Facial Fat Grafting in Los Alamitos, CA

Nowadays, there are several procedures that refresh the contours and fullness of your face. However, autologous fat transfer to the face is rising in popularity because it provides natural-looking improvements and long-lasting benefits for the skin. Lost volume, frequently caused by aging or weight loss, is usually more noticeable in the areas around the eyes, jawline, and cheeks. Autologous fat transfer to the face may be used to decrease some of the more typical signs of aging, and it increases volume by smoothing fine lines, wrinkles, and folds on your face using your transferred fatty tissue. After liposuctioning extra fat from other areas of your body, board-certified plastic surgeon William P. Aiello can carefully place the purified fat in the desired sections of your face for beautiful, long-lasting results. With autologous fat transfer to the face, you don't just see a refreshed facial appearance – you smooth the curves of your body. To get more information about autologous fat transfer to the face, contact Ocean Plastic Surgery Center in Los Alamitos, CA to arrange an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Aiello.

Ideal candidates for facial fat grafting are men and women in overall good health with no circulation problems. Also, in order to be a candidate for a fat transfer, you need to have enough extra fat to fulfill your goals. The most common areas to graft fat to the face are sunken areas, like the temples, mid-face, cheeks, jaw, and lips. As we age, the fat in these areas atrophies away. Facial creases or acne scars are also potential targets to address with fat grafting. With results similar to a dermal filler, such as Restylane or Juvéderm, a facial fat transfer is a great treatment if you'd like longer-lasting results.

Facial fat transfer is a two-step process that includes liposuction and injection. Fat is harvested from one part of your body with liposuction. Dr. Aiello will create a small incision in the area for fat removal and insert a cannula connected to a syringe to carefully extract fat. The fat is then purified, and the best fat cells are prepared for transfer. He then uses specially designed needles to carefully and strategically inject the fat into your face, grafting it into its new home in your body. Facial fat grafting rarely requires the patient to undergo general anesthesia unless it is done in conjunction with a facelift. The fat-harvesting site, as well as the face, are injected with a local anesthetic beforehand to keep the areas comfortably numb.

Following your fat graft, your liposuction incisions will be stitched before you're sent into recovery. Dr. Aiello or someone on his staff will apply wound coverings and watch you until you are able to be taken home by a family member or friend. Prior to your procedure, Dr. Aiello will let you know what will happen after the procedure and ways to help you heal faster. Follow-up appointments need to be made at our Los Alamitos, CA office so Dr. Aiello can evaluate your healing and results. Recoveries differ, depending on the amount of fat that is taken and grafted, but you need to plan to spend a couple of weeks resting and healing. Right after your procedure, you might feel uncomfortable with swelling and bruising at the liposuction area(s) and the transfer site(s). You might see a little improvement immediately; however, it is going to take a few weeks for you to be able to see your final outcome. A little bit of fat might be reabsorbed, but with appropriate maintenance, your improvements can last for several years.

How much does facial fat grafting cost?
At your examination, Dr. Aiello can determine exactly how much fat will need to be transferred. Once he has developed your treatment plan, he can begin to determine costs, including the anesthesia and liposuction. To help ensure your procedure is affordable, Ocean Plastic Surgery Center takes several payment methods and can help you find low-interest financing.

Are fat transfers better than dermal fillers?
Fat grafting is similar to injectable fillers in that it is a safe, noninvasive method for achieving facial rejuvenation, and the results tend to be very natural looking. The biggest difference is that the results are long-lasting and use your own body fat. If you have facial areas that appear creased and sunken, and you desire more permanent correction than what has been provided by temporary fillers, facial fat grafting is often a better option. If you have not tried a filler, Dr. Aiello might suggest you try a filler first to decide how much volume you want and where you would like it to be. Then you can schedule your fat graft for long-lasting results.

Can I have other procedures at the same time as a facial fat graft?
Yes. In fact, facial fat grafting is most commonly done in conjunction with a facelift. Your face shows signs of aging in three ways, and restoring lost volume with fat grafting only addresses one of the signs. You may also have sagging skin, loss of muscle tone, skin texture issues, such as deep wrinkles, and discoloration of your skin. A facelift tightens the muscles and re-drapes the skin. Laser and chemical peels or dermabrasion can resurface the skin to soften the texture of wrinkles and improve skin tone and clarity. During your consultation, Dr. Aiello will make a treatment plan to help you achieve the best outcome for whatever level of rejuvenation you desire.

How long do facial fat graft procedures take?
Facial fat graft procedures vary in length, depending on both the amount of fat transferred and the volume needed to reach your goals. As soon as Dr. Aiello has developed your procedure plan, he can tell what you can expect, including how long it will take. Dr. Aiello very carefully and evenly places the layers of fat, which does take a little time. However, your outcome will be beautiful.

How long does facial fat grafting last?
All of the grafted fat that survives is reestablished permanently in the new area. However, not all of the fat that is injected establishes a blood supply and survives. The rate of retention in the face is higher than in other areas of the body, but it is sometimes necessary to repeat the fat grafting procedure several times to achieve the desired result. It cannot be overdone in hopes that there is more of a survival rate. There is a limit of how much fat can be safely injected into one area. The amount of fat that remains over time is variable from patient to patient. It is important that you do not have any circulation problems, either from a medical condition or smoking.

Fat transfer is a wonderful way to add volume, even out lines, and enhance the beauty of your face. If you dream about a more youthful, bright look with a short recovery, we urge you to find out more about fat transfer at Ocean Plastic Surgery Center. It's an exciting choice for individuals who want a natural alteration and long-lasting results. Contact our Los Alamitos, CA practice to set up your appointment with Dr. Aiello to learn how it can help you meet your aesthetic goals.