Facial Fat Grafting
What is fat grafting?
The process of extracting fat from one part of the body and re-implanting it into another area is not a new medical procedure. Before we had fillers and volumizers, plastic surgeons used fat grafting or fat transfers to replace the loss of fat in the face. We used the fat cells to do what products like Juvederm, Voluma, Sculptra, and other products do today.
Fat Grafting during a facelift with Dr. Hernandez
Normally performed when a patient is undergoing a facelift, Dr. Hernandez harvests the fat from areas where it is plentiful, like the abdomen, thighs, or around the waist area known as “the love handles”. She then re-injects the viable fat in minute amounts where it is needed. Because the fat comes from your own body, there is no risk of rejection or immune reaction.
For Dr. Hernandez, one of the most gratifying ways to use fat is as a supplement to facelift surgery. She notes, “The fat will improve the skin’s surface, giving it a healthier looking texture. This is because fat contains stem cells, which are transferred to the face in the grafts. These cells can greatly enhance the final results of a facelift.”
When fat grafting is done in conjunction with a facelift, the patient is under intravenous sedation. The extraction of the fat and subsequent implantation is performed as part of the surgical procedure, such as a facelift or mini-lift.
The process of removing the fat and re-implanting it in the appropriate areas requires a heightened sense of aesthetics as well as a superior surgeon’s skills. In the skilled hands of Dr. Hernandez, the fat is transferred, then molded and shaped to restore natural fullness and youthful volume to the face.
Advantages of fat grafting with Dr. Hernandez
Fat transfers are better understood today than ever before. In Dr. Hernandez’s practice in Boca Raton, she employs the latest techniques, which allow more of the fat to “take” and survive. Fat transfers can last for many years, often a lifetime, when they take well.
As a plastic surgeon with a strong focus on the face, I have been privileged to learn from some of the best aesthetic surgeons. Fat grafting is an artistic process: We carefully extract the fat and prepare it, preserving its natural pliability and malleability. Then with skilled expertise and utmost efficiency, we re-inject the fat in precise amounts to the focal point of the surgery. I have used fat grafting in many facelifts, and I have seen the difference in the before and after results. This can enable you to look more like you did ten to maybe even fifteen years before, says Dr. Hernandez.
Recovery from fat grafting
Because fat grafting is generally performed as part of a surgical procedure, the recovery period depends on the extent of the surgery. For a facelift or mini-lift, which may include fat transfers, the recovery will follow the same regimen as those aesthetic surgeries. The complete details of a facelift recovery period are detailed in the Facelift section.
Contact the office of Dr. Hernandez today to schedule a consultation and find out if fat grafting is right for you.