What Are the Benefits of Fat Injections?
Fat injections transfer fat from one area of the body to the face, smoothing lines and restoring lost volume. This is done by removing fat from another area of the body, such as the waistline, abdomen, thighs, or buttocks, and then transferring it to the face to smooth, fill, and enhance the creases and wrinkles and create a more youthful appearance. Fat injections are ideal for patients who wish to:
- Fill in lines and creases caused by repetitive facial expressions
- Boost volume in the midface and around the eyes and temples
- Create a more defined chin and jawline
Fat injections are a popular procedure because fat is one of the body’s most naturally tolerated fillers, much more so than synthetic fillers. The applications are safe and far-reaching, and they leave you with long-lasting, natural-looking results. In fact, many surgeons opt for fat injections as a safe alternative to fillers for scar revision, filling in skin depressions, or enhancing the lines and contours of the body.
Am I a Candidate for Fat Injections?
Candidates for fat injections are men and women who are nonsmokers in overall good health who have realistic expectations for their results. Ideal candidates for fat injections include those who:
- Lack volume in the midface, around the eyes, and the temples
- Have nasolabial folds (lines that run from the nose to the mouth)
- Have wrinkles or fine lines around the mouth
- Have wrinkles or creases on their forehead or between the eyebrows
- Want to smooth and define their chin and jaw
- Have sufficient excess fat on their body for use in the procedure
What Is Discussed During My Fat Injection Consultation?
When you come in for your consultation, Dr. Agullo will:
- Talk with you about your concerns and your expectations for your results
- Examine your face and determine where the fat injections are needed
- Evaluate your body to determine if you have enough excess fat for the procedure and where the fat will be harvested from
- Take “before” photos
- Provide you with information about preparing for your fat injection procedure and answer any questions you may have
What Does My Fat Injection Procedure Include?
Unlike more complicated surgical procedures, Dr. Agullo can perform fat injections without using general anesthesia. This outpatient surgery, which takes place at our own fully accredited plastic surgery clinic, is done in three phases: liposuction, fat purification, and fat transfer.
Fat Removal From The Body
Dr. Agullo begins the procedure by removing fat from the targeted area using power-assisted (PAL) liposuction. This technique is a bit gentler than traditional liposuction, as it is vital to the procedure that the structure of the fat cells remains intact. Depending on the amount of fat removed, you may wish to add a skin-tightening treatment like BodyTite® or Renuvion™ J-Plasma® to avoid sagging skin around the treatment area.
Fat Purification
The harvested fat is placed in a centrifuge, where it is spun to remove excess fluid and impurities. This process also removes the less desirable fat cells, as only the healthiest fat cells are used for fat injections. High-quality fat cells are more likely to successfully graft into the area they are transferred.
Nanofat
Nanofat is a cutting-edge technique in fat grafting that focuses on regenerative medicine and aesthetic improvements. It involves processing some purified fat into tiny particles smaller than 0.1 mm, rich in stem cells and growth factors. This process not only maintains the regenerative properties of the original fat but also allows for intradermal injection with very fine needles, promoting tissue repair and rejuvenation. This fat can be injected very superficially without the risk of lumpiness. It is a long-lasting solution for various concerns such as thinning skin, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Facial Fat Injections
Dr. Agullo then takes the purified fat cells and carefully and precisely injects them into the areas of your face targeted for rejuvenation. He uses a thin needle to place the fat into the creases and wrinkles, creating a grid. He then massages the fat into the appropriate position until he is satisfied with the new contours.
Dr. Agullo recommends combining your fat injection procedure with protein-rich plasma (PRP) injections. By adding PRP to your fat injection treatment, you increase the likelihood that the transferred fat cells will graft successfully. PRP also promotes healing and boosts collagen production.
How Should I Prepare for My Fat Injection Procedure?
Preparation for facial fat injections is essential to ensure a smooth, problem-free recovery. Before you undergo fat injections, you should:
- Stop nicotine use for at least six weeks, as this can increase your risk of complications and slow the healing process.
- Avoid blood thinning medications and herbal supplements for at least two weeks prior to your procedure.
- Have a responsible adult ready to drive you home after your procedure
- Do not eat or drink after midnight on the day of your fat injection procedure
- Ensure you have completed all the necessary paperwork, and bring it and your identification to your appointment.
At Agullo Plastic Surgery, tailored care begins with a full consultation to discuss the goals and options available.
What Are Your Concerns?
What Can I Expect From My Fat Injection Recovery?
An advantage of fat injections is that they offer nominal downtime for the patient, meaning you can be ready to present your newly restored face within a few days instead of waiting weeks, as you would need to after a facelift procedure.
After your fat transfer procedure, dressings may be applied to the injection sites. Gauze, tape, or compression dressings will help to minimize bleeding and swelling. You may also apply ice packs to help ease the swelling. Dr. Agullo will provide you with specific instructions for recovery, which may include recommendations for a massage program that you can do on your own to ensure optimal healing.
You will initially experience mild soreness, bruising, and swelling at the injection sites and the areas where the fat was removed. Most swelling resolves on its own within a week to ten days, depending on the areas treated and the volume of fat injected. You may return to work and normal daily activities about one week after surgery. More strenuous activities and exercise should be avoided for up to six weeks or until you are cleared by Dr. Agullo.
Will Fat Injections Leave Scars?
Since fat is injected using a small needle, you will not be left with any scars on your face. You may notice minimal scarring from the small incisions where liposuction was performed, but this will fade over time.
Are Fat Injections Painful?
Since your fat injections are performed using local anesthesia, you should not feel any pain during the procedure. You may feel soreness and mild discomfort during your recovery. Please take over-the-counter pain medication as needed.
When Will I See My Fat Injection Results?
Your results from fat injections will be visible as soon as the swelling subsides. For most patients, this takes about one week.
What Are Some Frequently Asked Questions About Fat Injections?
The risks associated with fat transfer are lower than with other types of facial cosmetic surgeries because there are no incisions to be made, and it uses local anesthesia.
Risks are low, but could include:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Temporary skin numbness or soreness
- Lumpy or skin imperfections underneath the surface
- Over or under-correction of the treatment area
Dr. Agullo is detail-oriented and takes every precaution to ensure his patient’s safety and satisfaction in every fat transfer procedure.
Fat transfer is considered safe when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon trained and experienced in this delicate and precise procedure.
Dr. Frank Agullo is a Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, and an Affiliate Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso. This means he is double board certified and more than qualified to perform fat transfer surgery successfully and, most importantly, safely.
Your results from facial fat injections are intended to be long-lasting. However, facial fat injections cannot halt the aging process. Over the years, you may still lose facial volume. In that case, the fat injection procedure can be redone.
In some cases, the fat injection procedure may need to be repeated a few times to achieve the patient’s goals, but one session is typically enough to produce the desired results.
Fat injections can be combined with other plastic surgery procedures to help patients achieve total facial rejuvenation. Fat injection is commonly performed in combination with facelift surgery. In young patients, it is often combined with face liposuction, FaceTite®, and buccal fat removal. Please speak with Dr. Agullo to determine what other procedures can be added to your facial fat injection surgery.
Interested in Fat Injections In El Paso?
Dr. Frank Agullo specializes in all cosmetic facial procedures, including fat injections. To schedule a consultation to see how he can use fat transfer to refresh and rejuvenate your face, call (915) 590-7900 or complete the online contact form.
