess skin that creates unwanted sagging. To help with some of these signs associated not only with aging but also to complete your facial feminization transformation, Dr. DeFatta performs face and/or neck lifts, to enhance your appearance and correct these conditions.
A facelift involves tightening the facial muscles as well as removing any excess skin. This procedure can be performed in conjunction with additional FFS, or may also be recommended to be performed at a later stage, depending on the age of the patient or when planning for specific types of FFS.
Before Surgery
Dr. DeFatta will discuss with you the changes that you would like to see related to your face or will alert you to some changes that may result in the face and neck based on the other facial reshaping procedures you desire. Digital photographs and computer imaging allow Dr. DeFatta to evaluate and consult with you regarding the appropriate procedure to achieve your desired results. His objective is to create a natural appearance that is pleasing to you.
Method of Surgery
These procedures are performed under general anesthesia typically. Incisions are made to hide inside the hairline at the temple, running in front of the ear then around the earlobe and behind the ear, ending in the hair of the scalp. The loose skin is separated, and excess skin is removed using the technique determined to be most appropriate for your particular needs as determined in your pre-surgical consultation. Sagging muscles and connective tissues are tightened in many cases as well. Small sutures are used to close the incisions.
What to Expect
Bandages are applied to the area of surgery and are removed within one to three days. Pain is moderate and controlled with oral medications prescribed by Dr. DeFatta. Your sutures are removed within a week. In order to minimize scarring, you may be recommended a scar cream to use during healing after the sutures are removed. When present, swelling and discoloration will fade over the following weeks. Tightness in your face will be present for several weeks, and slight changes in your hair pattern may occur around the incision and are often temporary. It is recommended that you avoid sun exposure for several weeks after surgery, so elective timing of the procedure is important. Healing is gradual so you will not notice final results for up to six months after the procedure. Dr. DeFatta will closely follow up on your progress. In most cases, a single procedure achieves the desired results and most patients who have had face and neck lifts are pleased with their new, more youthful appearance.
Dermal fillers, Botox and Dysport
As a transgender woman, you may be looking for noninvasive options that allow you to highlight feminine facial qualities you already have, rejuvenate a more youthful facial appearance and create a softer facial aesthetic. Dr. DeFatta and his team are here to help you choose the options that give you confidence to be your authentic self. Each consultation is extremely unique and does not always end in a decision for surgery.
Dermal fillers and wrinkle relaxing options for facial feminization may include a wide array of feminizing and revitalizing procedures. These options are non-surgical and are administered using a fine needle placed into targeted areas of the face. Unlike other procedures like facial fat transfer, which has very favorable long-term retention, the effect of dermal fillers and wrinkle relaxers is considered temporary and may last several months to a year or longer, depending on the type used. Repeated treatments are typically scheduled to maintain the beautiful, radiant results.
At DeFatta Facial Plastics, we offer a range of non-surgical rejuvenation options using:
If you’re considering facial feminization surgery, consider an experienced and modern facial plastic surgeon who will listen to your concerns and help you construct a plan that fits your needs. Contact Dr. Robert DeFatta at 715-828-2368 for a consultation.
