Although it is not commonly known, facial fat transfers are an excellent way to alter a person’s appearance in subtle but profound ways.
Also known as facial sculpting, the procedure involves removing existing fat deposits from a patient and moving them to a different location on the face. Fat transfer specialists can use the injections to improve a patient’s appearance by making cosmetic adjustments, but they can also be used to reconstruct a patient’s face after an injury or illness.
Cosmetic Uses for Fat
A consequence of aging is that skin becomes loose and has a greater reaction to the pull of gravity. The contours of the face start to lose definition, wrinkles begin to appear, and the face as a whole starts to look rather flat. Facial fat transfers work in a similar fashion to dermal fillers to restore some youthfulness to the face and make the patient look more energized.
Reconstructive Uses for Fat
There are a handful of patients who don’t need fat injections to combat aging; instead, they need help reconstructing their faces after a major injury, surgery, or illness. Even after the soft tissue and bones heal or recover, there can still be depressions, scars, or other abnormalities on the face. Other medical conditions can cause facial deformities, such as Bell’s palsy. Facial fat transfers can treat or mask these deformities.
How Surgeons Move Fat Around
The extra fat deposits used in facial fat transfers can be extracted from several different areas on the body, including the hips, abdomen, buttocks, and thighs. Surgeons remove the fat from the desired area using standard liposuction. A tiny tube, known as a cannula, is inserted through a small incision and then moved around inside the target area. The movement helps dislodge the fat deposits and makes it easier for them to be removed. Once enough fat has been loosened, the doctor uses the same cannula to remove it.
After removing the fat from the patient, the doctor treats it to condense all the fat cells together and then injects the fat into the desired area on the patient’s face. The injection has to be done carefully and slowly to prevent mistakes and serious complications. Only a skilled and highly trained specialist should do the procedure to ensure the best possible results. These results are visible immediately and the full effect of the procedure can be seen once recovery is complete.
Once the procedure is complete, the patient will feel a little sore and swollen around the donation and transfer sites. Full recovery takes about a week, but normal activities can be continued during this time.
Facial Sculpting Consultation
If you’re interested in rejuvenating or restoring your face using facial fat transfers, look no further than Dr. Andres Bustillo in Coral Gables, FL. Dr. Bustillo is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who specializes in surgical and nonsurgical procedures involving the face, head, and neck. To schedule a consultation, call his office at (305) 663-3380.
