Besides wrinkling and gravity, volume loss in the face has become increasingly recognized as an important component in the aging process. This can happen in many areas of the face including:
- Cheeks
- Lips
- Chin/Jawline
- Around the eyes
At our Kelowna Health Centre, our qualified plastic surgeons can provide safe and effective treatments from surgical facelifts to less invasive treatments such as facial fat grafting to help you instantly regain a youthful, vibrant complexion.
What is Facial Fat Grafting?
Facial fat grafting is an innovative and safe procedure that uses a patient’s own fat to rejuvenate or augment certain areas of the face.
A great alternative to a traditional facelift, you may want to consider facial fat grafting if you:
- Have facial areas that have lost volume or appear sunken.
- Want more permanent anti-aging results than those provided by injectables such as Botox and Juvederm.
- Wish to fill any depressions or improve the appearance of facial scars
- Want dramatic, yet completely natural-looking, anti-aging results
Working with a qualified plastic surgeon can ensure that a facial fat grafting surgery will give you a healthier glow, restoring and rejuvenating what added years have taken away.
Is facial fat grafting is right for you? Contact a Kelowna plastic surgeon to find out!
How is Facial Fat Grafting Performed?
The facial fat grafting process involves carefully harvesting some fat from one part of your body, maintaining its viability, filtering and injecting it into the treatment areas which have lost volume.
It is a three-staged process which includes:
1. Harvesting
Your plastic surgeon will select a site for fat removal and inject it with a local anesthetic. A small incision is then made for fat harvest and a cannula (connected to a syringe) is inserted to carefully extract the fat.
2. Purification and Transfer
Once the required amount of fat has been obtained, it will be processed to prepare the fat cells which are then transferred to small syringes that will be used for fat injection. This process is important because it removes any impurities from the fat to ensure a safe and successful procedure.
3. Placement
Your plastic surgeon will then use a needle or cannula to carefully deposit fatty tissue into the treatment area until the desired correction has been achieved. This minimally invasive procedure takes approximately 90 minutes and you are able to go home immediately afterward.
Pros & Cons of Facial Fat Grafting
As we get older our facial fat content - particularly around the midface and chin area - loses volume and draws the skin downwards. This can make your cheeks look sunken and the whole face a little empty.
For patients who are seeking to correct such aging concerns, but are worried about the risks and costs associated with a facelift, a facial fat grafting procedure is a great alternative.
However, as with all cosmetic procedures, it comes with its own benefits and risks. It’s important to discuss these with your plastic surgeon to ensure you are making the safest and wisest choice for your aesthetic needs.
Pros
- The fat is removed from your own body, greatly reducing the risk of any allergic reactions
- The results are long-lasting, natural and safe
- Unlike a facelift, no surgery is required. A facial fat grafting procedure is a non-invasive facial rejuvenation method
Cons
- The process from harvesting to purification is extensive and can take a long time compared to tissue fillers and Botox which can be completed in 15-30 minutes
- In the short-term, facial fat grafting will cost more than dermal fillers or other injectables. However, the long-term cost is lower
- Only a limited amount of fat can be grafted at any given time
Am I a Candidate For Facial Fat Grafting?
Facial fat grafting can be very successful at treating skin and age concerns including unwanted wrinkles, acne scars and sunken areas in the face including the lips and cheeks. However, not everyone is a suitable candidate for this procedure and it’s important to book a consultation with your plastic surgeon prior to undergoing any cosmetic treatment.
You are more likely to be a good candidate for facial fat grafting if you have:
- Sunken cheeks
- Lower eyelid bags or dark circles
- Thin lips
- Sufficient time for the recovery after the procedure
- Good general health
- Reasonable expectations of the outcome
Call Today
To find out more about our facial rejuvenation treatments including facelifts and facial fat grafting, contact our Kelowna plastic surgeons at 250-868-9799 or toll free at 877-505-8895.
