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Struggling with hollow cheeks, fine lines and wrinkles, or thin lips? Facial fat transfer may be the right option for you. By taking your own fat cells and transferring them to your face, you can achieve more volume and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

What is Facial Fat Transfer?

Facial fat transfer is a minimally invasive procedure that uses your own fat to reduce wrinkles and restore volume to the face. The fat can be injected into your cheeks, lips, or under your eyes.

During the procedure, local anesthesia is often used on the areas being treated and fat is extracted from other places on the body and injected into a new area on the face.

Because they are your own fat cells, they will behave like fat cells you would normally have on your face.

This procedure is often used to accentuate cheekbones, give volume to hollow cheeks, conceal bags under the eyes, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

While not all the fat will be accepted when it’s injected, about 30-70% of the fat will be retained. The exact amount differs from person to person.

How Long Is The Recovery Period For Facial Fat Transfer?

The recovery period for facial fat transfer typically takes anywhere from 7-14 days. Remember: there are two areas that will need recovery. The place on the body where the fat came from and where it was injected in the face.

The harvesting area may experience some tenderness and swelling while the area on your face will likely be sore and swollen. How long it’s swollen depends on how much fat was injected.

What Should I Do After Facial Fat Transfer?

As you heal from your fat transfer procedure, you’ll want to avoid putting pressure on the area where the fat came from and on your face.

You can also lightly place ice packs on both areas for the first 3 days after surgery to help with the swelling and any discomfort you’re feeling.

You can also take pain medication that your doctor recommends as needed. Antibiotics may also be prescribed and should be taken as directed. Make sure to also keep the incision and injection site as clean as possible.

How Do You Sleep After Facial Fat Transfer?

After getting home from facial fat transfer surgery, continue resting for the next 24 hours with your head elevated. When you go to bed at night, sleep on your back with 2-4 pillows behind your head and back for at least the first three days. This will help keep pressure off your face and help with swelling.

When Will I See the Results of Facial Fat Transfer?

As you now have more fat in your face, you will see some results from the facial fat transfer immediately. But you will really start to see results as the swelling and bruising begin to disappear and that typically occurs two weeks after the procedure.

After three to four months, the fat will begin to settle and the surviving fat cells will have adapted to their new environment. At that point, you will see the final results you can expect.

Does Facial Fat Transfer Look Natural?

Because facial fat transfer uses fat cells from your own body instead of another substance like gel, it looks much more natural than other options.

While silicone gel implants and fillers can do a good job, there is really no substitute for actual fat cells from your own body.

How Long Does Facial Fat Transfer Last?

As long as most of the fat cells survive the process, the facial fat transfer procedure can be permanent and last for years. That being said, changes to your weight and the changes that naturally come with aging will still impact your appearance. You may need maintenance treatments over time.

Additionally, if you gain or lose weight, the fat cells can change. This is why it’s recommended to keep a stable weight.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, protecting your skin from the sun, and practicing a skin care routine that’s right for you are also recommended.

Schedule A Consultation

If facial fat transfer sounds like the solution to the problems you’re experiencing, scheduling a consultation with Brandon Plastic Surgery is a great next step. Dr. Shienbaum, Dr. Gargya, and the rest of our experienced staff are more than happy to walk you through the process and help you achieve your desired goals.

To schedule a consultation, contact us at our Brandon, FL office at (813) 359-1075 or use our online scheduling form to schedule a virtual consultation.