Facial Fat Grafting in Houston, TX

While dermal fillers have become a popular cosmetic procedure, once you decide the look you want, a longer lasting solution can save you time and money. An alternative to injectable dermal fillers used by double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Eugene "Gene" Alford to add volume to the face is a fat transfer (also known as fat grafting, fat transplantation, or fat injection). Facial fat injections involve performing liposuction to suction out small amounts of excess fat from the body, usually from the abdomen or flanks. The fat is then processed in a centrifuge to separate the actual fat from any other substances for purity, and then injected into the chosen areas of the face for the desired volume increase. Since this type of filler comes directly from your own body (autologous fat), there is very little risk for rejection, which happens in a small percentage of patients who use synthetic wrinkle fillers and relaxers (Juvéderm®, Restylane®, BOTOX®, and others). Schedule your consultation at Alford Facial Plastic Surgery in Houston, TX to learn more about the benefits of fat injections for the face.

Dermal filler injections are some of the most popular beauty procedures performed worldwide. While these treatments use artificial fillers, facial fat grafting in Houston, TX has similar outcomes with a handful of extra benefits, such as:

• Uses your own fat as opposed to synthetic fillers
• Fills out the lips, cheeks, and elsewhere
• Reduces lines and furrows
• Diminishes the visibility of scars
• Tightens and rounds out skin
• Minimal chance of allergic sensitivity
• Delivers results
• Takes out excess fat from trouble spots
• Little to no downtime
• Reliable outcomes

The facial fat transfer procedure is performed in Dr. Gene’s procedure room in conjunction with the needed liposuction under local anesthesia. Most fat transfers take about 2 – 4 hours, including the liposuction, fat purification, and fat injections. With a very careful technique, Dr. Gene produces beautiful results restoring the needed areas of the face, including filling in laugh lines, smile lines, crow’s feet, acne scars, pits, plus adding volume to the lips, cheeks, temples, and eye lids.

You will be able to leave as soon as you feel able after your procedure under the supervision of a responsible friend or family member. A follow-up appointment at Dr. Gene’s office will be scheduled for 5 – 7 days after your procedure. At that time, Dr. Gene will assess your recovery, early results, and give further care instructions. Most patients take less than a week to fully recover from fat injections to the face, but this will vary depending on the individual, how they heal, and the amount of fat transferred.

The longevity of facial fat transfer can vary from patient to patient, depending on their individual healing response, the fat transfer technique used, and the volume of fat placed. A skilled facial plastic surgeon, like Dr. Gene, will very carefully inject the fat so it can establish a connection to the blood supply, which will make the results last longer. If you notice your volume decreasing over the years, you may schedule a touch-up treatment at Alford Facial Plastic Surgery.

The cost of facial fat injections includes liposuction and the fat transfer, will depend on the amount of fat being used and if any other surgeries are combined with the fat transfer.

• Acne scars
• Crow’s feet
• Decreased lip volume
• Decreased mid-face volume
• Facial asymmetry
• Facial hollows
• Laugh lines
• Moderate to severe facial creases
• Moderate to severe lines
• Moderate to severe wrinkles
• Smile lines

Facial fat grafting is best for patients who have excess fat on their body that they would like removed, plus areas of their face that need volume. If you do not have enough fat for your goals, fillers and facial implants can be considered.

Any incisions made for liposuction will be small, and Dr. Gene makes them in areas that are less visible or easily concealed. The fat injections to the face should not leave any permanent marks, although patients may have some redness, swelling, and bruising for a few days after the procedure.

Facial fat injections may be enhanced with fillers like Juvéderm®, Restylane®, Sculptra®, and Voluma® and/or BOTOX® wrinkle relaxer treatments. A fat transfer also matches well with face and neck liposuction, cheek implants, and a chin implant.