When we look at ourselves in the mirror, we can usually spot a few things we wish that we could change, especially when it comes to the fat on our bodies. Sometimes we have too much in some spots and too little in others. It might seem hopeless at first, but what if there were a way to move fat from one place on your body to another, and solve two problems with one treatment? That’s exactly what you’ll get with a fat transfer from the professionals at Luxe Aesthetics in Greensboro, North Carolina.
What Is a Fat Transfer?
A fat transfer (which is also called a “fat graft”) is a fairly new treatment that works by having your doctor move fat cells from one part of your body to another. This is typically accomplished through a two-stage approach. First, your doctor will use liposuction to harvest fat cells from a “donor area” of your body, which is wherever you feel there is extra to spare. Second, the doctor cleans and then re-injects the fat into a new area of your body.
Depending on the areas involved, a fat graft can be combined with another treatment (such as a tummy tuck). Everyone has different goals, but typically patients choose to remove fat from their abdomen or thighs. Common areas for added volume are the buttocks, chest, and even the face.
Why Do People Get This Treatment?
Many people discover that as they age they start to lose some of the fat that gives their skin its fullness and volume. This does not always happen equally throughout the body, but it is often especially noticeable in the face. When the face loses this fullness, it can contribute to wrinkles, worry lines, and even a hollow or sunken look.
These effects can be addressed by adding fat just underneath the surface of the skin. By injecting fat into the cheeks, volume can be restored. Lips can also be treated in this way. Additionally, small, targeted amounts of fat can be injected into folds or lines on the face, which will smooth and soften those “age lines” along the nasolabial folds or around the forehead.
How Does a Face Fat Transfer Work?
There are different approaches to fat grafting. The process sometimes involves a more significant amount of fat being removed from one place and added to another (a “butt lift” is a good example of this.)
In the case of a face fat graft, the amount of fat being moved is much smaller, and the process does not need to be thought of in the same way as liposuction. In fact, the fat is typically injected through use of a small syringe, and the process is minimally invasive. It will not require typical incisions to the face and is an effective way to promote a younger look without introducing artificial fillers or additives to your body.
What Issues Does a Face Fat Graft Treat?
This treatment has many exciting possibilities. Patients have seen amazing benefits that correct a wide range of issues, whether it is to address the effects of aging, simple loss of volume, lines, or even scarring on the face. Some of the most popular reasons for getting a face fat graft include:
Filling Hollow or Sunken Cheeks
Are your cheeks looking a little less full than they have in the past? Have they lost some of their firmness, or is the contour just a little different from what you’re used to? The cheeks have some of the thickest skin on your face, so when they lose volume it can be especially noticeable. By adding fat from another part of your body, you can counteract one of the most common telltale signs of aging.
Thin Lips
Have your lips started to lose volume as you’ve gotten older? Do you notice the lines on the surface becoming more pronounced? When patients want to plump their lips, they often turn to dermal fillers as a first option; but this approach doesn’t work for everybody. Targeted fat injections can add extra life to your lips, keeping them full for years to come.
Crow’s Feet
Has time finally given you those famous “crow’s feet”? These fine lines around the eyes are a common hassle as we get older, and they are especially visible. This is because humans tend to notice eyes before anything else, so these particular lines are more obvious. Some patients find that just by softening these lines they can look years younger.
Laugh Lines or Smile Lines
These lines around the mouth are the creases that become most noticeable when a person laughs or smiles. They can be very visible in these cases. Of course, we all want a life full of laughter (who doesn’t?), but if your laugh lines or smile lines are making you self-conscious, you can smooth them out with this treatment and smile with confidence again.
Acne Scars
Do you have particularly difficult acne that lead to visible scarring? Millions of people deal with the consequences of acne long after the breakout is over. Even if you have found a solution to the acne itself, you may be looking for a way to fill in those uneven spots that remain in its wake. Fat grafts are the perfect way to erase the scars and restore your skin’s smooth and even surface.
Can This Also Help My Aging Hands?
