Facial Fat Transfer
Serving Danville, Oakland, Walnut Creek, Dublin, Livermore, and across the East Bay metro area
Many patients are surprised to learn that the most effective tool for facial rejuvenation isn't found in a laboratory, but within their own body.
As we age, the depletion of facial fat is the primary culprit behind a hollow, tired, or aged appearance.
Stephen J. Ronan, MD, FACS, utilizes advanced facial fat grafting techniques to "recycle" fat from areas where you have an excess—such as the abdomen or thighs—and artistically reinject it into the face. This natural approach doesn't just fill lines; it restores the structural volume and vibrancy that synthetic fillers often cannot match.
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Facial fat transfer, also known as autologous fat transfer or fat grafting, is a sophisticated process designed to restore facial volume using your own biological material. Unlike dermal fillers made of synthetic gels, this fat transfer procedure involves three distinct steps: harvesting, purification, and injection.
By replenishing the lost volume in the mid-face, temples, and around the eyes, Dr. Ronan can effectively "lift" the face without the need for extensive incisions.
The primary goal of facial fat grafting is to harmonize your facial anatomy. Whether you are looking to soften deep nasolabial folds or fill in under-eye hollows, this treatment provides a soft, natural result that moves and ages gracefully with you.
Your facial fat transfer procedure is performed in our private, accredited surgery center in Danville. The process begins with fat harvesting, where a small amount of excess fat is removed from a predetermined donor site using a specialized, low-pressure liposuction technique. This ensures the fat cells remain healthy and viable for transfer.
Once the harvested fat is purified, Dr. Ronan uses a customized treatment plan to strategically place the fat injections into the targeted facial features. Using micro-injection techniques, the fat is layered into the tissue to ensure the transferred fat cells establish a permanent blood supply. This meticulous layering is what creates the smooth, natural-looking results our patients desire. Depending on the desired volume, the procedure can be performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia.
As we age, we lose the facial fat in our face that creates our youthful appearance. The loss of this fat impacts all aspects of our face; the forehead can appear more wrinkled, and the brow becomes more prominent. The temples can appear hollow, and veins under the skin become more noticeable. The upper eyelids can appear more sunken, and the lower eyelids tired and dark. Our cheeks droop to create jowls, and our neck profile becomes more obtuse, while the skin quality can deteriorate. Aging, along with genetics, plays a part in this process. A transfer of fat to the face restores the fatty volume and a youthful look.
Fat transfer is a versatile tool that can be used to counter volume loss in several areas:
The process of facial fat transfer is a very simple one and creates both volume and smoothness to the skin for an overall sense of youth. This procedure is very simple and can be repeated if necessary. Our goal is never to augment, only to rejuvenate your face. We don’t want you to look like someone else, simply a younger version of yourself.
Facial fat injections are a good fit for patients bothered by volume loss, hollow cheeks, or deep facial wrinkles. To be a good candidate, you must have enough fat in donor areas (like the abdomen or flanks) to harvest. It is also important to be at a stable weight. This is because significant weight fluctuations will affect fat everywhere on the body, including the transferred fat on the face. Most patients who pick this procedure are looking for a more permanent, natural way to restore more youthful facial contours than temporary dermal fillers.
After a fat transfer treatment, most people can get back to their normal routine within one to two weeks. Recovery time can depend on how much fat was transferred and where it was harvested from and transferred to.
It is normal to have some swelling and bruising at both the donor site and the facial injection sites. We recommend keeping your head elevated for the first few days to help swelling and bruising go down. You may need to wear a compression garment at the donor site, while the face requires only gentle care. Most patients find discomfort after the procedure minimal and manageable. Dr. Ronan and our medical team will give you a detailed postoperative plan to help the maximum number of injected fat cells establish themselves in the treated areas.
You will immediately see restored fullness in the treated areas. Over the next few months, as the swelling subsides and a permanent blood supply is established, the skin quality often improves, taking on a more radiant, healthy glow.
While not all of the transferred fat cells survive the move, the fat that remains is permanent. This sustained volume restoration means you will always look more rejuvenated than if you had never had the procedure. Because this is a natural approach using natural tissues, your results will never look "done,” just refreshed.
*Individual results may vary
Dr. Ronan restored volume to this patient’s cheek and added a slight chin implant with fat (not an artificial implant). This creates an aesthetically pleasing ‘S’ curve in her profile and adds lift to her lower eyelid.
This patient received fat transfer to add height to her cheek projection and a laser treatment to remove skin damage and reduce lines. The overall effect is that she looks younger and less tired.
For this patient, Dr. Ronan filled in her cheeks and tightened her neck with liposuction. This creates a younger-looking face and improves skin texture as well.
Success in fat grafting requires a surgeon who understands the nuances of facial anatomy and the delicate science of fat cell survival. Stephen J. Ronan, MD, FACS, is a board-certified plastic surgeon with an artistic eye for volume restoration.
With the facial fat transfer method, we keep things as simple as possible while creating dramatic results. Visit Blackhawk Plastic Surgery for a free consultation to learn how this procedure could bring back youth, naturally!
Unlike temporary synthetic fillers that dissolve over months, fat grafting is considered a long-term or permanent solution. Once the fat cells establish a blood supply in their new location, they behave like any other fat cells in your body.
Ideal candidates need enough fat in donor areas to harvest. Even very fit patients usually have enough fat in the "love handles" or abdomen for facial rejuvenation, which only requires a small amount of volume. Dr. Ronan will assess your donor sites during your consultation.
Because you are using your own natural tissue, there is zero risk of allergic reactions. However, it is a surgical procedure, so choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon is vital to minimize rare risks like fat embolism or infection.
There are two options to improve the face with injectable fillers; the first includes hyaluronic acid (Restylane, Juvaderm, etc.) and polylactic acid (Sculptra). We typically use 1-5 cc, but these have less permanent results and often need to be redone in 6 months. The benefit is that the procedure is completed in two minutes and there is no recovery time required. The cost of injectable fillers is based on volume injected and can become costly over time with the need for repeat injections and touch-ups.
The second option is your own fat. With fat transfer, we are able to use 20-70cc for a more holistic, dramatic, and sustained result. In addition to using more per treatment with fewer needles, using your body’s natural fat is a more permanent solution that lasts longer and brings vibrancy back to the face. Putting fat back in the skin improves the texture and the quality of the skin. Fat grafting is often used in combination with laser treatment for dramatic improvement with minimal recovery time. The recovery from fat grafting is about one to two weeks for a full recovery.
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