As we age, fat disappears and descends in the face, leading to a deflated appearance. The fullness of the cheek drops, elongating the lower lid and accentuating creasing of the face, possibly even accounting for dark circles of the lower lids. The area around the mouth, including the lips, may be thinned, creased or have irregular textures. Fat may be transferred from the abdomen, back or thighs to fill in lines and creases of the face and around the mouth and chin, or to provide more volume around the eyes and cheeks. Fat transfer is also a great solution for addressing facial asymmetry.
Fat adds both volume and a stem cell effect. Fullness associated with a more youthful appearance is achievable with added volume. Fat will also transport in a fountain of youth effect, stimulating factors that improve skin quality beyond just the addition of volume. This is seen with old acne scarring and porous skin.
Good candidates for facial fat transfer are men and women in good physical and mental health who have deflation and wrinkles of the face, lax and/or irregular skin texture, and a poorly defined neck and jawline. This also applies to individuals with significant weight loss who tend to look more aged with weight decrease.
This procedure may be combined with a facelift, a brow lift, blepharoplasty, or neck liposuction to rejuvenate the entire face and neck. During the initial consultation you will discuss with Dr. Shermak what you would like to improve so she can understand your expectations and determine how to best achieve your desired results.
The cost of your facial fat transfer depends on the area or areas that are injected and which type of anesthesia is used (usually local anesthesia).
In general, the cost of facial fat transfer is between $3,200 and $8,200.
Surgery tends to be performed on an outpatient basis. You may experience temporary swelling, numbness, and bruising that respond well to head elevation, ice packs and Arnica Montana herbal supplementation. Most resume regular activities and return to work within a week, and swelling may take up to a month to resolve.
Most patients are able to return to work after one week.
It may take up to one month for the swelling to fully disappear.
The most common harvest sites are the love handles and abdominal area, where there is usually enough fat to remove, and the fat cells tend to be the most hardy.
For facial fat transfer, usually only one procedure is enough to achieve your desired results.
Typically about 50-80% of the fat cells will survive the transfer procedure.
Facial fat transfer takes two to three hours to complete.
Wait for three weeks before engaging in any strenuous exercise.
Dr. Shermak recommends that patients sleep with their head elevated for the first month or so after surgery to help minimize swelling.
While it takes about two or three weeks for swelling and bruising to subside, you will be fully healed and the tissues completely settled into their final form by six months after your facial fat transfer.
The ideal age for a facial fat transfer varies depending on your needs and aesthetic goals. Patients from their 20s to their 60s benefit from facial fat transfer.
Dr. Michele Shermak offers some of the top cosmetic procedures Baltimore, MD has to offer
including Baltimore breast augmentation & liposuction
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This is a new day, with new safety protocols. Our goal is to keep everyone safe and respect the continued concerns COVID-19 may present.
The state of Maryland is now fortunately downgraded to Yellow Status. COVID stress on the medical system has lessened and most areas in the state no longer mandate masks.
Currently in our office we are maintaining sterile surfaces and compulsive cleaning protocols – as always. We are requesting information about vaccination status, to particularly better help us prepare for patients interested in surgical procedures.
We are not mandating masks. We do respect our patients’ wishes and will wear a mask when requested to do so. We want our patients to be absolutely comfortable. All of our staff are vaccinated.
This is certainly an evolving issue and we will continue to pivot as COVID statistics change – hopefully for the better! Thank you!
