As we age, we lose volume in our face and can begin to look deflated. Both fillers, such as hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm or Restylane and fat can be used to reverse some of these aging issues. During fat injections, also referred to as fat grafting to the face, Dr. Demetri will gently harvest fat from another part of your body, such as your stomach or thighs, and then inject that to fill folds and wrinkles in the face.Fat injections do require surgery however they last longer than hyaluronic acid fillers. Common areas to inject fat include are the nasolabial folds, the marionette lines, and the tear troughs. Fat can also be injected along the jawline to help provide more definition and hide the formation of jowls. Dr. Demetri is cautious to add too much fat in the upper portion of the face and cheek because this could give the appearance of too much fullness. Overly filled cheeks with fat (or filler) is unnatural.
“I highly recommend Dr. Demetri! I was a bit nervous for my first visit, but I couldn’t be happier with my decision to go to him! He’s kind, efficient and listens to give you the exact look what you want. The most natural looking results!!”
by B. H.
Dr. Demetri wants his patients to be thoroughly educated before undergoing fat grafting. Most people may not realize but the fat that is grafted to the face will still behave similar to fat from where it came from (whether your abdomen or thighs). This means as you gain weight the fat grafted to the face will also grow. For pre-menopausal women, this is can be a very important detail because if a patient undergoes fat grafting prior to menopause but then afterwards your metabolism changes. It is possible the fat cells will enlarge and the face can become wider. As such, Dr. Demetri spends a lot of time educating his patients about that and encourages them to maintain a stable weight after fat grafting.
The best candidates for a fat transfer are those with enough excess fat for transfer. The amount of fat needed will depend on which parts of the face will be improved. Most patients need an average of 30 mL of fat for adding volume and improving wrinkles on the face.
A fat transfer is also a good alternative for those who may be allergic to certain ingredients found in dermal fillers. Since the fat is harvested from the patient, there is no chance of allergic reaction.
Those who are taking medications like anticoagulants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or herbal supplements like vitamin E or fish oil may need to stop at least a week before a fat transfer. This will help prevent complications such as excessive swelling or bruising.
Similar to all surgical procedures, facial fat transfer patients must avoid smoking and drinking alcohol beforehand.
A facial fat transfer involves fat harvesting and purification. This is followed by injection of the fat into the selected areas for the procedure.
Anesthesia will be administered before fat-cell harvesting and fat injection to ensure a painless and comfortable process.
A degree of swelling and bruising are normal after a fat transfer and should go away after a week. Recovery is minimal.
Just like dermal fillers, the injected fat will take some time to settle in. Not all of the transferred fat will survive, and overinjection may be performed to compensate for this expected fat loss.
For more information on facial fat transfers in Tampa and Beverly Hills, contact Dr. Demetri’s office and schedule a consultation. Dr. Demetri will be available to help you achieve your appearance goals.
Tampa & Beverly Hills: 813-603-3110
