Some people can return to work and regular activities after a week, while others need two weeks or more. Talk to your plastic surgeon about recovery and what to expect for your specific fat transfer procedure.
Post-Procedure Care Instructions for Facial Fat Transfer. Most patients can resume daily activities within 2-3 weeks post-op, with the majority of swelling subsiding in 1-2 weeks. Full recovery typically occurs around the 4-6 week mark, though individual timelines may vary.
In the first week, there is always swelling and sometimes bruising to the grafted areas of the face. Pain is generally minimal. In the second week the bruising settles. Less visible swelling gradually reduces day by day.
ACTIVITY AFTER FAT TRANSFER TREATMENT
Avoid bending, lifting, or straining for one to two weeks. Be extremely careful if wearing any “pull-over the head” clothing.
Although a fat transfer is a fantastic procedure for all age groups, it benefits older people the most. Fat grafting resolves common signs of aging, like fine lines, furrows, wrinkles, marionette lines, and other natural flaws.
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.
Microfat transfer offers long-lasting results and a more natural appearance compared to synthetic fillers, as the transferred fat integrates seamlessly with existing tissue.
Fat transfer rate depends heavily on good surgical technique
The available studies on the survival of fat grafts after fat transfer show that there are widely varying rates of survival of the tissue after transfer. These vary from 30% to 83% in the facial area.
Sleeping on your back with 2-3 pillows to elevate your head and neck is recommended for 6 weeks post-operatively to reduce swelling.
The total cost of facial fat grafting, including both the liposuction and fat transfer components of the procedure, typically falls in the $3,000 to $7,500 range at our practice.
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 is harvested from a “donor area” of your body, such as your abdomen or buttocks. The suctioned fat is then grafted into targeted areas of your face. Since the transferred fat is your own, your body is extremely unlikely to reject it, and the possibility of an allergic reaction is virtually eliminated.
Fat grafting procedures used for breast augmentation can require the transfer of as much as four cups of fat (1,000 cc) from the donor site. Facial fat grafts, on the other hand, typically use between 10 and 50 cc of fat – the equivalent of between two teaspoons and a quarter cup.
Don't eat for 8 hours and don't drink for 6 hours before surgery for general anesthesia, 2 hours for local anesthesia. No moisturizer, body lotions, no make up on the area where the fat is being injected.
Fat transfer is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure. It uses your fat to enhance your lips, breasts, butt or other body parts. Fat transfer can provide a plumper, more youthful look and repair scars. Plastic surgeons also perform fat transfer for reconstructive surgery.
Why does the face take longer than the rest of the body to shape up? Face fat is the biggest weight loss nightmare. What makes it worse is that you can't camouflage it with slimming clothes. Often, the face is the last to shape up, and the first to puff up.
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.
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.
This technique provides a natural enhancement by utilizing the patient's own fat cells. The best age for undergoing a breast fat transfer typically ranges from the late 20s to the early 40s. This age range is ideal as it often coincides with good skin elasticity and sufficient fat reserves for harvesting.
Cons: Fat transfer can cause some bruising and swelling that may last longer than after a filler injection. The liposuction itself may require an anesthetic, whereas fillers are injected without them. And lastly, the fine lines around the mouths are harder to fill with fat transfer.
Despite the potential benefits, some patients experience buccal fat removal regret. Understanding these causes can help individuals make more informed decisions about the procedure. Overcorrection: Removing too much fat can lead to an excessively gaunt appearance, particularly as the patient ages.
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.
Fillers are best for a quick fix as they provide instant volume without any downtime. Fat lasts longer and is ideal for patients that want to avoid using synthetic products or coming in for regular treatments. The good news is that both fat and fillers can provide dramatic rejuvenation for your facial appearance.
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.