Fat Transfer

Fat transfer is an innovative, safe way to use your body’s own cells to add volume to deflated facial features. Thinning tissue along the face is a telltale sign of aging. As we get older, our faces lose fat volume. Facial deflation can lead to a tired, worn out, and sunken look, especially in our cheeks. The skin hangs looser on the face in our advancing years, and sharper, severe features begin to emerge. One of the best methods for restoring your face back to its youthful, glory days is through a facial fat transfer procedure. The facial fat transfer gives natural-looking, long-lasting, anti-aging results. 

Dr. Daniel Brown and his staff have performed countless facial fat transfers and have the experience needed to help you achieve your most beautiful self. To learn how facial fat transfer can replenish your look, contact our offices. We have four convenient locations in Carmel Valley, and La Jolla. Speaking of convenience: we now offer virtual consultations to best serve the greater San Diego region. No matter where you log on, Dr. Brown wants to connect with you. 

Fat transfer is one of the most commonly requested cosmetic surgeries today. With this procedure, patients are able to remove fat from a particular area of the body and transfer it to another region that is lacking shape or volume to provide natural augmentation. Patients frequently request a fat transfer in San Diego to increase volume in their breasts or buttocks, but it is also a very effective way to counteract age-related facial and hand volume loss. Dr. Daniel Brown is proud to offer this state-of-the-art procedure to his patients in San Diego.

To learn more about this transformational procedure, please contact either of our offices today and schedule a consultation.

Call (619) 461-1500 to start a conversation about your best self.

What Is Facial Fat Transfer?

A facial fat transfer is a facial augmentation and rejuvenation treatment. It specifically addresses facial aging symptoms such as sunken cheeks, nasolabial folds, tear troughs, and sunken temples.^[1] Facial rejuvenation with a fat transfer requires a specialized artistic eye and mastery of injection methods to achieve natural results.

Although fat is often seen as the enemy to our cosmetic goals, it can be quite a powerful anti-aging tool. A facial fat transfer, or facial fat grafting, is unlike most cosmetic procedures because it takes advantage of fat deposits already in your body and repurposes them for facial rejuvenation.^[2] This procedure involves removing fat cells from the body via liposuction and purifying them for re-insertion. The repurposed fat cells are carefully injected into precise areas of the skin where they can restore volume and provide a perkier appearance. Fat transfer is most helpful for clients who have lost collagen in their faces. As collagen levels decrease, it results in a hollow or sunken look. 

The fat grafting procedure is a win-win because it removes unwanted bulk from one part of the body (most commonly from the abdomen, thighs, and upper arms), and adds it to areas of the face where volume is needed. This results in a safe, natural, and effective procedure that can make all the difference in your appearance.

Fat transfer, otherwise known as fat grafting, is a cosmetic procedure that removes excess fat from one area of the body and places it into another region of the body that lacks volume and/or shape. In general, a fat transfer procedure consists of three steps:

• Liposuction
• Purification
• Reinjection

A major benefit of this procedure is that patients are not only able to enhance certain features of their body using their own fat, but it also gives patients the opportunity to slim down a region of the body to provide better contour. This procedure allows patients to naturally augment their body and sculpt a figure that will leave them feeling their best.

Benefits

Facial fat transfers can effectively turn back the clock on the aging process. Since the substance used to achieve volume is your own fat, the results look all-natural because they are, in fact, all-natural. There is less chance of infection or rejection than if you were to employ synthetic solutions.

In regards to facial aging, facial fat transfers can treat multiple symptoms such as: 

Essentially, facial fat transfers recycle your own extracted fat and put it to great use. Recipients are satisfied with the volume and youthfulness of their faces. Fat transfer slims down the areas where the fat was removed and adds volume where it is most desired. Facial fat grafts are revolutionizing anti-aging and rejuvenation treatments, giving patients long-term, natural-looking results. To explore the benefits of fat transfer for your face, contact our San Diego offices.

Fat transfer allows people to customize and sculpt the body that they want without the additional risks of placing foreign materials into the body. Many men and women have been very satisfied with their fat transfer results and the long-term outcomes that it provides.

Eligible Candidates

Adult men and women who have lost their youthful, perky appearance due to lost facial volume are ideal candidates for fat transfer. Fat injections for lip augmentation can be performed for patients after the age of 20. Most patients seeking facial rejuvenation are over 35, but improvement knows no age limits. 

Clients should have realistic expectations and goals regarding the fat transfer procedure, choosing to undergo treatment to fit their personal goals rather than someone else’s. Patients may also be ideal candidates for facial fat transfer if they maintain a healthy lifestyle filled with exercise and a balanced diet. Patients should have sufficient excess fat in at least one area of the body to serve as their donor site.

