Aftercare and recovery from a facial fat transfer procedure

With the exponential growth of social media and social media icons, people around the world want to put their best face and body forward. One of the minimally invasive cosmetic procedures that has been growing in popularity is a facial fat transfer procedure. The reason why men and women are so interested in fat grafting is because it can give you many of the benefits of a facelift without surgery and prolonged recovery.

So, exactly what does a facial fat grafting procedure involve? And how long does it take to recover from facial fat injections? I've got all the answers you're looking for. Join me as I walk you through a fat transfer surgery.

What is a facial fat grafting procedure?

A facial fat grafting procedure goes by many names, such as a fat transfer procedure, autologous fat transfer, fat injections, facial fat rejuvenation, and fat grafting surgery.

It is a minimally invasive cosmetic surgery procedure that can help to correct some of the common signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles, sagging skin, volume loss, and scars. The fat injections can be performed in different parts of the face such as the under-eye areas, cheeks, temples, lips, and around the mouth. The same technique of fat grafting is also used to perform breast augmentation.

How is facial fat transfer performed?

One of the best things about fat grafting is that it uses your own fat cells to restore youthfulness to your face. This means there is no risk of allergic reactions or rejection of the fat injection.

To perform the fat transfer procedure, your plastic surgeon or cosmetic surgeon will numb both the donor and recipient areas with local anesthesia. They will then remove excess fat from the donor areas (areas where fat is unwanted), such as the abdomen, flanks, or hips. Your doctor will use this fat to restore volume in areas of the face that don't have enough fat. A technique called liposuction is used to remove fat. Following this, the fat cells are cleansed and concentrated in the laboratory. Finally, the surgeon uses the concentrated fat cells to perform the facial fat injections.

How long does it take for fat transfer to settle?

Here's the deal. Even if you have the best surgeon, some of the injected fat will get absorbed by your body. On average, approximately 30% of the fat transfer is reabsorbed in the first 6-12 months after a fat grafting procedure. Any fat that survives after this time re in place permanently and behaves like other fat in the body. Meaning, it responds to weight changes, hormonal changes, and age-related changes.

Now, plastic surgeons are aware of the tendency of fat to be reabsorbed after a fat transfer. So, they keep this in mind when deciding how much fat to place. It takes a great deal of skill to overfill slightly (to account for the expected absorption) whilst still giving you natural looking fat transfer results that will last. So, my recommendation is to pick your doctor carefully.

How long will my face be swollen after fat transfer?

The swelling from a facial fat transfer procedure can last for 1-2 weeks. That's why most folks take at least a week off from work and social engagements after facial fat grafting. Indeed, those who can afford to, take 2 weeks off after fat transfer surgery in order to recover fully. Keeping the area elevated and using cold compresses can help keep the swelling down.

How long are you sore after fat transfer?

The swelling, bruising, and soreness can last for a week, both in the face where the fat grafting was performed and in the area from where the fat was harvested. The discomfort is usually tolerable, but don't hesitate to ask your doctor about taking an over-the-counter pain medication if you need to.

What can you not do after facial fat transfer?

Here are some do's and don'ts after facial fat grafting.

Don’t massage the treated area for a few days after a facial fat transfer.

Don't sleep face-down for a few days.

Don’t smoke (cigarette smoking can negatively impact fat survival).

Don't do any strenuous activities until your doctor says it’s okay.

Do stay well hydrated to maximize fat survival and speed up recovery.

Do try to ain a stable body weight (weight loss can affect your facial fat grafting results).

Do eat healthy fats such as salmon, avocados, and almonds.

How satisfied you are with your fat transfer results will depend on how closely you follow your doctor's instructions.

Wrapping Up - Why choose facial fat grafting?

If you have areas in your face that have lost volume with age and appear sunken, or scars that you would like to correct, then a facial fat grafting cosmetic procedure is definitely something worth considering.

It's a minimally invasive in-office procedure with a relatively short recovery period and not a great deal of aftercare. What's more, the results of fat grafting are permanent (unlike Botox or dermal fillers that only last for 6-12 months). Best of all, you get natural-looking results that don't leave you looking "done" or "wind-blown" as can sometimes happen after facelift surgery.

Interested in seeing what a fat transfer procedure can do for you? There's no need to go to various cosmetic clinics around town, trying to figure out the best one. I've discovered this fantastic app called MeTime. It connects you to top-rated aesthetic medical professionals in your area. You can chat with experts and get answers to all your questions after facial fat transfer. MeTime also lets you share photos, do video calls, get quotes, and more. It really couldn't be easier!