Avoid massage While it may be tempting to massage your newly placed fat, Dr. Ho Taghva strongly advises against doing so, as it disrupts the new blood supply to the transferred tissue.
While the transferred fat cells are settling in, you'll need to avoid putting pressure on them. Too much pressure can damage the fat cells and disrupt their blood supply. Be gentle when touching and washing your face, and keep pressure off the injection area when you sleep.
On average, patients can expect to see their final results in about four to six weeks, at which time the majority of swelling will have resolved, and the fat cells will have settled into their new location.
NIGHT OF FAT TRANSFER SURGERY
Sleep: Sleep on your back with your head elevated about 30-40 degrees (2-3 pillows). Do not sleep on your side. Keeping your body more upright will minimize swelling. Continue this for one to two weeks.
Discourage massage and excessive facial animation immediately following fat grafting. These restrictions are to prevent migration of fat away from the desired areas of treatment.
What to do post facial fat transfer? After a facial fat transfer, follow your surgeon's instructions. This may include using cold compresses and sleeping with your head elevated. Staying hydrated, avoiding smoking, and refraining from putting pressure on the treated areas are also important.
Immediately after your surgery, you may notice that your face looks fuller than you'd expected. This is a normal and temporary part of having a facial fat transfer.
Fat Transfer Face Contouring
Most commonly, face contouring benefits people who are 30 years of age or older. The face, at this age, begins to lose “baby fat,” and as a result, fullness begins to fade.
With facial fat transfer, some doctors like to overfill in anticipation of fat loss, but when fat loss is marginal, the artificial-looking pillow face results. The dreaded pillow face can bring unwanted attention and make you even more self-conscious than you were before seeking treatment.
Following most facial fat grafting treatments, fat graft survival rate is 60%. This surviving fat is permanent, and as such, it responds just like any other bodily fat. If you experience weight fluctuations, you will notice changes in your fat grafting results.
Use ice packs liberally in the areas of the face where fat was transplanted for the first 3 days after surgery. This minimizes swelling. If you have any discomfort in the body area where fat was harvested, you can use ice packs for the first couple of days.
Coffee can dehydrate you and increase swelling, so it's best to avoid it for at least the first week post-surgery. Alcohol acts as a blood thinner and can cause dehydration and swelling, increasing the risk of bleeding and interfering with medications.
However, if the lump is causing significant discomfort or aesthetic problems, it may be advisable to address it surgically. Surgical intervention for fat necrosis generally involves ultrasound guidance to effectively locate all hardened lumps. Needle aspiration then causes an oil cyst to dissolve quickly.
Ho offers several solutions to this challenge: Evaluating multiple donor sites: Fat can be harvested from various areas of your body, including the abdomen, thighs, and back. Combining donor fat: If necessary, fat from multiple sites can be combined to accumulate enough for the transfer.
Unlike JUVÉDERM® and other synthetic dermal fillers whose longevity is relatively predictable, fat used as a filler can last indefinitely. The results of facial fat transfer after 5 years might be similar to those after 6 months if you maintain a healthy skincare routine.
Sleeping on your back with 2-3 pillows to elevate your head and neck is recommended for 6 weeks post-operatively to reduce swelling.
Light pressure and kneading movements help promote collagen production while toning down any excess fatty deposits like chubby skin under the chin. Moreover, This massage is a gentle and safe way to improve your skin's condition and an effective method of diminishing puffiness and dark circles.
Start with light pressure on your forehead, cheeks, and lips. This helps boost blood flow without being too harsh on your sensitive skin. These soft movements can speed up recovery, making your post-surgery experience smoother. Using mild pressure is soothing for pain receptors.
It can take up to six months to see the final results. During this time, the fat cells settle into their new places, where they remain for life.
However, it also carries with it some risks that patients should be aware of before undergoing the procedure. The most common side effects include swelling and bruising, infection, necrosis, complications from anesthesia, fat embolism syndrome, calcification of grafted fat, nerve damage, and unsatisfactory results.