Downtime: 5-7 Days
As we age, we lose fat in the deep and superficial compartments of our face. This loss of volume can make one look older beyond their years. At Westside Plastic Surgery, board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. James Goggin is proud to offer several anti-aging techniques to help you regain your confidence and restore your youthful facial contours. One of these techniques is fat grafting, also referred to as fat transfer. This is the surgical process in which fat is transferred from one area of the body to another area to improve or augment the area where the fat is injected.
Fat transfer can be combined with other procedures such as a face lift or upper blepharoplasty by obtaining fat that is harvested from areas such as the abdomen, hips, thighs, and back. It is then purified and injected into specific areas of the face to produce subtle and natural enhancement.
The Benefits of Facial Fat Grafting
The Westside Plastic Surgery team is excited to meet you! At your consultation appointment, Dr. Goggin will review your medical history, discuss your goals, perform a brief physical examination, and then provide you with his professional recommendations. He will spend time reviewing before and after photos, discuss a variety of treatment options, and answer any questions that you may have. He takes his time to create a personalized plan to reach your desired aesthetic outcome. His team will then provide you information regarding recovery timeline, cost of procedure, and financing options. Dr. Goggin is knowledgeable in the latest research, techniques, and advances in the field to provide you the best care possible.
Before your surgery, our team will give you a pre-operative packet with a list of instructions in preparation for your surgery. We will spend time reviewing these instructions with you to ensure that you are confident and comfortable before your procedure. Our goal is to provide education and be there for you every step of the way. Patients should be off all blood thinners 2 weeks prior to surgery. We advise strict smoking/nicotine cessation 6 weeks prior to surgery and 6 weeks after.
Dr. Goggin and the Westside team will give you specific information regarding aftercare to optimize your post-op recovery. Our team will be available to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Recovery time can be variable between patients and surgeries. After fat grafting surgery, recovery is typically 5-7 days. Most patients will require assistance for the first 24 hours after surgery. We recommend you drink plenty of fluids, eat a healthy diet, and walk often to optimize healing.
Fat transfer can be performed using local anesthesia. However, depending on the extent of fat removal, general anesthesia may be used to ensure patient comfort.
Tiny incisions are made at the liposuction site and the injection site that may result in minimal scarring. Any scarring that does develop is likely to fade over time.
The length of your recovery will depend on which area(s) have been enhanced using fat transfer. The recovery period is typically 5-7 days. During your consultation, your surgeon can discuss more accurate recovery timelines based on your individual circumstances.
Fat that is transferred and takes is permanent. However, not all fat will take. Some is reabsorbed by the body. By 6 months, you should see your final result of what fat has taken.