Dr. Brown will be able to determine your eligibility for facial fat transfer during your comprehensive consultation. At that time, he can estimate the amount of fat necessary to bring your enhancement to life.

Ideal candidates for a fat transfer procedure are men and women who are in good health and maintain a stable weight. These patients should have enough excess fat in one region of the body; however, fat can be extracted from multiple areas of the body if one location does not have an adequate amount.

Patients looking into this procedure should want to naturally augment an area of the body without the use of synthetic materials, such as implants, while also slimming down another region of the body.

Because this procedure uses the body’s own materials, the enhancement will not be as dramatic as through the use of implants. For this reason, we ask that patients have realistic expectations of their results. It is important to note that this procedure is not a substitute for diet and exercise. Men and women considering this procedure should have already tried obtaining the contour they desire but have been unsuccessful. Also, patients that are looking for drastically enhanced features may be better suited for a different procedure. To determine candidacy for this procedure, please contact our office today and schedule a consultation with Dr. Brown.

Preparation

Between the time of the consultation and the date of the procedure, it is advised that the patient do the following: 

If you have any questions or concerns about your preparation, feel free to contact our office. We are always eager to help!

Fat Transfer Procedure

A facial fat transfer actually begins on the body. Unwanted fat from the thighs, buttocks, abdomen or arms is selectively removed and purified. Dr. Brown then uses the extracted fat cells to add volume to deflated facial features.

The doctor begins by marking both the area of the body where the fat will be removed and marking the area of the face where the fat will be transferred to. The initial fat removal phase is performed using tumescent liposuction and local anesthesia, meaning you will be awake and comfortable during the entire process. Local anesthesia and tumescent liposuction are ideal because they provide increased safety when compared to general anesthesia, which carries certain risks. 

Once we collect an adequate amount of donor fat, we then purify and clean it in a specialized centrifuge, which will improve fat re-uptake rates. Once the fat is cleaned, Dr. Brown will then inject the fat into the marked areas of the face with a smaller needle using the micro-droplet method. As the name suggests, micro-droplets are tiny amounts of purified fat that are able to adhere to the substructures of the face for smooth, natural, long-lasting results.

Fat transfer procedures can be used to enhance many different features of the body. Once the fat has been extracted and purified, it will then be repurposed into another area of the body to improve the shape, symmetry, and volume naturally. The most common fat transfer procedures are described in detail below.

Brazilian Butt Lift

Curvy behinds have gained much popularity within recent years. A Brazilian Butt Lift uses the body’s own fat to improve the shape and size of the buttock without implants or other forms of synthetic material. Patients can improve their body’s overall shape and contour through a Brazilian Butt Lift, or buttocks fat transfer.

Natural Breast Augmentation

A natural breast augmentation is ideal for women who are looking to slightly enhance the size and shape of their breasts. A breast fat transfer or fat transfer breast augmentation increases your breast size one to two cups, so patients who are looking for a drastic transformation may be better suited for a breast augmentation using implants. This procedure may also be beneficial for women who have either undergone a lumpectomy or a mastectomy.

Facial Fat Transfer

Facial fat transfer can be used as an alternative to dermal fillers. The extracted fat can be repurposed to add volume to the lips or cheeks, as well as to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Patients are able to avoid the use of synthetic materials and fight the signs of aging using their own fat.

Hand Rejuvenation

The back of the hands tend to form wrinkles and experience volume loss over time. Patients can avoid the use of dermal fillers to correct this sign of aging by injecting their own fat into the back of the hands. The fat that is injected will create its own blood supply, providing longer lasting results than that of dermal fillers.

As stated above, the procedure itself is broken down into a three-step process: liposuction, purification of the fat, then injecting the fat back into the body.

The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis, meaning that patients are free to return to the comfort of their own home following the surgery. Depending on the extent of treatment needed, the procedure can take one to three hours from beginning to end.

Our certified anesthesiologist will administer the anesthesia; once the patient is asleep the procedure can begin. Dr. Brown will make the necessary incisions near the donor site(s). He will use liposuction to remove any excess fat from the donor site by inserting a cannula into the body. High power suction will extract the fat cells from the body, which the doctor will then place the fat in a centrifuge. During this time, the cells will undergo a purification process, separating the fat from any other unwanted materials.

Once this has been completed, Dr. Brown will place the cells into a syringe to easily inject the fat into a specific region of the body. After the doctor has obtained the desired shape and body contour, the incisions will be closed with sutures. Patients will be wrapped in compression garments and taken into the recovery area.

