Fat Transfer to Face Surgery
Fat transfer to the face involves taking fat (in a similar way to liposuction) from other areas of your body e.g. thighs, hips and transferring it to your face. It must be in a very fine form, sometimes almost liquid before being placed in your face. The amount transferred is small compared to other areas of the body that fat is transferred to but it must be placed in a precise way. This is partly to ensure that the final appearance is good and partly to optimise survival of the transferred fat.
Fat transfer can restore facial volume lost with ageing or weight loss and improve facial contours. Very fine (nano fat) is also used to improve facial skin quality and appearance.
Anaesthetic
General
Procedure Length
90 minute
Facility Stay
Day Case
Cost
TBC in your consultation
Downtime
Light exercise can resume after 4-6 weeks
Available at Purity Bridge
Yes
Anaesthetic
General
Procedure Length
90 minute
Facility Stay
Day Case
Cost
TBC in your consultation
Downtime
Light exercise can resume after 4-6 weeks
Available at Purity Bridge
Yes
Restoration of lost facial volume due to ageing or weight loss, improvement of facial contours, improvement of facial skin.
Facial fat transfer takes 45 to 60 minutes. It can be done under local anaesthesia. It is frequently done alongside facelift surgery as they complement each other. The facelift lifts and repositions sagging tissue while the fat transfer restores lost volume.
There will be swelling and maybe visible bruising during the first two weeks. This will gradually resolve. You do not need to stay overnight and can be mobile straightaway afterwards although strenuous exercise should be avoided. It usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to see the final results for volume and can be longer for skin quality.
Whilst most fat transfer procedures are straightforward and successful, as with all procedures complications can occur. Fat survival or ‘take’ after transfer can be variable and you will need to allow 6 to 8 weeks at least to judge the result. Sometimes more than usual is lost and another procedure is needed. Other complications include lumpiness or unevenness, cyst formation and very rarely blindness. Finally if your weight changes, the fat transferred can be become larger or smaller. This procedure should only be done if you are at a steady weight.