This treatment has also seen amazing success for people who want to add volume to their hands. Your hands often show significant signs of aging over the years, and since we often don’t care for our hands the way we do our faces, hands can give away our age far earlier. The good news is that the same grafting methods can restore the volume that your hands have had in the past.
What Makes This Treatment Option Safe?
Fat grafts come with very few risks, and patients are typically extremely happy with the results. The quickness of the treatment process, the speed with which you will see positive benefits, and the long-term “staying power” of the treatment make it a favorite option for many.
Fat Grafting Uses Your Own Fat
Because you use your own fat in this process, your body recognizes it as a familiar substance. Your fat cells may have moved location, but they are still yours. Because of this, the risk of an allergic reaction is extremely low. In fact, it’s practically impossible for this to happen.
Modern Science Gives Today’s Doctors Extra Options
Today’s doctors are better equipped than ever to deliver quality treatment options to those who need it. Thousands of patients wanting a more youthful look, patients just like you, have undergone this treatment and come out looking better than ever. This large volume of treatments means that doctors have had time to refine this process to a fine art.
There Are No Synthetics or Artificial Substances
Many treatment options on the market use some sort of implant, filler, or other lab-grown or factory-made chemicals to achieve their results. Although every precaution is always taken, sometimes patients can have a bad reaction to these substances and cannot go through with the treatment. By using your body’s natural fat, you keep the process organic and completely based on your own body chemistry.
Is This Treatment Better Than Dermal Fillers?
There is no way to say with certainty that one treatment is “better” than another. We all react to things differently. One person may love the effects of Botox while another person opts instead for a different type of filler or for collagen production or a fat graft instead. However, if you have tried dermal fillers in the past and have not been satisfied with your individual results, this doesn’t mean you have to abandon your aesthetic goals. Fat grafts can succeed marvelously in these situations so you still wind up with that smooth and youthful look you want.
How Soon Will I Experience My Results?
Here’s one of our favorite things to say: results will be immediate! You won’t have to wait to see if the treatment worked as can be the case with certain slower treatments like collagen growth. If you want something sooner, a fat graft is a perfect option.
There will be a small adjustment period as your body accepts the fat into the areas where it was injected. Your fat cells are living cells, and your body will work to incorporate them and keep them alive. Ultimately, not every single cell will complete the transfer, so a portion of the injection will dissipate with time, but doctors know this and inject the right amount for the best possible long-term results.
How Long Will My Results Last?
One of the best parts of the fat grafting process is that it’s so long-lasting. After the session is complete, you can expect smoother and fuller skin for years to come. Everyone reacts to treatment differently, and it is impossible to guarantee exactly how an individual person will respond, but it is very common for patients to see their fat transfer still giving them great results three years or more after the graft.
In comparison, dermal fillers often last only six to eighteen months depending on the exact variety and treatment area. A dermal filler is often a non-living substance, but if you use fat cells, your body takes an active role in keeping them alive even after they have moved to a new spot.
How Much Will My Fat Graft Cost?
Because there are so many factors involved in treatment, we first need to schedule an in-person consultation. After we know the exact areas you want to be addressed and have an idea of how long it will take, our staff will prepare a cost estimate of the treatment.
Is Face Fat Grafting Right for Me?
The best candidates for face fat grafts are people who have noticed that aging has had an effect on their complexion and who want to rejuvenate their skin. They will want a natural look with long-lasting results. They may be unable to get injectables such as dermal fillers and are seeking an alternative. In addition, they will have some extra fat cells to spare. A patient with an extremely low body fat percentage may not be a candidate.
When you visit us for your in-person consultation, our staff will go over your medical history, and determine if you are a candidate for this treatment. The next step is setting an appointment so we can get to know you and your goals.
Call for Your Consultation
You don’t have to wait any longer to achieve the look of your dreams! You can give yourself that rejuvenated skin you’ve always wanted. Call the experts at Luxe Aesthetics in Greensboro, North Carolina, today!