About Donor Sites

Donor sites are areas of the body that have enough fat that can be extracted and used for the natural augmentation. The fat is harvested through a special liposuction technique which will help preserve the cells for injection. Fat transfer candidates should have areas of the body where excess fat deposits reside that are suitable for extraction. The most common regions of the body that are used as donor sites include:

• Abdomen
• Back
• Flanks
• Inner thighs
• Outer thighs
• Upper arms

Healthy Recovery

After the fat transfer procedure, you will be wrapped in a compression garment around the donor area to reduce swelling and aid healing. A trained medical professional will then usher you to our state-of-the-art recovery room to rest and review all recovery instructions before you leave our office.

We recommend that you enjoy a light walk the night of the procedure to assist with blood flow and circulation. We will provide you with prescription medication to aid in any discomfort that is to be expected in the first couple of weeks. Swelling and bruising are common, but should disappear within 3 weeks. After the bruising and swelling fade, the optimal results will emerge.

Before being released home, patients will be monitored for a couple hours by our medical staff. During this time, the patient will be given a list of recovery instructions that Dr. Brown recommends his patients follow to ensure the best healing possible. To alleviate any discomfort during the recovery process, patients will be given a prescription for pain medication. He advises his patients to try to walk the night of their procedure to help improve the body’s circulation and reduce the risk of blood clots from forming. The compression garments should be worn at all times during this stage to help minimize any swelling and any bruising that may arise.

Depending on the location where the fat was injected into, patients will be advised to not place direct pressure on that region for several weeks because it could negatively affect the blood supply being established by the new cells. Patients should refrain from daily activities for about one week following the procedure. More strenuous activities, such as working out, should be avoided for about 4 weeks. Depending on the extent of treatment or where the procedure was performed, the downtime may vary. During this time, if patients have any questions, we encourage them to contact our office and speak with our knowledgeable staff.

Remarkable Results

Some of the fat cells transferred to your face may be absorbed and flushed from your system naturally, but many will stay in place for a lifetime. The results of a facial fat transfer give our patients a newfound sense of confidence, rejuvenation, and inspiration to continue leading a healthy lifestyle.

To get a preview of how happy you will be after the fat transfer process, take a look at our stellar reviews.

The transformational results of this fat transfer procedure can be seen immediately; however, the final results can be seen after any swelling and/or bruising dissipates; in about two to three weeks. Patients are able to enjoy their body’s new contour and the boost of confidence it provides!

Facial Fat Transfer vs. Dermal Fillers 

You can explore the benefits of facial enhancement with the help of dermal fillers. Fillers literally fill the gaps beneath the skin caused by collagen depletion. Dr. Brown offers the Juvéderm family of products, which are formulated using hyaluronic acid (HA). HA naturally occurs in the human body and cradles moisture to promote enduring hydration.

While our dermal fillers are safe and effective, they can’t possibly match the natural splendor of your own cells. That’s why some patients consider a fat transfer to be their most ideal option. Facial fat transfers are a natural approach to combat signs of aging and provide potentially longer-lasting results in comparison to synthetic injectable fillers. With a facial fat transfer, fat tissue poses no risks of allergic reaction and rejection from the body. Dr. Brown and his staff can further advise you on the benefits of a facial fat transfer.

Consultation

During the one-on-one consultation with Dr. Brown, he will ask the patient about their aesthetic concerns and what they are looking to achieve through fat transfer. He will then conduct a medical history evaluation to review the patient’s current health, routine medications, and any previous surgical procedure to ensure that this is a safe option to achieve the patient’s goals. A physical examination will then be performed by Dr. Brown to identify the patient’s concerns and make the final determinants of candidacy. If found a candidate, the patient will be able to schedule their fat transfer procedure before leaving the office if they desire to do so, but there is no obligation.

Cost

The cost of a fat transfer procedure will vary from person to person depending on the area being treated, the extent of treatment, and if any additional procedures are needed to provide the patient with their desired results. During the initial consultation, Dr. Brown and the patient will work together to construct a treatment plan designed towards their exact concerns. Through this, he will be able to provide patients with a personalized fat transfer quote. To obtain a quote for this procedure, we encourage anyone who is interested to contact our office and schedule a private consultation with Dr. Brown.

FAQ

References

1. Kaufman, M. R., Bradley, J. P., Dickinson, B., Heller, J. B., Wasson, K., O’Hara, C., … & Miller, T. A. (2007). Autologous fat transfer national consensus survey: trends in techniques for harvest, preparation, and application, and perception of short-and long-term results. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 119 (1) 323-331. DOI: 10.1097/01.prs.0000244903.51440.8c
2. Coleman, S. R. (2006). Facial augmentation with structural fat grafting. Clinics in Plastic Surgery. 33 (4) 567-577. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cps.2006.09.002
3. Bravo, B., Totti, J., Gelpi, B., Bianco de Souza, S., & Bravo, L. G. (2018). Use of Hyaluronic Acid Fillers to Correct Scleral Show: A Review of Technique. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. 11 (6) 38–40. PMID: 29942423